From 'Bump' to 'Wellmania', say g'day to these brilliant shows produced Downunder.
9 Australian TV Shows That Deserve Your Attention
From 'Bump' to 'Wellmania', say g'day to these brilliant shows produced Downunder.
Australian-produced content and the Aussie accent – particularly our pronunciation of "no" (naauurrr) – have taken over social media and the small screen. From Heartbreak High which ranked number one on Netflix globally for a few weeks in 2022, to the historical drama Ten Pound Poms, shows made Downunder are finally having their time in the sun, both locally and internationally.
These are the TV shows that have caught our attention and might be your next favourite thing.
1. Bump
Where can I watch it? Stan
One of Stan’s biggest early successes was a little show called Bump, about a high school student who has a surprise baby and learns how to co-parent, all while juggling the HSC, the demands of a new relationship, and her family dramas. It’s a warm-hearted and loveable series that draws you in like a big hug. We love the performance by star Claudia Karvan, who also serves as a producer. One of our favourite Aussie television shows in recent years, and there are three seasons you can stream now on Stan.
2. Heartbreak High
Where can I watch it? Netflix
This beloved reboot of the iconic ‘90s high school series was a huge hit when it launched on Netflix last year, and a second season is currently in production. Why do we love Heartbreak High? Let us count the ways. The show has a fantastic cast, diverse storytelling, super fun costumes, stellar production design, and an authentically Australian heart. This show feels so Aussie in the most beautiful way, and we love how it has been embraced by Netflix audiences all over the world. Season two will be just as big, no doubt about it.
3. Ten Pound Poms
Where can I watch it? Stan
Released in May, Ten Pound Poms is a gorgeous recreated period drama, set in the ‘50s as a group of English immigrants set sail for Australia. What they find when they land in Sydney, however, isn’t quite what they expected. This show has lavish costumes and production designs to recreate the 1956 setting and is well worth a binge.
4. Year Of
Where can I watch it? Stan
From the creators of Bump comes another high school drama, though this one comes with a side of heartbreak. Year Of follows a group of 17-year-olds who, after a night out goes awry, are forced to process everything that they have been through, while growing up at the same time. The show is set at the same fictional high school that you’ve seen in Bump, and feels part of the same world. The show dropped onto Stan only in June: the time is right to get bingeing.
5. Wellmania
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Celeste Barber’s comedy series Wellmania is addictive. The show follows a food writer (played by Barber) who, in order to take on her dream job, must quit her hard-partying ways and get well, all on a trip back from New York to her native Sydney. With a supporting cast that includes Remy Hii, Alexander Hodge and Simone Kessell, this show is so much fun.
6. Deadloch
Where can I watch it? Prime Video
Love murder mysteries? You’ll love the twist on display in Deadloch, which follows the usual formula – small town, big city police detective, mysterious crime – but with added comedy. Created by the Kates McCartney and McLennan of The Katering Show, Deadloch is all about up-ending the formula and adding layers of satire and humour. The setting in Tasmania helps, as does the comedic performances by the brilliant cast. This is a show for anyone who has loved a cosy crime series but longed for one with a jolt of Aussie humour.
7. Class of '07
Where can I watch it? Prime Video
The livewire antics of a high school reunion are given a post-apocalyptic twist in this very clever series. Starring Emily Browning, Class of '07 imagines a school reunion that collides with a catastrophic natural disaster. What would you do if you had to spend the rest of eternity with the girls you went to school with (and haven’t seen in decades)? Absolutely hilarious.
8. Bad Behaviour
Where can I watch it? Stan
Speaking of education, Bad Behaviour also follows an all-girls school, though this tale is a lot darker. Based on a true story, the series is set on the rural campus of an elite education establishment, where bullying is rife between the students, and young women compete to be at the top of the food chain. The cast in this series is phenomenal: Markella Kavenagh, Yerin Ha and Jana McKinnon are all fantastic in this chilling, unsettling watch.
9. Safe Home
Where can I watch it? SBS On Demand
You know Aisha Dee as the star of The Bold Type, but the Aussie actor returns to our small screens in SBS On Demand’s Safe Home. This series is a difficult but powerful watch, set in a legal aid centre for victims of family violence over the course of a few weeks as the lives of workers including a publicity executive (played by Dee) and lawyer (played by Mabel Li) begin to intersect.
