Kid Sister (TV series)
Kid Sister is a New Zealand television comedy drama series, created by Simone Nathan for TVNZ+, which premiered on 22 May 2022. Set in Auckland, the series focuses on the family's traditional/Orthodox-adjacent Jewish community. There are family tensions when the Jewish protagonist, Lulu (Simone Nathan) begins a relationship with a non-Jewish man, Ollie (Paul Williams). Her parents, Siggy (Jeff Szusterman) and Keren (Amanda Billing) are insistent that she marries within the faith. The situation becomes more complicated when Lulu learns that she is pregnant. The series streams on ITVX in the United Kingdom.

Cast and characters
Simone Nathan as Lulu Emanuel
 Paul Williams as Ollie, Lulu's boyfriend
Amanda Billing as Keren Emanuel, Lulu's South African Jewish mother
Jeff Szusterman as Siggy Emanuel, Lulu's father
Joseph Nathan as Leo Emanuel, Lulu's brother
Kira Josephson as Bec, Lulu's sister-in-law
Peter Hayden as Hershey
Roxie Mohebbi as Sina
Ari Boyland as Rabbi Rob

Production
The series was filmed in Auckland, with synagogue scenes taking place at Auckland Hebrew Congregation, a Modern Orthodox synagogue on Greys Avenue. The first season received funding of up to $822, 350 from NZ On Air.

Reception
The series was positively reviewed by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, with Adrian Hennigan praising the casting, storytelling and comparing it favourably with Shiva Baby.

In New Zealand, the show was praised with Stuff describing it as 'a confident, bold debut full of chutzpah that deserves to find an audience, both among "insiders" and Kiwis from all walks of life'. Stuff also praised the casting, particularly the parents played by Billing and Szusterman.

Subsequent seasons
Series creator, Nathan has plans for further seasons. She plans to focus the second season around the Orthodox Conversion to Judaism of Lulu's boyfriend, Ollie. She would explore how this would impact Lulu's identity as a Cultural Jew to now attending conversion classes with her partner and engaging more in a Modern Orthodox lifestyle. Nathan's real-life partner is converting to Orthodox Judaism and so she plans to draw from these experiences.As of June 2023, a second season is in production.

References

External links

2020s New Zealand television series
Orthodox Judaism in Oceania
Orthodox Judaism in popular culture
Television shows set in New Zealand
Television series about Jews and Judaism
Television shows funded by NZ on Air
New Zealand television sitcoms
Television shows filmed in New Zealand
Jews and Judaism in New Zealand