Why The Women Of ‘The Other Guy’ Are The Real MVPs
Stream every episode of the brand new season of the Stan Original Series The Other Guy right now, only on Stan.
If you’re late to the party, that’s okay: every episode of the brand new season of The Other Guy has just hit Stan Australia, and it’s better to be late to the party than not make it at all – right? Right.
A star vehicle for former radio host, author and stand-up comic Matt Okine, the show follows AJ – played by Okine – who finds himself single for the first time in a decade after learning his partner was cheating on him with his best friend. In the second season of the Stan Original Series, which just dropped, things get intensely meta: after quitting his successful radio show, his romantic breakdown ends up becoming fodder for a potential TV show. Starting to sound familiar?
Although Okine’s impressive performance as AJ is the entry point, The Other Guy has more to offer thanks to a superb cast of women who elevate it, and a talent pool of female filmmakers you need to be paying attention to.
Harriet Dyer
It seems like an obvious choice, really, because as much as it’s called The Other Guy, the show’s best moments often involve Okine going head-to-head with Harriet Dyer. She’s captivating to watch as AJ’s loose-unit BFF Stevie. Dyer gets some of the show’s best lines – “Fast and the Furious: Sydney fucking Drift, son!” – and delivers the heck out of them. In fact, although her comedic timing is on point and honed with roles on shows like Kiki and Kitty, The Letdown, Black Comedy, and another Stan Original Series, No Activity, Dyer has some serious dramatic chops as well.
With recurring parts on Love Child, Janet King, and an appearance in Leigh Whannell’s Universal movie reboot The Invisible Man next year, Dyer brings a seasoned intensity to a character who could have so easily been a sidekick played for laughs. Stevie is never that. “What’re your intentions with my boy?” she asks, turning to one of AJ’s second-season love interests. “Don’t hurt him. I will kick you in the box so hard.”
It’s hilarious, but it’s also heartfelt, which is the key to what makes Dyer’s character so endearing.
Claudia Karvan
Her name has been synonymous with Australian film and television for more than 30 years, and Claudia Karvan lends her impressive credentials to The Other Guy’s second season. It’s fitting she’s featured, as it was another romantic, funny and, at times, heartbreaking series – The Secret Life Of Us – that gave her career a second wind as the unlucky-in-love Dr Alex Christensen after 15 years in the business.
As AJ’s agent, Miranda, she’s a lady who gets shit done: opportunistic, smart, and savvy, she sees the potential in her client even when he can’t see it himself. In a cast comprised of people on the come-up or real-life comedians, Karvan brings a sense of prestige and gravitas to the project.
Gracie Otto
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As well as the amazing women in front of the camera, The Other Guy features some of Australia’s most talented women behind it, too — enter Gracie Otto, who directs the entire second season of the series. If her last name sounds familiar, that’s because Otto’s dad is the legendary Barry Otto, the venerable stage, film and TV actor, and her sister Miranda Otto, best known for her performances in the Lord of the Rings franchise.
Yet she has carved a successful career path for herself, swapping a life in front of the camera for a career behind it. Having worked in multiple production roles as an editor, cinematographer, writer, and producer, Otto is primarily known for her work directing documentaries like the critically acclaimed The Last Impresario. The Other Guy is one of her first forays into television and she brings a unique lens to the second season.
Kacie Anning
Besides Okine – whose life, name, and artistry are the engine of the show – Aussie filmmaker Kacie Anning is one of The Other Guy’s other MVPs. After directing a series of shorts and sketch comedy shows You’re Skitting Me and Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am – in which Okine co-starred – Anning went on to direct the entire first season of The Other Guy. She also wrote three episodes of season two, including one of the stand outs: ‘New Wheels’ and ‘Cock Socks’.
She’s one of the sharpest comedic filmmakers in the country, with an eye for both constructing scenes on the page and executing them in a way that’s faithful to the gag, while being visually interesting all at the same time. Having directed two episodes of Greg Daniels’ (creator of The Office and Parks & Recreation) new comedy series Upload, it’s safe to say Anning is about to blow up on the world stage.
Valene Kane
She’s one of Northern Ireland’s most acclaimed actresses, familiar to most audiences for her roles in The Fall, ’71, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as the resistant Lyra Erso. Yet it’s testament to the quality of The Other Guy’s writing and central premise that it was able to lure internationally recognised talent like Kane. In summary, she’s a get. And although it would have been easy to paint her character, Olivia, as AJ’s cheating ex, Kane colours in endless shades of grey.
She’s a woman you can’t help but like and empathise with – despite her indiscretions – and Kane helps bring layers of nuance to Olivia. Back for season two and with an even bumpier storyline, Kane allows the audience to see all the traits that made AJ fall in love with her in the first place.
Lily Sullivan
Tipped as “one to watch”, newcomer Lily Sullivan enters The Other Guy with a splash as AJ’s new love interest, Charlie. After making her debut in 2012 in PJ Hogan’s Mental, she was able to hold her own alongside the likes of Toni Collette and Liev Schreiber. Over the past almost-decade, the Heath Ledger Scholarship runner-up has been steadily stacking up credits in shows like Picnic At Hanging Rock and Stan Original Series Romper Stomper.
Better known for her dramatic work, Sullivan flexed her comedic chops in Bjorn Stewart’s hilarious short Killer Native, which was part of the Indigenous horror anthology Dark Place. Sullivan’s name is definitely one you’re gonna know in coming years.
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The brand new season of Stan’s Original Series The Other Guy is now streaming, only on Stan – Australia’s unrivalled home of original productions. Get on board and start your 30 day free trial now!
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(Images courtesy of Stan)