Janet King (2014) Series Review

『A story of prosecutor Janet, who wavers between law and justice, love and loss, yet continues to move forward with resilience』

🎥 Series Overview

🎬 Title: Janet King (2014–present)
🌍 Country: 🇦🇺 Australia
🎞️ Genre: Legal Drama / Crime Thriller / Female Lead
🗓️ Airing Period: Began in 2014 (subsequent seasons released)
⏳ Total Episodes: Season 1 – 6 episodes (additional seasons exist)
📢 Broadcaster: ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
📺 Platform: ABC, online streaming

👩‍💼 Cast: Marta Dusseldorp – Janet King
Kate Box – Ash
Kaitlyn Maher – Bianca Grieve
Lina Lathouris – Erin

🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers)

⚖️ Janet King, an unwavering prosecutor for justice

After returning from maternity leave, Janet King throws herself back into complex cases and systemic corruption, pursuing justice with fierce determination. Beneath her professionalism and strength lies personal anguish, as she struggles to balance the weight of human emotions between the courtroom and her home life.

💔 Family loss and life thereafter

After building a happy family with her partner of nine years, Ash, and their twins, Janet’s world collapses when Ash is suddenly killed. Raising the twins while grappling with this deep grief, Janet tries to endure. Yet, the unrelenting challenges in court constantly collide with her personal sorrow, adding layers of complexity to her journey.

🕵️‍♀️ Internal conflicts and high-stakes investigations

Janet’s investigations are fraught with rivalries, conspiracies, and corruption among the powerful, heightening the series’ tension. Interference from fellow prosecutors Owen and Erin, along with cases like the Blakely incident, ground the drama in real-world issues while also exploring the dynamics of Janet’s relationships with those around her.

💞 An emotional bond with Bianca

Her collaboration with Federal Police Sergeant Bianca grows beyond professional partnership into deep trust and love. The authentic and nuanced emotional journey between these two women resonates strongly with the LGBT+ community, offering comfort while realistically portraying the obstacles individuals and society impose.

⚔️ The fight at the crossroads of law and life

Janet strives to balance the pursuit of justice with her personal loss, often confronting legal and moral dilemmas. Until the series’ end, her inner transformation unfolds in parallel with the truths of the cases, deeply exploring human psychology and resilience.

🦋 Emotional Resonance and Significance

🎥 A compelling protagonist: the perfectionist Janet King

Marta Dusseldorp’s portrayal of Janet King is undeniably the heart of the series. In the courtroom, she embodies a charismatic elite, wielding logic and drive to achieve justice with commanding presence.

Outstanding professionalism: Janet boldly tackles high-profile and politically charged cases such as the Commission into Firearms and the National Crime Commission. Viewers admire her flawless work ethic and unbreakable will.

Human flaws: Outside the courtroom, Janet is awkward and emotionally guarded. Her obsessive dedication to work (workaholism) stands as her greatest flaw, one that fatally undermines all of her romantic relationships.

👩‍⚖️ The tragedy of love: loss of Ash

From the very beginning, Janet’s life is shadowed by her relationship with her partner "Ash" Ashleigh Larsson.

Long partnership and sacrifice: Though they shared twins, Season 1 already hints that Janet’s workaholism forced Ash to shoulder the entire burden of childcare and domestic life.

Sudden loss: Ash’s murder is more than a shocking plot point—it becomes Janet’s deepest personal reckoning. Not only does she lose the person she loved, but in Season 2, she discovers through Ash’s emails the hidden pain her partner endured. Overcome by guilt, Janet realizes Ash’s tragedy was the most devastating price of her relentless dedication to work.

🔍 New romance and repeated failure

After Ash’s death, Janet begins a new relationship with colleague Bianca Grieve, offering a glimpse of hope that she might reclaim balance in life.

• A healing relationship: Bianca understands Janet’s trauma, cares for her children, and brings warmth and healthy energy into her life. Viewers begin to hope Janet has finally found balance between work and family.
• The cycle repeats: But in Season 3, Janet once again throws herself entirely into solving cases, neglecting Bianca. Realizing that Janet will always prioritize work above her, Bianca ends their relationship. This painful truth highlights Janet’s inability to resolve her core flaw. Though triumphant in the courtroom, Janet King remains a tragic figure who repeatedly fails in love.

🌈 Complex and mature LGBT characters

《Janet King》 stands out for portraying a strong, capable lesbian protagonist without using her sexuality as the central source of conflict. Instead, the series focuses on professional ambition, responsibility, and the clash with personal happiness, offering a mature and universal narrative.

Janet King is not simply a “female hero,” but a flawed and realistic character whose shortcomings repeatedly undermine her relationships, making her deeply relatable and human.

🎯 Personal Rating (by preference)

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★★★