There’s teenage angst, repressed sexual desire and awkward teenage encounters. There’s even some classic bitchy throwdowns (see: pancake tits).
It sounds like the generic formula for a classic teen TV drama. But for potentially the first time on Australian television, these experiences will be played out with a host of LGBTI characters.
In the works since 2001, the pilot for Subject to Change has finally launched on YouTube and has already hooked a bunch of fans and garnered critical praise.
Subject to Change follows a trio of close friends – insecure and closeted Ben; tomboyish, soccer obsessed Karly and promiscuous Evie who’s dealing with a rogue pimple and some nasty bullying.
The diverse trio of Ben, Karly & Evie
Granted, like many Australian teen dramas, there’s a healthy dose of cringe. But if you can navigate past that, there is a refreshingly rare depth to the show’s themes that is infuriatingly absent in mainstream TV shows.
Although character diversity on TV is slowly improving, LGBTI characters are almost always confined to supporting roles, merely filling a diversity quota to perhaps lure in some fringe viewers. Subject to Change throws out this convention, by putting these teens at the forefront and exposing the diversity of experiences in this community. One of the issues with merely including one token LGBTI character, or any minority for that matter, is that the viewer tends to collate the entire experience of the minority group with that character.
For once, Subject to Change allows for many voices from one minority to be presented, effectively exploring and challenging ingrained stereotypes. The tomboy Karly is also blessed with a beautiful singing voice (smashing out a beautiful cover of Missy Higgins’ Secret) while there’s two drastically different gay guys – the more feminine Ben who is figuratively and literally running away from his identity while the sporty Ethan embraces it.
The cast has already been receiving supporting messages from all around the world, clearly tapping into a serious gap in the market. Despite this attention, the show remains confined to YouTube until a major network picks it up and runs with it. The second episode has been put on hold, eagerly waiting for someone to sign on.
Until then you can bask in the glory of its first episode, and if you like what you’re seeing, join the push to get the whole series on Aussie TV:
