Invisible Boys

This is one of the best Australian television series focusing on gay men and it needs to be seen by everyone. Set in the remote town of Geraldton, during the time of the gay marriage vote in Australia; it centres around the feelings and emotions of guys with brutal honesty and integrity. Whether you're gay or not, you can't help riding the emotional roller coaster with each of these characters. The performances are truly inspiring and endearing. All the actors do their parts so well. Pia Miranda who portrays a stereotypical homophonic matriarch is so good that she made me seethe with rage whenever she spoke her slurs.

This show was absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend it to anyone. The storyline and the journeys of the four main characters felt incredibly real and relatable. While some of the dialogue leans into familiar LGBTQ+ TV tropes-occasionally making certain moments feel a bit cliché or cringey-it also rings true to real experiences I've had, which made it deeply personal and impactful.

The core four actors delivered outstanding performances, bringing real depth and complexity to their characters. The writers and cast deserve recognition for portraying queer characters with nuance, something often lacking in similar shows within the genre. They also had a real chemistry with each other that I sometimes find lacking in many gay couples portrayed in TV.

At times, the sex scenes felt somewhat over-the-top and gratuitous, but they also reflected the authentic young gay experience in a way that many viewers, myself included, can relate to. I particularly appreciate the writers' approach to the endings of the two main couples-they avoided pandering to fan service and instead stayed true to the show's raw and authentic tone.

Going into this series, I didn't expect it to evoke such intense emotions, but there was a moment where I genuinely felt my heart break for two of the main characters. The entire cast was impressive, but Joe Klocek (who plays Matt) stood out the most-his phenomenal performance left a lasting impact on me, and I can't stop thinking about it (especially episode 9).

Although some fans are hoping for a second season, I believe the show ended perfectly. Everything wrapped up in a way that felt complete, even if the ending was heartbreaking. I'm still reeling from the emotional impact, but I'd absolutely recommend this series to anyone.

Holden Sheppard's novel Invisible Boys is likely the most moving and relatable book for many Aussie gay guys (especially if you grew up in a regional town).

Whether or not you have read the book - do yourself a favour and watch this TV show.

The adaptation is brilliant. It stays true to the overall narrative of the book, but has some fantastic additions too - such as the unintended impact of the same sex marriage vote on LGBTIQ+ kids, intersecting with the continued struggles of the aboriginal community, and delving deeper into isolation and mental health for men in the bush.

This adaptation is incredibly brave, highlighting the highs and lows of queer teenage life, without shying away from the awkwardness and messiness - something that we haven't seen in mainstream TV, both in Aus or abroad. Real life isn't Hollywood!

This is for all ages (MA15+ of course) - whether you're going through it now, have been through it in the past, or you're just human. There is so much to relate to with this show.

Thank you to Nicholas Verso for brining this to life so beautifully, and of course, to Holden! Joseph, Aydan, Zach and Joe, you really embodied Charlie, Zeke, Hammer and Matt. It means a lot to everyone who has connected so deeply to the characters via the book. Very grateful.

Growing up gay will probably never be easy or simple, but the more we are able to see ourselves in books and on screens, the better things will be for future generations of queer kids.

"I felt less alone knowing you were here."

This show was absolutely incredible It truly captures the heart of so many issues from homophobia to family pressures to race it truly was incredible and so well crafted.

Pia plays such an incredible role !

The stories in this series make you just cry and laugh and feel all the emotions ! It's so raw and real and it has made me so proud to be an Aussie ! I wish there would have been a show like this when I was younger to help me realise so many things.

Congratulations to all the cast and crew you should be so proud ! I cried like a baby at the end of this and I hope there will be a season 2.

We definetly need more tv shows like this. The heartbreak and the joy, the portratization of being queer and ignored(invisible), the frustrations we go through.

This series literally filled my heart. It destroyed it too, a bit. I was on the edge of my seat while watching the boys' story give real insight of what it is really like to be queer in a small town, and not just that. "Invisible boys" shows what is like to be just human, to be a mother, to be a friend, a lover or a fiancée, to literally just exist. We often feel stuck to a place, unable to move(away or on), and this series portrays it perfectly. It is not just the LGBTQ+ experience that is described with both beauty and sorrow, but the universal experience of being human and what it means to love, to love yourself or others.

I think the actors did a wonderful job fitting into the roles of Charlie, Zeke, Hammer and Matt. I felt and cried with them. And their story, their individual stories and their love stories, they just made me want them all to be happy. And I dearly hope that this tv show will get international recognition and praise, so I can dare to imagine we someday we will also get a 2nd season, to see how the boys are coping to their brand new lives.