Netflix’sBoy Swallows Universeis a heartbreakingcoming-of-age story. An adaptation of author Trent Dalton’s novel of the same name, the series is set in Brisbane, Australia, and follows a young Eli Bell as he grapples with the unfortunate circumstances that life has handed him. Telling the story of a young boy who tries to make the best out of the cards he has been dealt, the seven-part limited series rose to success onNetflixfollowing its debut on Jul 12, 2025.
Directed by Bharat Nalluri, Jocelyn Moorhouse, and Kim Mordaunt, the series stars Felix Cameron in the lead role of the young Eli Bell. Cameron’s performance in the role played a significant part in the success of the series, with viewers hooked on his depiction of Eli stumbling his way to adulthood. Adding to the appeal of the series are the performances of Phoebe Tonkin as Frankie, Travis Fimmel as Lyle, Lee Tiger Halley as Gus, Bryan Brown as Slim Halliday, and Simon Baker as Robert.
However, it is not only the cast that has carried the series to success. Despite being a coming-of-age story on its surface, a deeper look into the series reveals that the core ofBoy Swallows Universeholds much more than the mere narrative of a boy journeying from childhood to adulthood.
A Desperate Grasp for Hope in Boy Swallows Universe
Boy Swallows Universe
Eli’s childhood, if nothing else, is a heart-wrenching grasp for hope. Thrust into extremely unfortunate circumstances, with a stepfather who deals in heroin, a mother who has an addiction, and a brother who is plagued with selective mutism, Eli’s childhood is one bad card after another. Added to the mix is the fact that his babysitter is a convicted murderer, and his pen pal is a felon servingtime in prison. Trauma becomes an inherent characteristic of Eli’s life, with him being exposed to drugs, violence, and a volatile environment from a young age.
However, despite what seems like a doomed childhood, Eli perseveres. He clings on to hope, carrying a relentlessness within him that not even a drug dealer cutting his finger off can diminish. An unwillingness to accept the fact that he cannot carve out a better life for himself and his family propels Eli through life. Hope keeps the young boy going when his mother is locked in a puke-filled room, screaming through her withdrawal, when his stepfather is beaten up and kidnapped, when his mother is sent to jail, when he loses Slim, and when he and his brother are forced to move intohis alcoholic father’shouse. It is evident that Eli experiences far too much, far too young, but underlying his journey into adulthood is the unbreakable grasp he had on hope throughout his childhood.
Boy Swallows Universe Features an Undying Love for Family
From the start of the seven-episode series, Eli’s attachment to his family becomes obvious. Even as a child, he yearns for better days for those he loves. However, the love that Eli has for hismother in their dysfunctional relationshipsurpasses his connection to any other family member. This love becomes the driving force behind many of Eli’s actions and life goals.
From sneaking into prison so that Frankie would not be alone during Christmas to negotiating a heroin deal so that he can buy his mother a house, Eli’s love for Frankie plays a pivotal role in his journey into adulthood. The acceptance that results from Eli’s love for Frankie is perhaps even more heart-touching. He does not shy away from his mother’s heroin addiction nor her constant gravitation towards men who are a bad influence. He stands by her and loves her throughout, all the while yearning for greener pastures.
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The narrative of Eli and Frankie becomes all the more poignant given that Eli’s story has beendrawn from the true storyand real life of author Trent Dalton. A mix of fact and fiction, meaning that not all of Frankie’s story in the series is the actual truth, Dalton has expressed that his depiction of the character encompasses all that his mother was: strong and resilient. Speaking of his mother’s story and how it converted onto paper, later faithfully adapted to screens,Dalton has said:
“…I’m often reminded by my gut that kicks from the inside sometimes how my own mother’s life story remains the most harrowing story I’ve ever had the strange and often unsettling honour of being a significant part of. She’s the one. ‘Who’s the most interesting person you’ve ever spoken to?’ people ask. Nah, not the Dalai Lama, nah, not John Howard or Bob Hawke or Priscilla flipping Presley or Heath Ledger or Matt Damon. Nah, it’s my Mum, by a damn sight.”
Boy Swallows Universe Has the Most Unlikely Relationships
Beyond being a simple coming-of-age story,Boy Swallows Universealso reveals that the strongest bonds can be formed with the most unlikely people. Two of the most surprising but heart-touching relationships would be that which Eli has with Slim Halliday and Alex Bermuda. The former, Gus and Eli’s babysitter, is also known as the ‘Houdini of Boggo Road’ due to his multipleprison escape attempts, and the latter, Eli’s pen pal, is a felon serving time in prison for his role as a member of the Rebels motorcycle club.
Despite the dark pasts of both characters, Eli’s relationship with them reveals that these individuals' identities are not simply limited to ‘criminal.’ It is Slim who teaches Eli how to drive and warns him away from the more dangerous things in life. To a young boy who has no stability in his life, Slim becomes somewhat of a father figure. Similarly, going beyond his reputation of belonging to a motorcycle club, Alex Bermuda is a constant throughout Eli’s coming-of-age journey. Through their frequent exchanges, Bermuda becomes Eli’s shoulder to lean on, doing his best to steer Eli toward a better life.
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Boy Swallows Universe,despite primarily being acoming-of-agestory, has heavy themes that take the series further than merely being one that follows a boy from his childhood into adulthood. The story reveals that hope perseveres despite the most dire circumstances and that a child’s love for their parent can push them to move mountains. This also directly alludes to the impact a parent has on their child.
Moreover, the show reminds viewers that surface identity does not always convey a complete image. Overall,Boys Swallows Universecommunicates the poignant message that, despite trauma, hopelessness, and heartbreak, as Eli’s stepfather says throughout the series, one day, “things will get so good, you’ll forget they were ever bad.“Boy Swallows Universeis available to stream on Netflix.
