Why ‘Almost Family’ Feels Familiar To Netflix Viewers

Fox’s “Almost Family” follows the bonding experience after only child Julia Bechley discovers her dad, a famous fertility doctor, used his own sperm and fathered dozens of children. If that sounds familiar, it might be because it was already a show on Netflix.

Fox’s dramedy is a remake of the Australian comedy “Sisters.” The Aussie show had the same premise, and the three leading ladies were similar. Julia is the awkward one, Edie is the high-powered lawyer who grew up with Julia as a family friend and Roxy is the one in the spotlight with some serious issues.

The Australian series, which premiered locally on Channel Ten in October 2017, debuted on Netflix in September 2018. The series hasn’t been renewed or canceled, though. With no Season 2 in sight, “Almost Family” might be the only way for fans to get another Julia-Edie-Roxy story.

The Fox series makes a few changes, aside from making everyone American. Leon Bechley (Timothy Hutton), who was called Julius in the original, starts off in perfect health. He isn’t elderly, so Julia (Brittany Snow) hasn’t been taking care of his every need. Still, she has devoted her life to her father’s work.

Roxy (Emily Osment) is the character who has changed the most. Instead of being a drug-addicted children's show star, she’s a drug-addicted former athlete. Her parents are also much more interested in their daughter funding their lives than getting help.

Edie (Megalyn Echikunwoke) is biracial this time, but otherwise, she’s still a high-powered lawyer with a hippie mother and a husband who used to date Julia.

“Almost Family” isn’t exactly like the Australian show, and it’ll likely get further away from the source material as it goes on. However, it might be exactly what “Sisters” fans need to fill the void the Netflix show left behind.

“Almost Family” Season 1 premieres Wednesday on Fox.