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H2O: Just Add Water
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Created By:
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Produced By:
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Jonathan M. Shiff
Joanna Werner |
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Executive Producers:
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Writers:
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Philip Dalkin
Deb Cox Simon Butters Joss King Anthony Morris Sam Carroll Max Dann Chris Anastassiades Susan MacGillicuddy Chris Roache |
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Directors:
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Colin Budds & Jeffrey Walker
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Aired:
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Series 1: 2006
Series 2: 2007-2008 Series 3: 2009-2010 |
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Starring:
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H2O: Just Add Water (simply known as H2O) is a AFI & Logie award-winning Australian television series. It first aired on Australia's Channel Ten in 2006, and later on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and ZDF. The series currently runs on TV in over 120 countries all over the world and has an audience of more than 250 million. The series used to be found on Netflix, but now only seen on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu & YouTube in the United States.
It was also available for viewing on Cartoon Network Video in 2010. Mermaid Rikki Chadwick appeared in the last two episodes of the spin off show; Mako: Island of Secrets, in which she reminiscences about the time she was transformed into a mermaid with her two friends via a flashback.
An animated version of this show named H2O: Mermaid Adventures has been made quite loosely based on the first season only as it was cancelled after its twenty-sixth episode.
Characters[]
Main Characters[]
- Rikki Chadwick (Cariba Heine) - Rikki's not very outgoing and quite a rebel, but is always there for her friends. Her mermaid powers allow her to boil water and anything with water in it; she is later able to control fire and lightning. Rikki appears in all three seasons, and makes a special appearance in the two final episodes in the third season of Mako: Island of Secrets.
- Emma Gilbert (Claire Holt) - Emma enjoys horse riding, swimming and working at JuiceNet Café. Her mermaid powers allow her to freeze anything that contains water, and later to freeze without water. Emma is in Seasons 1 - 2, and in Season 3, Emma is traveling the world with her family.
- Cleo Sertori (Phoebe Tonkin) - Cleo is shy and awkward, but a loyal friend. Her mermaid power allows her to mold water into a different shape, and in season 2, to create a strong wind. Cleo appears in all 3 seasons.
- Lewis McCartney (Angus McLaren) - Lewis has known Cleo since they were 5. He is very clever, and has always helped the girls with their mermaid secret. Lewis is in Seasons 1-2 and in the first half of Season 3 before leaving for America to study science. McLaren left to film a television show, to pursue a more mature acting career. However, he returns as a guest star in the finale.
- Isabella "Bella" Hartley (Indiana Evans) - A new mermaid is introduced in Season 3, as a "replacement" for Emma who left to travel the world, despite her mermaid tail and strong cryo-hydrokinetic and full-fledged cryokinetic abilities. She is a singer and a mermaid since the age of nine, and her power allows her to turn water into jelly and also turn water solid.
- William "Will" Benjamin (Luke Mitchell) - Will is an attractive young male free-diver who falls in love with Bella. His first trip to Mako Island during the Full Moon leads him to get attacked by a water tentacle and frightens Will into discovering the secrets behind the Moon Pool. He also knows the girls are mermaids and helps them throughout their last year of high school and remains the boyfriend the mermaid stated above.
Secondary Characters[]
- Zane Bennett (Burgess Abernethy) - Zane's the local bad boy. Spoiled, rich, but good-looking, he and the girls at first disliked each other. Later, he and Rikki became a couple. After he found out about Rikki being a mermaid, they broke up, but eventually got back together. Zane and Rikki break up again in Season 3, and this time definitively. Zane is in seasons 1 - 3.
- Charlotte Watsford (Brittany Byrnes) - Charlotte is the girls' personal archenemy in Season 2. Later, she became a mermaid by instinctively going into the Moon Pool during a full moon, but at the end of the series, she lost her tail and powers forever, just as her grandmother had half a century ago. After becoming a mermaid, Charlotte received all of the girls' original three water-based powers, and became power hungry. She believed she was the only true mermaid, due to her maternal grandmother, Gracie, being one of the three original mermaids in the 1950s.
- Miss Louise Chatham (Christine Amor) - She was one of the three original mermaids and helped the girls in Season 1.
- Miriam Kent (Annabelle Stephenson) - Miriam thought of herself as Zane's girlfriend, but, apparently to him, she wasn't. She dislikes the girls, especially Rikki, and is one of the main antagonists in Season 1, the only season she appears in.
- Kim Sertori (Cleo Massey) - Kim is Cleo's annoying little sister. She has come close to finding out the girls' secret. Her favorite color is pink, since she wears it almost all the time. Kim is in seasons 1 - 3.
