Why Are You Like This

Why Are You Like This

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2018
Headquarters	Melbourne , Australia
Products	Television comedy series

Why Are You Like This is a comedic television series from Australia that debuted on the ABC network in 2018. The narrative centers on best friends Penny and Mia, alongside Penny's roommate Austin, as they confront the challenges of early adulthood through a lens of social awareness. The series was developed by Naomi Higgins, Humyara Mahbub, and Mark Bonanno, with writing contributions from Vidya Rajan, Michelle Brasier, and Laura Davis.

Initial season

The concept began as part of the 2018 comedy anthology Fresh Blood, which showcased four potential pilot episodes. In September 2019, ABC greenlit it as a full-fledged series. It officially premiered on 16 February 2021 via ABC TV Plus, followed by a repeat broadcast on ABC TV the subsequent evening. Set against the backdrop of Melbourne, the show delves into modern social issues. Despite its initial success, the series was not renewed during the 2022 ABC programming announcements.

Primary cast

• Naomi Higgins portraying Penny
• Olivia Junkeer as Mia
• Wil King playing Austin

Supporting cast

• Lawrence Leung in the role of Daniel
• Shabana Azeez as Samara
• Rik Brown as Richard
• Roz Hammond portraying Julie

Guest appearances

• Lara Robinson as Maddie
• Steve Mouzakis in the role of Charles
• Tharanya Tharan as Nabonita
• Aadhya Wijegoonawardena portraying Munia
• Michelle Brasier as Sandi
• Dailin Gabrielle in the role of Amira
• Darcy Brown as Benjamin
• Henry Torres playing John
• Ra Chapman as Alma Chen
• Rhys Nicholson acting as Emcee
• Russell Dykstra portraying Secret Boy

Critical response

Courtney Thompson from Marie Claire Australia characterized the trio of main characters as "very online." Meg Watson, writing for The Guardian, observed that the show refrains from fully justifying or condemning its flawed characters and their behaviours. David Knox of TV Tonight remarked on the unclear intentions behind the characters' actions, questioning whether they were driven by desires for acceptance, financial gain, empathy, or simply more leisure time. Eddie Cockrell from The Australian described the series as "unexpected, profane and potentially perplexing" for those without young adults nearby, while commending its "proudly un-woke comedic appeal."

Awards and honors

At the 54th Annual AWGIE Awards held in 2021, the Comedy - Situation or Narrative category was awarded to Naomi Higgins, Humyara Mahbub, and Mark Bonanno in recognition of their exceptional writing contributions to the series.

External links

• Official website