Masculinity can look like different things, and Big Boys reminds us of that in hilarious and poignant ways. The British series follows best friends Jack and Danny, university students who seem happy enough on the outside but who are dealing with their own issues. Jack still mourns the sudden loss of his dad while struggling to start his journey as a freshly-out gay man. Danny, an expert in social situations, happily helps him even though he’s secretly depressed himself. They’re joined by Corrine and Yemi, characters who blossom slowly but surely in the next seasons. Their friends and family give them a boost, but it’s Jack and Danny’s rare friendship that holds the show down and gives it a solid emotional core. In an era when “No Homo” jokes are still rampant, Jack and Danny are proof that men can explore their emotions and forge deep friendships without breaking under the pressure of gender norms. And men being in touch with their feelings doesn’t always have to be a joke. It can be funny, sure, but also real and true, like this show.
Two boys from very different ends of the 'spectrum of masculinity' become best friends at Brent University freshers' week; in their first year of uni, they explore, experiment and try to discover themselves, helping one another along the way.
Jack (Dylan Llewellyn), an openly gay freshman, and Danny (Jon Pointing), a party guy secretly dealing with depression, become roomates and fast friends. Together, they go through the highs and lows of university life and help each other through personal crises.
It’s too early to be nostalgic for the 2010s, but props to the show for capturing the faux-irony vibe of the decade.
The Heartstopper kids all grown up, kinda!The Heartstopper kids all grown up, kinda!
BAFTA
1 nomination