- Elliot Gilbert (Trent Sullivan) - Elliot is Emma's younger brother. Through the series, he has developed crushes on Kim and Rikki. He's got a strong bond with his sister, and appears in most of the episodes. Elliot appears in seasons 1 and 2, but during season 3 goes on a globe trotting trip with Emma and his parents.
- Nate (Jamie Timony) - Nate is Zane's insensitive and dumb friend, who seems to enjoy getting in trouble. He has a crush on Cleo and later Bella. Nate enjoys singing, but sounds terrible. Nate appears in seasons 1 - 3.
- Sophie Benjamin (Taryn Marler) - Sophie is Will's older sister, and one of the main antagonists of season 3. She is curious about the magical gems of Mako Island and hopes to destroy the Moon Pool to drill the cavern and take away the gems to sell. She is a strict trainer for Will's diving. Sophie appears in Season 3.
- Linda Denman (Lara Cox) - Dr. Linda Denman is a Marine Biologist who discovers that the girls are mermaids and then tries to capture them in the moon pool. Linda only appears in season 1, and she's the main antagonist, and supposedly leaves after believing the girls lost their powers during a lunar eclipse.
- Tiffany (Alice Hunter) - Tiffany was the mistreated friend of Miriam. She has a secret one-sided crush on Lewis. Tiffany is only in season 1.
- Byron (Christopher Poree) - Byron was a swimming and surfing champ that Miriam and Emma have a crush on. He dates and is then dumped by Emma. Byron is only in Season 1.
- Donald Sertori (Alan David Lee) - Cleo and Kim's dad. Donald is in seasons 1 - 3.
- Samantha Sertori (Penni Gray) - Samantha is a geologist. She eventually marries Donald Sertori. Sam is only in season 3.
- Ash (Craig Horner) - Ash is a horseman and begins to work at the JuiceNet Café, where he meets Emma and falls in love with her. At first, they have a rocky start, but later become friends and even boyfriend and girlfriend. Ash appears in Season 2.
- Neil Gilbert (Jared Robinsen) - Neil is Emma and Elliot's dad. He's a businessman for Harrison Bennett. Neil is in seasons 1-2, then goes on a family trip around the world.
- Lisa Gilbert (Caroline Kennison) - Lisa is Emma and Elliot's mom. She is a certified junior lifeguard. Lisa is in seasons 1-2, then goes on a family trip around the world.
- Wilfred (Ariu Lang Sio) - Wilfred is the owner of the JuiceNet Café. Wilfred is in seasons 1-2 but does not appear in season 3 after the JuiceNet Café is closed down and transformed into Rikki's Café.
- Harrison Bennett (Joss McWilliam) - Harrison is Zane Bennett's dad. He is extremely rich and only in season 1.
- Ms. Taylor (Mouche Phillips) - Ms. Taylor is Lewis and Cleo's Science teacher. She is only in season 3.
- Ryan Tate (Andrew Lees) - Ryan Tate is Samantha Sertori's co-worker and a geologist.
- Bev Sertori (Deborah Coulls) - Bev Sertori is the mother of Cleo and Kim, and the ex-wife of Don Sertori. Bev divorced her husband, and the strain of her absence causes stress between the girls and their father.
- Annette Watsford (Tiffany Lamb) - Annette Watsford is the mother of Charlotte and the daughter of Gracie. She explains things about Gracie's past to Charlotte. Annette only appears in season 2.
- Amber (Rebekah Madden-Fisher) - Amber is one of Emma's friends. She only appears three times during Season 2.
- Max Hamilton (Martin Vaughan) - Max Hamilton is the former boyfriend of Gracie, and knew about her, Julie, and Louise's powers. 50 years before season 2, Max did research on planetary alignments. He and Lewis become friends, and Max learns about Emma, Cleo, and Rikki's secrets. He donates his research to Lewis, but also tells Charlotte about her grandmother, and helps explain to Charlotte how to become a mermaid. Max later helps Lewis by telling him about the planetary alignment that will remove a mermaid of her powers, and the girls use this to remove Charlotte's powers. Max appears in season 2 only.
- Laurie (Matthew O'Kine) - Laurie is one of the workers at the Sea World Marine Park. He is a good friend of Cleo and Lewis and appears only in seasons 2-3.
- Mrs. Geddes (Andrea Moor) - Mrs. Geddes is the manager of Sea World Marine Park, also she is strict with her workers. She appears in one episode of Season 1 and one episode of season 2.
Seasons Summaries[]
Season 1[]
Emma, Cleo and Rikki in their mermaid form.
