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.

I was not immediately drawn in by Please Like Me. It wasn't particularly entertaining or interesting during the first two episodes I had watched by chance when my Netflix account had unlocked the show while traveling in Europe. Once the show was released on Hulu here in the US, I decided to give it another chance.

The characters quickly grow on you. The main character Josh goes from abrasive to endearing. Someone you can relate to and empathize with. The writing of the show has a certain humanization that makes all the characters entirely relateable, even when they are being awful. You hate the ones you're supposed to hate, and love the ones that are flawed. They grow on you; each one in their own way. It wasn't long before I was completely smitten with the characters and couldn't wait to see where they were headed.

The show has a uniqueness and genuineness that comes across on screen because they appear to shoot on location. You can tell they are in a real city, in a real house or flat, or hospital, or restaurant. It adds to the immersion you feel with the characters and their story line.

The tone of the show has a unique voice, and a particular feel of reality as a millennial. The fact that the main character is gay is not overplayed or exacerbated. It's not reminded with fanfare, but simply a vessel that story arcs carry.

Brilliantly acted, highly entertaining. Commit to the first season (series) if you do decide to watch it, as the first couple of episodes may not take right away.

Do not judge this show by the first episode. While I liked the first episode, I can see why most people wouldn't. Josh comes off as very awkward and super unrelatable. However, after watching all the episodes I have to say that the pacing of the show and the development of the characters as the series progressed really made me fall in love with every single aspect of the show. The relationships are all fleshed, slowly but surely, and all the dialogue is just wonderfully delivered. I would definitely implore you to watch at least 3 episodes before you stop because once the characters start coming out of their shells you find them to be funny, real, and beautifully written.

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.

Josh Thomas stars in the show that he created and writes. Each show is well directed and produced. It is a show with both awkward and relatable comedy that is realistic and natural. The best quality of the show is how honest and direct the character Josh is. The supporting cast are excellent, and the time share is well balanced.

It is good to see TV networks including progressive story lines rather than the old, tired gay story lines that cast characters as struggling, rejected, unhappy and depressed.

It's also refreshing to have a comedy that includes a sensible gay role model rather than reverting to the overtly flamboyant and eccentric overused stereotype.

The central character and type of comedy will probably split opinion. For those reasons, I would not criticise but rather appreciate it for what it tries to be, and in that respect, 10 out of 10 is well deserved.

If you haven't already, watch this show!