Australian actors Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, who have been a couple since 2017 and married in 2021, are drawing on their real-life relationship to co-create, co-write, and star in the Paramount+ series “Colin From Accounts.” The show, now entering its third and final season on Thursday, explores the complexities of a romantic relationship through its characters Ashley, a trainee doctor played by Dyer, and Gordon, a brewpub owner recovering from testicular cancer portrayed by Brammall.
The series opens with a chaotic meet-cute that quickly sets the tone for a relationship full of messy, imperfect moments. Ashley inadvertently flashes a nipple, while Gordon, distracted, runs over a dog, which the couple then adopts and names Colin From Accounts. Over two seasons, the show has traced their ups and downs, breakups, and reconciliations. The upcoming season jumps ahead three years, depicting the characters living apart yet still emotionally entangled.
Speaking from their home in Los Angeles, Dyer and Brammall described the show as reflecting aspects of their own partnership while maintaining a boundary between real life and fiction. “There is a wall between us and those characters, but that wall is pretty porous,” Brammall noted. The pair co-write and co-plot all episodes, dividing scripts equally in the absence of a traditional writer’s room, allowing for an uninhibited, organic creative process.
The show’s portrayal of relationships diverges from typical romantic comedies by presenting characters who are both “messy,” embodying the realities of relationships rather than adhering to strict archetypes. “Sometimes he’s the messy one. Sometimes she is,” Dyer said. She added that the characters’ flaws and mutual attempts to fix their mistakes align with the dynamics of a real relationship.
A notable storyline addresses male infertility, mirroring Brammall’s personal experience with health issues affecting fertility. While he has not had testicular cancer, a condition his character endures, Brammall shared that his own challenges informed the narrative subtly and authentically.
“Colin From Accounts” also retains a distinctly Australian flavor, from its vernacular to its humor and depiction of the country’s scrappy, youthful spirit. The newest season even incorporates a wildlife encounter, including a real spider, to highlight Australian stereotypes. “People are like: ‘We’re never going to Australia. They have snakes there.’ I’m like, ‘You have guns!’” Dyer remarked.
The decision to separate Ashley and Gordon between seasons provided narrative space for a time jump and fresh storylines, allowing the show to explore themes of old flames and unfinished business. While both actors find dramatic fight scenes more dynamic to perform than romantic ones, they express care in crafting a conclusion that feels satisfying and somewhat comforting for viewers. “I hope it’s good. I hope that it makes people happy,” Dyer said.
The couple’s collaborative effort on “Colin From Accounts” reflects their shared commitment to depicting authentic, relatable relationships infused with humor and chaos — and the occasional scruffy dog named Colin.