THROWBACK THURSDAY: Please Like Me

By Wilson Huang

If you asked me to name an iconic Australian television show, I wouldn’t go further than Josh Thomas’s Please Like Me. Running from 2013-2016, Please Like Me’s four seasons delivered much needed queer representation and ground-breaking comedy, all while treating its subject matter respectfully.

Traditionally, the portrayal of gay characters in mainstream media is more often than not stereotypically camp, and is used as either token diversity or comic relief.  Please Like Me, however, goes beyond this. This ABC show brings the LGBTQIA+ community to the forefront and centres itself around the experiences of its diverse queer characters, including those who are also disabled. It allows the experience of mental illness to be portrayed humorously without resorting to harmful stereotypes.

While it is a relatively recent show, Please Like Me has been incredibly influential on me. From its confrontation of religious homophobia to its diverse portrayal of queer characters, Please Like Me helped me become comfortable with my queer identity. It's light-hearted and sweet comedic-style, with its boundary-pushing representation, made it easily relatable, delivering an honest take on everyday life. As such, here are my three most memorable episodes of Please Like Me.

1.     The bittersweet Degustation

As one of the last episodes of Please Like Me, ‘Degustation’ manages to combine exquisite dining with typical Please Like Me drama. The food-and-dining experience is remarkable, and the waiter is no exception. However, spoiler alert, it is also the last episode before the final event leading to the ending of Please Like Me, making it the final episode where I can experience all that Please Like Me has to offer. It’s the last episode where I can pretend that the world of Please Like Me isn’t ending.

2.     The first Rhubarb and Custard

‘Rhubarb and Custard’, a title which I didn’t get for the longest time, is the first episode of Please Like Me and the one which I have watched the most. While it is content heavy, it does a fantastic job of setting up the rest of the show. Most notably it jumps you straight into the world of Please Like Me and already features a breakup, a ‘coming out’ and a first boyfriend (not to mention, my favourite). It also contains some of my favourite jokes of the entire series, including one about different-sized spoons. I particularly admire Josh’s comedic reluctance to come out as it highlights how much we still have to go with queer rights.

3.     Getting high on Natural Spring Water

You might be thinking, how on earth you can get high on Natural Spring Water. Well, it is in fact what you have after you get high. In this episode, Josh and his friends try ecstasy. ‘Natural Spring Water’ has to be one of the wildest episodes of Please Like Me which including literally running high and probably the largest outburst in the entire series. Pretty Lovers, by Client Liaison as well as the Backstreet Boys play in the background and we find out what methylenedioxymethamphetamine is. While it ends disastrously, ‘Natural Spring Water’ masters the art of letting go.

If you’re looking for a queer Australian show to binge over the winter break, you can’t go further than Please Like Me.

Please Like Me is currently available for streaming on Netflix in Australia.