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Why ‘The Road Trip’ Might Just Be The Escapist Series We All Need Right Now

Two exes travelling to a wedding together, what could go wrong?
The Road Trip Paramount
Image: Paramount

The age old road trip plot line is a narrative path well travelled.

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Audiences, and readers alike have long been drawn to journeys of self-discovery where long stretches of highway provide metaphor rich backdrops for tales personal transformation, but what happens when the traditional format gets an unexpected shakeup?

The television series adaptation of Beth O’Leary’s The Road Trip delivers a fresh take on the rom-com genre with its character-driven exploration of relationships, class dynamics and the power of hindsight creating a playful drama with depth.

Below, everything you need to know about our latest streaming fixation, The Road Trip.

What Is The Road Trip About?

The Road Trip Paramount (1)
Image: Paramount
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The Road Trip is based on the novel of the same name by Beth O’Leary.

The author’s previous book-to-television adaptation of The Flatshare – based on two 20-somethings forced to share an apartment (and bed) due to London’s woeful rental market, was an instant hit, proving there was a tried and tested audience for O’Leary’s unconventional rom-com style.

And this latest adaptation is no exception.

As per writers Ryan O’Sullivan and Matilda Wnek’s description, the series is a more relatable exploration of traditional rom-com tropes.

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“Two people who haven’t spoken since their explosive breakup two years earlier are both heading to the same wedding and anticipating running into each other for the first time. But, in the first mile of the journey, their cars crash together, and they’re forced to run into each other much sooner than they were prepared for. They have to share a ride to the wedding and on the journey, they’re forced to deal with the part each of them played in the breakup, while also remembering all the ways in which they were perfectly suited,” explains O’Sullivan.

“The two main witnesses of the breakup and the relationship, Addie’s sister Deb and Dylan’s best friend Marcus, are in the car. And hitching a ride is Rodney – who leads us into trying to get to the bottom of what happened. There’s an underlying mystery as to exactly why our leads parted ways, which is where the story grapples with some darker themes,” explains O’Sullivan.

“Fans of the book will know that these darker elements are definitely integral to the story,” adds Wnek.

“We were keen to seed the conflict in Addie and Dylan’s relationship from the very beginning and then show how that unravels them – Addie’s class and her security and social skills are not the same as Dylan’s, who is from a wealthy background, and that affects their experiences.”

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Intercutting between the past and the present, the result is a modern tale of love in your late twenties, explored through a variety of perspectives that’s at once amusing and thought-provoking.

Who Is Cast In The Road Trip?

The Road Trip Series Cast
Image: Getty

The series adaptation is directed by China Moo-Young, whose BBC adaptation of Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love also starred actress Emma Appleton, who plays Addie.

Laurie Davidson (Cats, Will and The Good Liar) plays Addie’s complex ex, Dylan, who drew on his own experiences to tap into his on-screen character.

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“I think of all the roles I’ve played, it’s probably the one that’s closest to me – there’s a lot of things that are different, but I tried to bring as much of myself to it as possible,” explains Davidson.

“I’ve never been in any of those situations but there was enough that aligns. I’m certainly not as wealthy as Dylan, but I understand some of those dynamics.”

Along for the ride is David Jonsson (Industry), cast as Dylan’s best friend and life of the party, Marcus, whose own dynamic with Dylan provides more than a few road bumps along the journey.

Playing Addie’s younger half sister Deb, is Isabella Laughland, who takes on the character of the supportive sibling with much-needed nuance.

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Finally, taking up the final seat in the van as the mysterious uninvited guest Rodney, is Angus Imrie (Fleabag).

Where To Watch The Road Trip In Australia

Australian viewers can watch all six episodes of The Road Trip on Paramount +, streaming now, here.


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