Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Big Boys is a TV series about two men, one gay and the other straight, attending university in England.
After the death of his father, Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) spends his days in bed and defers going to university for a year. His mother, Peggy (Camille Coduri), makes sure he’s okay.
With the start of the 2014 academic year, Jack forces himself to go to university and tries to go on with his life. He meets his roommate, Danny (Jon Pointing), a twenty-five year old freshman. Because of a mix-up with the rooms, Jack and Danny are forced to live in an unused shed on the school property.
While Danny tries to pick up girls, he also attempts to help Jack lose his virginity to another man. And although Jack opens up to Danny about being gay and the loss of his father, Danny is close lipped about his own personal troubles.
As the series plays out, Jack and Danny gradually open up to each other and discover that family is more than something you’re born into.
Some Thoughts:
Thanks to a great cast and script, Big Boys is fun and relatable. While it doesn’t break any new ground, it does offer lovable characters that are easy to rout for. There are some touching and sad moments, most notably when Danny’s grandmother, Iris (Sheila Reid), admits that’s she’s losing her memory.
Like any good comedy series, Big Boys has a great set of minor characters that keep the story lively. These characters are: Jules (Katy Wix), the union officer for the university; Peggy, Jack’s mother; Iris, Danny’s grandmother; Corinne (Izuka Hoyle), an over achiever who was rejected from Oxbridge; Shannon (Harriet Webb), Jack’s cousin who runs a business throwing parties for children; Yemi (Olisa Odele), a fashion student and out and proud homosexual. These characters give the story some emotional impact with issues about death, abortion, and Alzheimer’s. And unlike most comedies, only one of them is over the top, Jules, the university student who never left. In season two she gets a sidekick, the socially awkward Kelly (Lucia Keskin).
Season one does a good job introducing the characters and getting the story rolling while season two expands on them. Both seasons give Jack and Danny equal time, ensuring that the series is about both of them. And as we learn more about Jack, he gets some unexpected support from the other characters. It’s done well and expands Jack’s sense of family, which gives the series a heartwarming feel.
The Final Verdict:
Big Boys is delightfully light story with some heavy moments thrown in.