Kaz Proctor

Karen "Kaz" Proctor is a main character in television series Wentworth. Kaz is introduced as one of Bea’s supporters and is in a vigilante group called The Red Right Hand. Kaz is portrayed by Tammy MacIntosh. Kaz's main storylines have centred on her idolism of Bea Smith and being a vigilante against men who abuse women.

Characterization and backstory

The SoHo Wentworth website states "At first just a rowdy onlooker during Bea’s sentencing, Kaz Proctor is a perfect example of a dangerous effect just waiting for a cause. Damaged by growing up in a dysfunctional household with a violent and sexually abusive father, further scarred by experiences with angry boyfriends, she’s come to believe all her problems are caused by the violence men inflict on women. Her intensity and hair-trigger temper make her a pretty difficult partner, and she’s got a string of failed and acrimonious relationships behind her to prove it."^[1]

In the episode "Love and Hate", Kaz's past was shown. It was revealed that Kaz was sexually assaulted as a child by her father. It was also revealed that her mother didn't believe her.^[2]

Storylines

Kaz is first seen yelling support at Bea Smith outside the courthouse after Bea's sentencing.^[3] Bea later receives a letter from Kaz which she ignores until she then sees a news report that is linking her to Kaz’s criminal activities.^[4] Kaz later visits Bea in prison and is offended when Bea tells her not to commit crimes in her name again, Kaz yells at the prison officers about them turning Bea against her. Will Jackson confronts Kaz when he believes that she could have murdered Harry Smith.^[5] Offscreen, it is believed that Kaz plants Harry's murder weapon at Will Jackson’s house and tips off the police.^[6] Weeks later Bea requests to see Kaz because she has DNA of someone who attacked her. Bea promises that Kaz and her vigilante group can go after the attacker.^[7] In the season finale, Bea gets the name of Ferguson’s henchman from Kaz and then betrays Kaz by telling her she doesn’t care about Kaz’s group. Kaz threatens Bea. Later on it is saw on a news report that Kaz has been arrested. Kaz is then seen entering Wentworth as a prisoner and she threatens to kill Bea.^[8]

Kaz meets with Bea in the laundry and gives her a bottle of alcohol to welcome her back to Wentworth. Kaz then later protests against the voluntary contraception that was being offered to the prisoners.^[9] When the conjugal visits are declined, Kaz makes plans and causes a nudity riot in the exercise yard. When Will tries to tackle her to the ground she punches him between the legs and he fights back. Vera later tells Kaz that she has no case when she is threatening to sue the prison.^[10] Kaz and Allie (Kate Jenkinson) watch as Ferguson (Pamela Rabe) is brought into the general population. Kaz discusses with her crew that Ferguson has been placed amongst them as they have no history with her. Kaz is then ordered to make Ferguson a cup of tea where Ferguson then tells her not to listen to Bea.^[11] Kaz took center stage in her own flashback episode where it focused on her grieving for her sexually abusive father.^[2] Kaz is sentenced to 12 years for her crimes. Bridget Westfall (Libby Tanner) tries to talk to Kaz about the sentencing but Kaz just loses her temper. That evening, Joan admits to Kaz that she wants to kill Bea.^[12]

Reception

A reviewer for AfterEllen said "I have a femur to pick with the Red Right Hand storyline. Kaz/Karen Proctor, the woman behind the campaign of violence/poorly constructed ski masks is an offensive caricature. While I give credit to the actor playing her—there is a wildfire of crazy raging behind that woman’s eyes—the concept of "feminism out of control" is Not A Thing."^[13]

In a review for the Season Three finale, Kaz is described as both a "loony violent woman" and "the crazed vigilante".^[14]

Elaine Atwell, writing for AfterEllen said "Now I gotta say, I was skeptical about Kaz’s ability to compete with the terrifying villains of seasons past. No one could be a grande dame of infamy quite like Jaqs Holt, no one could hide madness behind such an innocent exterior like Jess, and of course we all love following The Freak down her 79-Step Revenge Plots/Fencing Regimens/JIANNA IS THAT YOU. But this episode, I came to fear Kaz Proctor in her own very specific way, due largely to the toxic intensity brought to the role by Tammy Macintosh" she went on to state, "Like, even just one episode in, Kaz emanates an electricity that feels like standing too near a power station. She hums with it. Her face is tight with it". Atwell concluded her review about Kaz by saying, "And to make her even more dangerous, she has adopted the language of social justice in a way that has the attention of the other women. She calls them “strong women,” she speaks of “abusers and abused.” She encourages them not to take part in a voluntary free birth control program because they control their own bodies. She is basically my nightmare internet commenter come to life. If she said the words “Faking It,” I think I would slam my laptop shut in terror. She’s a real good villain, is what I’m saying, and she also bears many of the hallmarks of borderline personality disorder; meaning that she see’s 90% of people as faceless pawns and the remaining 10% as people to be either desperately loved or hated. And she HATES Bea."^[15]

When talking about Kaz's flashback episode, Atwell for AfterEllen stated "Tammy MacIntosh’s performance is as mesmerizing and terrifying as a wildfire, and she never lets up for a single second."^[16]

References

External links

• Karen "Kaz" Proctor on Wentworth's website