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 ;-)
