The Other Guy

OK, I am an Australian, but I rarely watch TV, because on the whole it is dreadful unless you like endless reality-TV. Until I watched this I had never heard of Matt Okine.

I found this quite entertaining and was able to binge watch the whole series over a 4 hour period. Some of it was funny, but I found it more drama than comedy.

Michael-Anthony Taylor was very amusing as AJ's father, Harriet Dyer got a bit tiresome as AJ's friend Stevie and Valene Kane was quite amusing as AJ's cheating ex Liv.

My major gripe was not having any idea why they split up until further into show. Did I miss something? Why was there no mention earlier?

Other than that minor gripe I enjoyed the show. Some of the humour was cringe humour which isn't my thing, but it wasn't overdone here.

7/10 and a show I would recommend.

If you like Australian social theme television series which identities contemporary icons and subcultures then you will easily enjoy this story. Each of the two seasons are only 6 episodes, and I easily did the entire series as a weekend binge. Very enjoyable. Think Please Like Me in writing style - Lovable characters which you can relate to. Well written, well film, well acted. Worth watching.

Finally, an Australian TV show that's funny and full of drama. The show is not only funny but it's also extremely well acting. Very impressed.

I went into this show with not a very high expectation of it knowing Matt recently left radio and hasn't been recognised as an actor and I'm also not really a fan of Australian TV shows, but boy was I pleasantly surprised, and so so glad I gave this show a shot. Whilst at times the acting is not the greatest, the beautifully written storyline is so down to earth and realistic, all the cast honestly felt like mates I've known my whole life, and the story line was just stories I've heard from their relationships or mines. I've laughed until liquid has run out of my nose, cried happy and sad tears, reflected on my own life in such a deep state I felt like this was a form of therapy. I've just finished season 2 in one sitting and now I'm sad I have to wait a while until the next. If this was a live theatre performance, I'd stand up and applaud Matt and the cast and producers on producing a refreshing, honest and pure show free from the melodrama we see in a lot of tv shows within this genre. Brilliantly done!

"The Other Guy" is not a feel good, packed to the rafters, clean-cut, Australian "dramedy".

What it is, is a well thought out character study that clearly comes from a real place in Matt Okine's mind/past. The themes here are heavy, highlighted by extreme yet believable characters; people we have all dated, bumped into, or shared a house with at some point in our lives.

AJ acts as a lens through which the audience can watch, and the show does an excellent job of making the viewer empathise with him. As such, the constant blame and misfortune that falls on AJ is angering, making the actions of those around him feel personal to the viewer.

Clever writing with an understanding of Australian culture is what grounds "The Other Guy", the relationships are painfully real, and the supporting cast reflect very much the duality of relationships in the modern day.

If you want a great new show to watch, this is a great one. Just be prepared to have a huge gaping hole in your chest by the end of season 1