Homebodies Review: A Strikingly Original Supernatural Take on Transgender Life
Creator AP Pobjoy's new SBS series Homebodies delivers something genuinely fresh in the crowded landscape of supernatural television. Starring Claudia Karvan and Luke Wiltshire, this six-episode drama uses ghost story conventions not for cheap thrills but to illuminate complex aspects of the transgender experience with remarkable sensitivity and originality.
A Familiar Premise Transformed
The series follows young trans man Darcy, played by Luke Wiltshire, who returns to his fictional New South Wales hometown of Torwoo after his mother Nora, portrayed by Claudia Karvan, experiences a health scare. While this "estranged child returns home" setup has been a staple of Australian screen stories for decades, Homebodies transforms it into something entirely new through its supernatural elements and transgender perspective.
Early in the series, a powerful visual moment captures Darcy's complex relationship with his past. As he gazes at a framed photograph of a young girl on the mantelpiece, his reflection in the glass momentarily captures both his post and pre-transition selves in the same image, establishing the series' central tension between past and present identities.
Supernatural as Metaphor
What makes Homebodies particularly compelling is how it uses paranormal elements to explore themes of identity, memory, and family relationships. Within the first ten minutes, Darcy discovers his mother communicating with the ghost of his pre-transitioned self, Dee, played by Jazi Hall. This spectral presence describes herself as a "ghost, spirit, unresolved trauma – pick your fave," immediately establishing herself as a plucky, mischievous force that agitates an already strained mother-child dynamic.
The series invites multiple interpretations. While it certainly explores how the past can literally haunt the present, it's perhaps more interestingly about a mother struggling to let go of the child she remembers. This is beautifully conveyed through simple but resonant dialogue, such as when Nora tells Darcy, "Sometimes I really miss my daughter."
Technical Execution and Performance
Directed primarily by Harry Lloyd, with episodes two and five handled by Pobjoy, the series exhibits a youthful energy that brings both strengths and occasional shortcomings. Some viewers might find the lighting too bright for a supernatural drama, and a darker, murkier palette might have better served the atmospheric tension. Occasionally, performances feel slightly uneven among the fresh-faced cast.
However, Claudia Karvan delivers a superb performance that anchors the entire production. Through subtle shifts in expression and carefully measured delivery, she conveys layers of complex emotion, setting a high standard for her co-stars and elevating every scene she appears in.
A Compelling Premise That Overcomes Minor Flaws
Despite some technical imperfections, Homebodies succeeds through its exhilaratingly interesting premise and thoughtful exploration of its themes. The six ten-minute episodes flow seamlessly, creating a viewing experience that feels both substantial and remarkably concise. Many viewers will find themselves consuming the entire series in a single sitting and wishing for more.
What makes this series particularly noteworthy is its unique perspective. While ghost stories have become ubiquitous in popular culture, Homebodies uses the supernatural to explore transgender identity in ways that feel genuinely original and deeply human. The series reminds us of horror's malleability as a genre while delivering a story that's both specific in its representation and universal in its emotional resonance.
Homebodies premieres on 28 March at 8.25pm on SBS as an hour-long program, with the six individual episodes available simultaneously on SBS On Demand. For viewers seeking television that pushes boundaries while telling deeply human stories, this series represents a must-watch addition to the Australian television landscape.
