SBS on Demand: The Writer, Thin Blue Line, Back to Life.

Israeli comedy drama The Writer, Swedish crime drama Thin Blue Line and UK comedy Back to Life S2 drop this week at SBS on Demand.

The Writer
Thursday, 30 September
All ten episodes available to stream. In Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles.
The Writer is an auto fictional series from the creator of the award-winning comedy Arab Labor, Sayed Kashua. It centres on Kashua’s fictional self, Kateb, who like the lead character Amjad from his former series Arab Labor, is an Arab Palestinian living in Israel and struggling with an identity crisis which affects his and his whole family’s sense of belonging and nationality.
Everything seems perfect, but as he nears 40, he has a growing sense of shame and loathing towards the niche he has carved out for himself. Painfully aware of the gap between reality and its portrayal on the show, he knows what a difference there is between his real self and his lead character who has been written to please and find favour. The more he writes his own character on the show, the greater the disparity.

Thin Blue Line
Friday, 1 October
All ten episodes available. In Swedish with English subtitles.
When your job – and your career – requires you to deal with the grittiest parts of society, how do you remain whole and happy? Procedural crime drama Thin Blue Line gets under the skin of what being a modern-day cop is really about, following six diverse police officers in the vibrant multicultural city of Malmö.
Never a simple 9 to 5, their working day involves the constant threat of violence and danger. As they try to balance their evolving personal and professional lives, and the fight against the city’s criminals intensifies, the line between private and public starts to blur. With social media reactions from the local community cleverly woven into each episode, this ten-part drama takes audiences on a memorable, thrilling and emotional journey.
The cast includes Amanda Jansson, Oscar Töringe, Gizem Erdogan, Per Lasson, and Anna Sise.

Back To Life (Season Two)
Friday, 1 October
All six episodes available to stream. S1 will also be available.
Back to Life follows Miri Matteson, a good woman who did a terrible thing, returning to life in her quiet hometown after 18 years in prison.
Created by and starring Daisy Haggard and co-written by Haggard and Perrier Award winner Laura Solon (Office Christmas Party, Let it Snow), the six-part second season of Back to Life sees Miri optimistic about her future, as probation officer Janice (Jo Martin) has gotten her a trial shift at the supermarket, and her neighbour Billy (Adeel Akhtar) has been spending more time with her. However, Miri is also not talking to her mother Caroline (Geraldine James) after finding out she had an affair with Miri’s ex-boyfriend Dom (Jamie Michie). Christine Bottomley also stars as Miri’s best friend, Mandy.