House Husbands (2012–2017)
4/10
Formulaic Australian Soap
14 May 2016
Like many Australian soaps, this one represents the nationality as locals who often black out from alcoholism, and, when not drunk like to behave in a manner that defines the term 'cheesy'.

They've ticked some other boxes as well, for example:

** Build up of a newlywed female character who secretes kindness, love, fairy dust and angelic unicorns. Then kill her in some sort of accident. As predictable as it becomes — if I'm being honest, it's effective on my tear ducts every time.

** Children that wander off and create a frantic reaction from the adults, but are always found.

** A token hunky male character featured in a variety of situations obviously written to include he appear shirtless, other less attractive male characters remained clothed. The Australian-soap token hunks often volunteer as strippers for local charity events. Sometimes they need to make money quickly and do a one-off modeling bikini underwear bottoms.

** Other hunky male characters, usually featured in story-arcs spanning 3 to 4 episodes. These characters are almost always first introduced with a towel wrapped torso and still dripping wet from an interrupted shower, camera down low, looking up with the groin area center-screen.

** Token gays. As a general rule, gays aren't hunks but they sometimes hook up with a guest-hunk. If they do, it doesn't usually last longer than 1 or 2 episodes.

House Husbands is watchable, but as the series progresses, the title doesn't make much sense. I guess they had to call it something, and "Australian Soap" was already taken. I prefer my prime-time soaps with a good vixen, apparently something Australian producers avoid. There's a difference between a bitchy female and a manipulative vixen ;-)

It's OK, at least until season 4 -- by then it becomes a bit annoying and repetitive. If you want to see a truly engaging Australian series, watch the first few episodes of Wentworth Prison, but start early in the day. If like me you start episode 1 in the evening, you'll be watching Wentworth through sunrise ;-)
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