Winter Warmer Watchlist - Austin - Seasons One - Two

Michael Theo, a neurodivergent participant on reality series Love on the Spectrum, makes his acting debut as the title character Austin. Austin landed on ABC TV last June. With the second season currently airing or all episodes now streaming on iView.

The Australian-British comedy, starts off at a book tour in Canberra, recently cancelled English children’s author, Julian, is approached by a 28 year old man named Austin, who claims to be his biological son conceived in London. Austin, who is autistic and lives with his mother and grandfather, may provide Julian with a path to redemption.

The second season kicks off as, Austin grapples with sudden literary fame when his novel, “An Autistic Guide to Britain” is picked up by an international publisher. 

Meanwhile, his previously estranged father, Julian, and stepmother, Ingrid, sell their beloved Big Bear series to Australian TV. Julian is swiftly cut out of the process due to his status as a social media pariah, leaving Ingrid to take the wheel. As Austin tries to stay true to himself, everyone else scrambles for relevance.

Alongside Theo, the series stars Ben Miller as Julian, Sally Phillips as Ingrid, Gia Carides as Austin's mother Mel, Roy Billing as Austin's grandfather Bill, Kate Elliott as Heidi, Zahra Newman as Monica, Charlotte Nicdao as Yolanda and Billie Piper as herself in the first season.

I binged both seasons back-to-back after sleeping on season one last year.

This was a sweet local comedy, shot on location in sleepy Canberra. Which is refreshing in a way to see another city used as a back drop for a local series.

Hopefully this Sunday, The Family Next Door will also be a good new drama series on the ABC. Following the ABC cleaning up at this years Logies (which Austin was also nominated) they need to lay the foundations down for next years nominations.

No word on a third season yet. However the ABC is short of comedies, given Optics has been given the green light for a second run yet, nor another run of award winning smash hit Fisk.

If you need a comfort viewing series this week, maybe give Austin a go.

Till next time!