Review: Everything's gonna be ok
One thing I generally look for in my television and film viewing is heart. While I enjoy a good thriller or action film, I am a sucker for what could be described as a ‘family’ drama or comedy, particularly one that includes a cast of well-drawn, multi-faceted characters.
If you’re looking for a show like this, I would recommend Australian comedian/writer/director/producer/actor Josh Thomas’ new show Everything Is Gonna Be OK (Everything), available on Stan. Thomas is a master of the bold yet warm dramedy, having achieved considerable success in the US with his first scripted show, Please Like Me, which ran from 2013-2016 on the ABC.
Like Please Like Me, Everything is at once sweet and unbearably sad. A large part of both shows involves depictions of relatively unusual groups of people simply hanging out or going about their lives. Thomas’ depictions of this make his shows inviting and inclusive, like you really are hanging out with a group of friends.
This is even before mention is made of the socially diverse and inclusive nature of his shows. Thomas’, himself a gay man, plays one in both shows and his sexuality is treated largely either as something to be outright celebrated or simply as a fact of life, albeit one explored with uncommon depth and nuance.
The thing that makes Everything unique is the central role of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Matilda, the sister of Thomas’s Nicholas, is on the spectrum, as is Kayla Cromer who plays her. Her unique talents and delightful flouting of social norms form a major part of the show, as does an exploration of the complexities of interpersonal, specifically sexual, relationships between young people on the spectrum.
If this makes the show seem heavy with the weight of serious social issues, don’t be fooled. Thomas’ real gift is in intertwining dark and light. In both his shows, tragedy is central to both the comedy and the appeal. In doing so, Thomas’ evocatively captures a millennial angst and humour at the absurd, something that makes both Please Like Me and Everything thoroughly moving, but just as importantly, thoroughly enjoyable TV.