Austin

Don't often say it but this show is one that deserves to have another season because of how good Michael Theo is as Austin. Theo plays the character with heart and integrity of someone in a lived experience and he nails all this scenes alongside those who have been around the industry longer then he has. His comedic timing is perfect and his dry wit was so good. This is a brilliant show and deserves to be renewed so fingers are crossed that abc does so because it would be so wrong if they didn't

Canberra serves as a wonderful backdrop especially after total control and it is great to see our country on full display.

I really enjoyed this series. Funny, quietly sad, real, heartwarming, with absolutely perfect casting and terrific acting. Every single character, from the smallest role to the leads, were wonderful. I loved all of them, and especially Roy Billing as Austin's grandfather. He just about stole the show for me. I also loved the Canberra and London settings and seeing one of my favourite hotels - the Park Hyatt Canberra - featured, albeit under a non de plume!

Binged all 8 eps and was so sorry when it came to an end. There just has to be a second series.

Do yourself a quality television favour and don't miss this very special ABC Original series.

Let's scotch some myths about autism. If you've met one neurodiverse person, you've met one neurodiverse person.

1. People with autism are often highly empathetic. Emotional empathy in particular. One of my neurodivergent (ND) staff can be brought to tears instantly at the mention of a child being hurt. Another will be annoyed by news of integrity breaches or negligence. By contrast, cognitive empathy can be difficult. Not so much between ND people but an ND person trying to read a neurotypical mind.

Consider Greta Thunberg: emotional empathy with the effects of the climate crisis, cognitive empathy in how she can't understand why intelligent people have known about climate change and how to fix it for decades, but they are not doing anything!

Some of my ND staff limit eye contact but can engage in conversation with a "normal amount" of eye contact.

Consider also that ND people "mask" to fit in. E.g. "I must maintain eye contact, because that's what normals do." Michael Theo may be Australia's most well-known person with autism. He deserves a script credit for advising how an ND person would express and respond.

It's fair to say that Austin is a show about Julian and the (often self-inflicted) chaos that surrounds him. The character of Austin is genuine and believable, largely because he is played by Michael Theo. Austin's mum and grandfather are also authentic. Protective and supportive, proud and concerned.

Austin is a great series.

Watch it and then watch Patience. (Neuro noir)

Despite good performances and an intriguing premise, I felt the focus of the series was misplaced.

Most of the running time was spent on the main couple's marital, professional and First World problems. And then there was a pointless sub-plot about Austin parent's bizarrely flying around the world to sit in a car.

In fact, it wouldn't take a huge rewrite to make this show not about a person on the autistic spectrum.

Perhaps that was the point. Maybe we shouldn't make a big issue out of autism. But it seems a wasted opportunity to create a character like Austin and then not explore all the positive and challenging aspects of being on the spectrum, especially nowadays when so many people could potentially relate to it, learn from it and even benefit from it.

Watched the first episode on TV and had to binge the rest on iView. What a beautiful and heart warming series. Michael Theo...what a star! I hope we see more of this great talent on our screens.

The storyline was great, and everyone in this series played terrific roles, including the cameos. And what a pleasant surprise to see something filmed in Canberra, apart from politics.

In a time where there is a lot of doom and gloom on TV, watching Austin will make you forget all the bad news, I promise you!

I really hope there will be a second series for this wonderful show.

It's a 10 out 10 for Austin!