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TIDY TWO BEDDER IN A HIGH GROWTH AREA: In a big moment for Australian screen, The new Aussie TV drama Boy Swallows Universe is currently #5 in Netflix’s global Top 10 TV Shows.
The series has hit the Weekly Top 10 in 47 countries including #8 in the UK and #10 in the USA.
Set in the harsh semi-rural outskirts of 1980s working class Brissy, the series follows Eli (Felix Cameron), an optimistic young boy with a spark that cannot smothered by the cruel world of crime and poverty that surrounds him.
The story has been praised for it’s authentic 1980s set design, props and cars – which take viewers back to the poincianas and datsuns of the Vietnamese and Polish enclaves in the Western Brisbane suburb of Darra.
Since its release last Thursday, the series has earned multiple 5 star reviews and has been streamed by millions. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 90% critics ratings, an achievement for Australian TV that may have only ever been matched by Scott Ryan’s Mr In Between.
Residents of Darra, where this semi-autobiographical drama is set, say the themes of the series are still very relevant to their side of the tracks to this day.
However, it seems that some people are looking back on certain elements of this era with rose coloured glasses.
Those who still find themselves living on the metropolitan fringe of society have noted that it’s probably harder to find a house to raise a family in nowadays.
“After the heroin boom came the housing boom” says Darra local, Ken Nowak.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we don’t guns in the street like we used to, and I’m glad the cops aren’t as corrupt as they were under Joh”
“But I do pray for any family looking for a home in this city in 2024”
As Ken points out, while a two bedroom Queenslander on a quarter acre block was considered a slum in 1980s Brisbane – in 2024 it’s marketed as a renovators delight in an up-and-coming area.
“This area isn’t up and coming”
“But that young couple down the road still spent a million bucks to get in here. Fucks me what you’d do if you didn’t have that kind of coin”
“Nowadays, the closest you’ll get to affordable housing round here is three hots and a cot in Wacol [Arthurt Gorrie Correctional Centre]”
