As someone who usually prefers not watching prison dramas, watching Wentworth has been a pleasant surprise.

This article contains spoilers so if you haven’t seen Season 4 of Wentworth, please do not continue reading.

The idea of prison is a terrifying thought so I never wanted to see a depiction of life behind bars.  I primarily watch television to escape the realities of the world.  My television is my quiet time to relax and not think about anything that will cause me discomfort or sadness. That being said, Wentworth was recommended to me by someone who’s opinion I value, so I decided to give it a try.

Yes, there have been many graphic scenes that have caused me to cringe.  But the real gem of Wentworth lies in the characterizations. Strong characters help build strong stories.  And the relationships between these characters help viewers to care about them.  Two of these characters, Susan “Boomer” Jenkins and Maxine Conway played by Katrina Milosevic and Socratis Otto, have really provided stellar performances in Season 4 as their characters’ friendship has grown.  Boomer yearns to have a baby and friend Maxine, who made the transition from male to female, offered the ultimate gift of kindness and generosity: Maxine gave Boomer her frozen sperm sample to use in Boomer’s impregnation.  Anyone who watches Wentworth can attest that despite Boomer’s large size, she’s really a softie.  All Boomer wants is the chance to become a mom. And in prison, that dream is a difficult possibility and undertaking.

Seeing the scenes between Boomer and Maxine warms the heart.  These friends display genuine emotion towards each other and care for the well being and happiness of the other.  When Maxine needed surgery to remove a lump from her breasts, Boomer wanted to accompany her to the hospital for moral support.

These two characters and the actors who play them deserve praise for bringing a beautiful friendship to life.

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