Paddle pops. Bin chickens. Eshays. Harry’s Cafe de Wheels. A Triple J soundtrack. “Rack off”. “Rooting”.
Netflix’s reboot of Heartbreak High is achingly Australian. It’s vibrant, authentic and packed with references – subtle and overt – to what it’s like to grow up in a coastal city Down Under.
“It’s a hard thing to describe, but as an Australian you just recognise the way that we talk and interact with people, the swear words we use,” says Kamilaroi actor Thomas Weatherall who plays Malakai, a newbie at the fictional Hartley High – filmed in Maroubra, Sydney.
“It’s surreal that it’s going to be on that global scale,” he says. “For me, having an Indigenous character – having a few in the show – and it being really present throughout the show is important. It’s something you don’t see a whole lot of, especially in this genre.”
Will McDonald, who you might recognise from Home and Away, plays Ca$h – an eshay with a mullet, an ambiguous sexual identity and a sick pair of TNs. “I’m really excited for everyone to see the whole of Australia represented, not just what we’ve seen in the past,” he says.
“The haircut was pretty spectacular,” he smiles. “I was a huge fan – I know my mum wasn’t. In terms of the costume, TNs – they’re so comfortable. The arch support is out of this world.”
Fans of the OG series, which ran from 1994 to 1999 and screened in more than 70 countries worldwide, will remember the rebellious heart-throb Drazic. This series, the obvious heartbreaker is Dusty – played by Sri Lanka-born Aussie model Josh Heuston.
“Well, those are big shoes to fill,” he says. “You’re right, Dusty is the fuckboi. I watched a bit of the original before filming – my mum was super into it,” says the 25-year-old. “I think [the new show] has the same chaotic energy as the original, but it’s built for today’s generation.”
Perth-born Asher Yasbincek – who plays the troubled teen Harper – binged most of the original series when she found out she got the gig. “I watched up until season six,” she says. “The original has a lot of bite to it, and so does my character.”
The new Heartbreak High opens with a rift between Harper and her bestie Amerie (Ayesha Madon). The two created an “Incest Map” of who’s fucking who at school; its discovery by the school makes Amerie an instant outcast.
“I think Netflix gave us scope to explore tougher storylines a little deeper,” says Yasbincek. “The show is very different from the original, but it has the same punch.
“On surface level, Harper seems to be really aggressive and quite angry, and that’s not untrue, but I think it’s her shield that she’s putting up,” she says. “As the series progresses, you get to see a little bit more of what’s underneath that.”
Aside from its name and setting, Heartbreak High is an entirely reimagined version of the ’90s show. Yes, there are slip dresses, space buns and slap bands – but there are also Baker Boy T-shirts, a Wah Wah x Kaylene Whiskey jumper and artists such as Budjerah, Sycco and Ruel on the soundtrack.
“I think that was important for [the creators],” says Weatherall. “It’s great that in every facet and every department we were able to keep it as Australian as possible. But it doesn’t feel like we’ve gone so far that an international audience doesn’t understand or it’s not accessible.”
“I think the thing that’ll stick out the most for a lot of Australians is the swear words used,” says Heuston. “It’s not the same slang as American or British TV. It’s very Australian.”
Not wanting to repeat the C-word in our interview, Heuston gives a smirk. “It’s a term of endearment here,” says Yasbincek, encouragingly.
“A lot of the show, in terms of its setting, feels like a love letter to Sydney,” says McDonald. “There are so many iconic locations that people who grew up in the city will instantly recognise … I found that I recognise the after-school traditions, like going to Harry’s. That’s what we did, but it was the fish’n’chip shop and we’d hang out and chat nonsense.”
Of course, these teens aren’t chatting nonsense – they’re talking about pronouns, suicide, consent, accountability and exploring their sexualities.
“The literacy that 17-year-olds have nowadays, and the openness – whether it be about sex and drugs or political things – it’s an interesting experience seeing how sure of themselves they are,” adds Weatherall. “I think this show really nails that. It shows where this generation is at right now.”
Heartbreak High premiered globally on Netflix on September 14. Netflix announced season two is now also on the cards.
