Mr Inbetween

Ray Shoesmith is a man who wears a lot of hats: devoted father, ex-husband, steady boyfriend and close friend. He also works as a fixer for hire, taking on violent jobs that contrast sharply with his everyday family obligations. The series follows how Ray balances mundane domestic tasks, school runs and quiet conversations with the blunt, often brutal work he does to earn a living. Episodes move between small, tense domestic scenes and moments of sharp, transactional violence, showing how ordinary life and criminal work coexist in his routine without tipping into sensationalism.

The show premiered in 2018 and was created by Scott Ryan, who also leads the cast as Ray Shoesmith. It’s an Australian production, shot on location, with a tight ensemble that includes Brooke Satchwell, Damon Herriman and Jeremy Sims.

Critics generally responded well, reflected in audience ratings that praise the dry tone and character focus, and the series holds a strong average score among voters. Reviewers noted the emphasis on masculinity, fatherhood, loyalty and the compromises Ray makes, with many pointing to the writing and lead performance as the series’ strengths rather than high-octane plot twists.

Culturally, the show gained a dedicated international following for treating a violent profession as an unglamorous, routine job and for its deadpan humor. Ray’s restrained reactions and moments of ordinary domesticity alongside brutal work scenes sparked wide online discussion, and the series became a reference point for more grounded takes on the antihero in crime television.

The series attracted attention from the industry and critics in Australia, earning nominations and recognition from local television bodies and boosting Scott Ryan’s profile as a writer and actor. While specifics vary by year, the program’s awards attention helped raise its visibility both domestically and abroad.