Boy Swallows Universe TV Series Review

★★★★☆

Pictured: Boy Swallows Universe Netflix Banner.

Highly regarded by many, Trent Dalton’s international bestselling novel Boy Swallows Universe was recently transformed into a mini-TV series on Netflix.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Novel Vs. TV Series

For those who have read the beloved book, many will jump at the chance to compare the show with the novel.

Dealing with two completely different art mediums prove it difficult to make comparisons beyond the plot of the story.

The novel deals with inner dialogue, intricate descriptions, and relies heavily on the readers imagination, whereas the show utilises visual storytelling and rich soundscapes to emerge the viewer into the world of the protagonist, Eli Bell, played by Felix Cameron.

The major plot points of the TV series are extremely similar to the novel which is impressive considering the limitations and vastly different methods each medium utilises to deliver information to the audience.

Whilst the novel is told in a somewhat nonchalant way and brings you along the journey through the lens of Eli as he deals with and normalises his experiences, the show brings to light the gravity and intensity of the situation through a more removed perspective.

A significant detail that many people who have read the book will pick up in is when and to whom Gus Bell, Eli’s brother, starts talking.

Gus is non-verbal for a period of time at the start of the story and the reason behind this is never explicitly said, however, one can speculate that it is due to the trauma he and Eli experienced at such a young age.

In the TV series, Gus starts talking earlier and to more people than he did in the novel where he only talks to Eli when initially starting to speak again.

Gus speaking again is a massive character development milestone for him and the alteration of him talking earlier and to more people in the series is needed to keep the interest of the audience and the story moving.

A point that should be raised for both the book and the show is the way in which Gus being non-verbal is talked about and handled.

Although it is understood that it was probably an appropriate response for the time the story is set in, during the 1980s, there were opportunities to unpack Gus being non-verbal a little bit further and talk about it from a different perspective.

Frankie Bell, Eli’s mum, and Lyle Orlik, Eli’s stepdad, do not address the fact that he is non-verbal and never look into why that may be.

Dalton offers a few reasons which could have promoted Gus to go non-verbal such as the large amount of trauma Eli and Gus experienced when they were younger.

An opportunity to explain and explore Gus’s non-verbal period could have been during the sessions he attended with the school counsellor.

Another major plot point that occurs differently in the series than it does in the novel is one that should have been kept the same.

At the very end of the novel, Eli reveals Tytus Broz’s evil shenanigans in a more sneaky, clever and revealing way than in the series.

In book, Eli replaces the ‘fake’ hand with the decapitated head under a cloth which Tytus later reveals to a large audience during his speech.

In the series, Eli exposes Tytus in a way which is more confronting and less like his character by running up on stage in front of hundreds of people with the decapitated head in his hand.

The ending to the story should have remained the same in the series as it occurred in the book as it is cleverer and in line with Eli’s character. 

The Show Itself

Although the series began a little slow, the show really picked up in the third episode when the first major plot point is actioned.

Set in the 1980s, production designer Michelle McGahey brings the show to life through incredible set design.

It really feels as though you have been transported back in time to Brisbane in the ’80s.

The colour palette of blues, browns, and oranges provides the show a cohesive look and allows certain items to shine, such as Frankie’s gorgeous red silk dress.

Only seen for a split second, it was impressive when an orange retro bus pulls up to the stop where Eli is waiting – sourcing an item like that takes dedication!

The best acting of the series is achieved by the younger actors such as Felix Cameron, who puts on an outstanding performance.

Cameron is able to capture every emotion that Eli is feeling and share that with the audience, which is extremely impressive considering the actor’s young age.

Comic relief characters such as Christopher, the young patient at the hospital played by Isaac Strutt-Stevens, help to balance the intensity of the show and once again the actor executes the character very well.

The character dynamic between Eli and his stepdad, Lyle is the perfect balance of classic child-parent tongue and check, and genuine caring for each other which is executed well by Felix Cameron and Travis Fimmel.

The transformation of the Boy Swallows Universe novel into a TV series is successful in maintaining the childish, adventurous, and imaginative world of Eli Bell, resulting in an engaging and dynamic show.