Why Are You Like This

Why Are You Like This is an Australian television comedy series that first screened on the ABC in 2018. It follows the adventures of best friends Penny and Mia, as well as Penny's housemate Austin. They are in their early 20s and socially conscious, and navigate the uncertainties of emerging adulthood. The series was written by Naomi Higgins, Humyara Mahbub, Mark Bonanno, with additional writing by Vidya Rajan, Michelle Brasier and Laura Davis.

Production

First series

The series began as part of the comedy anthology series Fresh Blood which screened in 2018. It was one of four new comedies screened in the series, which were seen as potential pilots for a full TV series. In September 2019, the series was picked up by the ABC. It premiered on 16 February 2021 on ABC TV Plus, with a repeat on ABC TV the following night. The series is set in Melbourne. The series was not renewed at the 2022 ABC upfronts.

Cast

Main cast

Naomi Higgins as Penny
Olivia Junkeer as Mia
Wil King as Austin

Recurring cast

Lawrence Leung as Daniel
Shabana Azeez as Samara
Rik Brown as Richard
Roz Hammond as Julie

Guest cast

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

Reception

Critical reception

Marie Claire Australia writer Courtney Thompson described the three main characters in the series as being "very online". Meg Watson of The Guardian wrote, "Why Are You Like This is perched right on the edge of those two ideas, never fully redeeming or condemning its awful" characters and their actions." David Knox of TV Tonight wrote, "Dramatically I was a little unclear on just what these characters wanted -acceptance, money, understanding, sex or just more time to sleep in and eat the latest baos? The title feels deliberately ambiguous: why are they like this / why is everybody else like this….?" Eddie Cockrell of The Australian wrote, "Surprising, profane and possibly culturally baffling to anybody without a 20-something in their own life, these purposefully exaggerated modern moral dilemmas will nevertheless prompt a high degree of proudly un-woke comedic satisfaction."

Awards and accolades

In 2021, Naomi Higgins, Humyara Mahbub and Mark Bonanno won the Comedy - Situation or Narrative category at the 54th Annual AWGIE Awards for their writing on the series.