Please Like Me

I don't normally write reviews but have been so thoroughly entertained by this show that I couldn't resist writing one.

I only recently discovered this show and have binge-watched as much as I could.

Wow what a great watch, with ups and downs, funny parts, real-life situations and sad parts. This was one of the most enjoyable shows I've watched in years.

The story and acting were all superb.

I wish I had lived in a shared house with friends as close as portrayed in this show.

Well done to all involved in making this show, you've all contributed to a beautiful story which I enjoyed on many, many levels.

So many successful sitcoms depend on likable buffoons as major characters that one's first impression of "Josh" is that he is just another self-deprecating target for stale jokes about his shortcomings. In this case, the eponymous actor/creator moves well beyond the predictable into a realm of hyper-originality rarely seen in a TV series. Nothing here is predictable. Each scene, each comedic line, each nuance bordering on serious personality issues comes across as going against the grain of laugh track one-liners.

I viewed the first two seasons in quick sequence to determine some thread justifying the title "Please Like Me." There is so much more than that at work here I came to the conclusion that "Josh" intends his imperative to apply to the entire narrative rather than just himself. None of the main characters is one-dimensional. Each one stands alone in all sorts of revealing personal aspects. Attraction of one to another is quickly reversed or brought down to earth before sentimental attachments rear up to spoil the moment.

Of course "Josh" is unerringly annoying. Surrounded by bipolar types and deliberately handsome but flawed lovers he has little choice.

This is a fascinating series, which I hope to be able to follow as it progresses.

Josh is an everyday guy learning about sex, love, life and responsibilities. He is only slightly effeminate and there is really no clue where this is going, it's an exploration of emotions and gut wrenching relationship issues. Draws the viewer into the new age world of today's young adults. Explores the generational cracks and their impact on the ones least prepared to shoulder them, till challenged. And everyone has their own challenges here. All gets sorted by the intuitively intelligent Josh. So very real. Emotional, endearing characters with nothing pretentious about them.

Fresh faces, great casting, and you will love the characters, everyone has their story to tell, and you get to know them all well.

Great icons of the Australian TV industry also bring their talent, experience and professionalism to the fore as support characters, making this another Aussie TV success story like Offspring or Sea Change. I hope ABC keep this one going all the way. Love it.

Please Like Me is a very thoughtful dark comedy, and there isn't anything else quite like it. The writing is amazing. From a first glance this show might appear to be about gay life in Australia, and I've read several descriptions of the show that say something like that, but it's just a really funny show about life, generally, with a main character and many side characters who happen to be gay. It can be dark and depressing at times, and sometimes silly, but always very insightful without trying too hard, being pretentious, or going for shock value like so many shows seems to do for a laugh. We could use a lot more shows like this one.

I stumbled upon this show on TV last holiday and I am so glad! Being 20-somethinng who still has a lot to figure out how life works, almost every character is relate-able for me. Josh with his uncertainty towards every decision he makes, Tom with his awkwardness, even Josh's mum dealing with meltdown after meltdowns also her friends she encounters soon.

One of the criteria(not always) of a good show for me is there is not a single character I hate, even characters that many ppl irritated with in this board (which I can see why), I could totally understand their behavior.

The best episode for me is when there is only 2 characters in the entire episode, Josh and his mum go hiking while engaging in heart-to-heart conversation. Everything about it is just so soothing, exhilarating, plus the beautiful Australian woods/forest/swamp (honestly idk what it's called) successfully made me cried with tears of joy and sadness half end throughout the episode.

If you're looking for meaningful yet light-heart show especially if you're 20-something and depressed, this show is an ABSOLUTE MUST-WATCH!