Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: TV And Film, Netflix
Jess Hardiman
Netflix viewers are already hooked on a ‘heartbreaking’ new TV series after it landed on the streamer this week.
We’ve been served some truly great TV for January, thanks to the likes of returning series like The Traitors and The Tourist, and the latest Harlan Coben adaptation Fool Me Once, which has had everyone nothing short of HOOKED.
Of course, because we’re all doing nothing but hiding from the cold on the sofa, we're getting through stuff pretty quickly, meaning we’re constantly hungry for more.
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Thankfully, Netflix has just fed us with another solid watch in the form of Boys Swallow Universe, a brand new drama series based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Trent Dalton.
The seven-episode miniseries follows a young boy growing up in the suburbs of Brisbane in the 1980s, against the backdrop of ‘looming dangers’ that threaten his family.
A synopsis from Netflix says: “A lost father, a mute brother, a recovering addict mum, a heroin dealer for a stepfather, and a notorious criminal for a babysitter.
“Eli Bell is just trying to follow his heart and understand what it means to become a good man, but fate keeps throwing obstacles in his way.”
After the show dropped on the streamer today, fans are already completely hooked.
“BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE is brilliant @netflix,” one tweeted.
Someone else said: “Started Boy Swallows Universe We are long overdue for ridiculously good Aussie drama. It has me hooked. The kid in it is a seriously good actor.”
A third added: “Adapted from Trent Dalton's bestselling book, the highly anticipated #BoySwallowsUniverse is finally out on @netflix tomorrow! Joyous and heartbreaking in equal measure, you're not going to want to miss this one.”
The critics were also instantly sold, with the Guardian's four-star review described the series as 'one-of-a-kind', saying it 'has a wonderful kind of tonal elasticity, stretching from despair to happiness in a heartbeat'.
Radio Times also warned of 'a few heart-wrenching scenes', but said the show manages to remain 'relatively bright' in spite of the emotional moments.
It added: "Boy Swallows Universe is a captivating watch that may seem like a high energy life story at first or even a comedy.
"But actually, it's a drama packed full of warmth, wit and emotion, even if it does veer on the side of heavy-handed at times."
Watch Boys Swallow Universe on Netflix now.