The first series revolves around Emma Gilbert, Cleo Sertori and Rikki Chadwick, who are turned into mermaids. They discover their amazing powers over water - Cleo can control the shape and volume of water, Emma can freeze it, and Rikki can boil it. Lewis McCartney, a friend of Cleo - and later of the three of them, helps them from being exposed. This series is about Rikki, Emma and Cleo learning to use their powers and dealing with everyday problems. Cleo meets Louise Chatham, who was a mermaid and who warns her, Emma and Rikki from the full moon. Zane Bennett is trapped at Louise's sinking boat and Emma has to save him. Zane sees her tail and looks everywhere near Mako Island for the "sea monster". Zane sees Emma as a mermaid, but didn't recognize her because she had red hair. Rikki and Zane become a couple. At the end of the season, Zane helps Dr. Denman capture the mermaids. Zane finds out who the mermaids are and rescues them with Lewis' help. During the lunar eclipse, the girls lose their powers, only for twelve hours, but it was enough for Dr. Denman to lose interest in them.
Season 2[]
Charlotte, Rikki, Cleo and Emma, in their human form.
A full moon in conjunction with a rare planetary alignment calls the girls to the moon pool at Mako Island where their powers and abilities are greatly augmented and strengthened. The second season revolves around the arrival of a new girl, Charlotte Watsford, who has just moved to the neighborhood and develops an attraction for Lewis. After Charlotte sees a film of her grandmother Gracie as a mermaid she meets Max Hamilton who was once romantically involved with Gracie. Happy to have met his lover's granddaughter he tells her about the previous mermaids and Mako Island. Charlotte travels to the moon pool during a full moon and becomes the fourth mermaid in possession of all the girls' powers. Believing herself superior as the one "true mermaid" she and the girls become sworn enemies. This conflict results in a confrontation, during an especially strong and powerful full moon, which ends with Charlotte being permanently stripped of her mermaid powers and mermaid form. The girls also have romantic entanglements. Cleo breaks up with Lewis for being too clingy and protective after which he dates Charlotte. Rikki and Zane start dating again after breaking up during the series one finale. Emma meets Ash, but he's frustrated by all the secrets she is constantly hiding. Eventually Emma confesses to him that she's a mermaid. Meanwhile, Lewis is conflicted between his friends and Charlotte, but in the end he comes to the conclusion that his loyalty is to girls, and Cleo. Lewis decides to break-up with Charlotte and resume his relationship with Cleo.
Season 3[]
Rikki, Cleo and their new friend Bella, in their mermaid form.
It's nearly the end of the summer holidays and Cleo and Rikki are about to face their last year of high school without Emma, who has gone overseas. Together with Lewis, they're confident they know everything about Mako Island. But when water attacks the girls on a full moon, they realize a new, potentially dangerous force is developing, and Will, a boy with freakish free-diving skills who stumbles upon the Moon Pool could hold the key to understanding the powerful energy. Thankfully they find an ally in Bella, a new girl in town who reveals she too is a mermaid with extraordinary powers. Together, the new trio face phenomenal challenges as they discover the dark secrets of Mako Island and realize their destiny as mermaids.
H2O: Just Add Water: The Movie[]
This television movie merely summarized the events of the beginning of the first season as opposed to another plot altogether, superimposing the episodes: "Metamorphosis", "Pool Party", "Catch of the Day", "Party Girls", "Lovesick", "The Denman Affair" and "The Siren Effect".
H2O: Metamorphosis[]
In the United States "Metamorphosis" and "Pool Party" premiered as a one hour movie.
H2O: Exposed[]
In the United States "Dr. Danger" and "A Twist in the Tail" premiered as a one hour movie called "Exposed".
H2O: Just Add Water: And Then There Were Four[]
In some countries, such as Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, the episodes "The Gracie Code, Part One", "The Gracie Code, Part Two" and "And Then There Were Four" are combined into a 70 minute television movie. This version aired only in central and eastern Europe on Jetix.
H2O: Just Add Water: The Finale[]
In some countries, such as Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, the episodes "Three's Company", "Sea Change and "Unfathomable" are combined into a 70 minute television movie. This version aired only in central and eastern Europe on Jetix.
Awards and Nominations[]
Nominations[]
- 2007 Logie Award for "Most Outstanding Children's Program"
- 2007 Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Award for "Best TV Show"
- 2008 Logie Award for "Most Outstanding Children's Program"
Awards[]
- 2008 Nickelodeon Australia Kids' Choice Award for "Best TV Drama Show"
- 2009 Logie Award for "Most Outstanding Children's Program"
Trivia[]
- In the original plans, this series was supposed to consist of only two seasons. But its popularity inspired a third season to be created.
Gallery[]
