The Newtown Girls Series Review

『A Witty Yet Real Story of Friendship, Love, and the Subtle Choices Between Them』

🎥 Series Overview

🎬 Title: The Newtown Girls (2012)
🌍 Country: 🇦🇺 Australia (Newtown, Sydney)
🎞️ Genre: Comedy / Drama / LGBTQ+
🗓️ Production & Release: Web Series, 2012, 10 Episodes Total

👩‍💼 Cast: Debra Ades – Scarlet
Renee Lim – Alex

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers)

🌱 Scarlet’s Return and the Search for a Soulmate

The Newtown Girls centers on Scarlet, who returns to Newtown, Sydney, after spending a year abroad recovering from heartbreak. Her mission is clear: to find true love — her “soulmate” — within the city’s unique queer community.

Rather than focusing on heavy political discourse or melodramatic conflict, the series presents the everyday experiences of queer youth — dating, friendship, and identity confusion — in a bright and comedic tone.

🔍 Satirizing Newtown’s Queer Dating Scene

The most charming aspect of the series lies in Scarlet’s journey through the lesbian dating “scene” of Newtown.

• A Playful Take on Clichés: Scarlet humorously pokes fun at lesbian community stereotypes — from online dating and book clubs to using dogs as dating props. The scene where she borrows a dog to meet people, under the assumption that “lesbians love dogs,” perfectly captures the show’s witty and self-aware humor.
• New Love vs. Familiar Love: While Scarlet’s quest appears to be about finding “new love,” she ultimately faces her complex relationship with her longtime best friend, Alex. As Alex observes Scarlet’s impulsive and quirky behavior — sometimes criticizing, sometimes supporting — she becomes the person with whom Scarlet shares the deepest emotional bond.

👯‍♀️ Shifting Friendship and Hidden Affection

The relationship between Scarlet and Alex serves as the emotional anchor of the series.

• Complementary Opposites: Scarlet is impulsive and idealistic, while Alex is realistic and composed. Acting as Scarlet’s “wingman” in her chaotic romantic escapades, Alex begins to reveal complicated emotions when Scarlet starts dating someone new (Dr. Lexie), suggesting that there may be something deeper beneath their friendship.
• Growth Through Relationship: Their bond mirrors the dilemmas many queer young adults face — the realization that one’s best friend might also be a romantic interest, and the fear that acknowledging it could shake the foundation of everything. This inner conflict becomes Scarlet’s most crucial choice in the series’ climax.

🌐 The Significance of a Web Series: Accessibility and “Realness”

Produced as a web series in 2012, The Newtown Girls holds important significance in several ways:

• Independent Queer Storytelling: At a time when mainstream media rarely portrayed lesbian-centered narratives, the show established a truly “by and for lesbians” storytelling space. The web format allowed creators to represent authentic community experiences free from censorship or commercial pressure.
• Representation of the Community: The series successfully captures the distinctive atmosphere and culture of Newtown, earning high praise for its sense of “realness.” Its characters are not depicted as “suffering queers,” but as ordinary women in their 30s navigating life with humor and joy — a refreshing portrayal for its time.

🤝 A Lighthearted Yet Sincere Coming-of-Age Story

The Newtown Girls maintains a light, comedic tone while sincerely addressing love, identity, and friendship among women in their 30s. Scarlet’s journey concludes with a realization that a “soulmate” doesn’t always have to be an external, perfect stranger — true love might already be right beside you. (Friendship and love are not the same.) Through its short and lively episodic format, the series offers a charming and accessible queer coming-of-age story.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★★