History Series / MotherAndSon

* NotThatKindOfDoctor: zigzagged in the episode where Arthur has a cancer scare:

* IAmWhatIAm: a variant, in the context of Arthur being MistakenForGay:

* FreudianExcuse: After seeing a therapist, Robert convinces himself he has one, blaming his mother's perhaps excessive attentiveness in his childhood for his mistreatment of Liz. [[NeverMyFault It's quite obviously self-serving bullshit,]], especially considering that in literally the next episode he's claiming that she ''neglected'' him as a child after Arthur was born.

''Mother & Son'' is an Australian {{sitcom}} that aired on Creator/TheABC from 1984 to 1994, created by Geoffrey Atherden. The series revolved around Maggie Beare (Ruth Cracknell), a retired widowed nurse in the early stages of dementia, now being taken care of by her recently divorced son Arthur (Garry [=McDonald=]). However, despite being increasingly forgetful, Maggie is lucid enough to manipulate Arthur when she wants to, usually for something devilish that will seriously inconvenience him. The other main characters were Arthur's older brother Robert (Henri Szeps), and Robert's long-suffering wife Liz (Judy Morris).

The plot of the show addresses the problems of ageing and caring for somebody with increasing memory loss, with an often sharp-edged humour which carried with it a tinge of sadness. Maggie and Arthur's relationship was presented with a fascinating complexity - Maggie's cruel attacks on and emotional manipulation of Arthur disguised her deep dependence on and need of him, and Arthur's dutiful love of Maggie was constantly in conflict with his guilty frustration at the huge limitations for his own life which looking after his mother entailed. The performance of Cracknell, a famous stage actress, as Maggie was particularly lauded as one of the finest characterisations on Australian television.

A remimagining of the series began in August 2023, starring Denise Scott as Maggie Boye, Matt Okine as Arthur and Angela Nica Sullen as his [[GenderFlip older sister Robbie]].

'''''Mother & Son''''' is an Australian {{sitcom}} that aired on Creator/TheABC from 1984 to 1994, created by Geoffrey Atherden. The series revolved around Maggie Beare (Ruth Cracknell), a retired widowed nurse in the early stages of dementia, now being taken care of by her recently divorced son Arthur (Garry [=McDonald=]). However, despite being increasingly forgetful, Maggie is lucid enough to manipulate Arthur when she wants to, usually for something devilish that will seriously inconvenience him. The other main characters were Arthur's older brother Robert (Henri Szeps), and Robert's long-suffering wife Liz (Judy Morris).

* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Maggie

* RichBitch: Liz

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: Robert shows up at Arthur's at the end of "The Trip", after Liz kicks him out and changes the locks. He's still there three weeks later, and when Arthur tells him to GetOut, he moves into his caravan, which he parks in Arthur's driveway.
* YourCheatingHeart: Robert's frequent affairs.

!!! This series contains examples of:

-->'''Max''': Well, I was over at the [=McElroy's=] party, and it wasn't nice. There was some randy little maniac charging around, desperately propositioning all the women, young and old. No one was safe.

* HappilyMarried: Robert describes his marriage to Liz as such. "Not delirious, but happy." Of course, the fact that he's saying this to his ''mistress'' probably qualifies as a subversion, and it certainly isn't mutual.

[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]

-->'''Maggie''': That's alright, Arthur. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint But she sounds like a strange choice for you to go to New Zealand with.]]

* FreudianExcuse: After seeing a therapist, Robert convinces himself he has one, blaming his mother's perhaps excessive attentiveness in his childhood for his mistreatment of Liz. [[NeverMyFault It's quite obviously self-serving bullshit,]], especially considering a few episodes later he's claiming that making lamingtons for him is her way of making up for ''neglecting'' him as a child.

-->'''Robert''': She'll be alright on her own. She's been saying that all along, but you haven't been listening. All these problems with Mum are in your head. (''walks out the door'')

* FreudianExcuse: After seeing a therapist, Robert convinces himself he has one, blaming his mother's attentiveness in his childhood for his mistreatment of Liz. [[NeverMyFault It's quite obviously self-serving bullshit.]]

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: Robert shows up at Arthur's at the end of "The Trip", after Liz kicks him out and changes the locks. He's still there three weeks later.

* BlackComedy: Ranging from the frequent jokes involving Maggie's memory to the scene where Maggie seemingly accidentally poisons Uncle Tom.