‘Life-changing’ reality series finally hits Netflix eight years after its TV debut – as viewers rave ‘it’s the most honest show around and everyone should look at her »

Australian TV series You Can’t Ask That has finally landed on Netflix – eight years after its 2016 TV debut.

Directed and produced by Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith, it sees ordinary people from marginalized groups sit down and answer questions sent in by audience members.

Groups explored in the first season included people in wheelchairs, overweight, Aboriginal, or terminally ill.

Respondents were asked no-nonsense questions like, “Why are you so fat?” and “Why don’t you exercise?”

Speaking about the series, Docker told Guardian Australia: “We don’t warm them up with anything. We go for the jugular right away. The poor bastards, sometimes they come in and then they’re gone!’

Even though there was every chance that the series would have failed, it broke down barriers and allowed people to share their stories on a prominent platform.

According to Docker, the trick to creating a compassionate program is simple.

He explained: “It’s fucked up. The trick is actually to care. I’ve done interview workshops and I always say that in that moment, I’m in love with these people. There is no one more important to us at this moment.

“We are 100% focused on these people and nothing else.

Naturally, some topics are more difficult to discuss, such as postnatal depression, juvenile detention and suicide.

Docker said the “most problematic question” he asked was about the dementia episode in season seven.

The question was: “Do you want to kill yourself before you become a vegetable?” “, which Docker called “insensitive.”

“This person knows that they are deteriorating and the idea of ​​treating them as a vegetable, which is what they are going to become, and that you ultimately want to end your life before you become this thing that no one wants, that’s the more horrible.” thought,” he told ABC.

“I was nervous to ask this question, because I knew it was a delicate subject and it was difficult too, because of the coronavirus I had to do some of these interviews via the Internet, which I don’t really like to do because with these kinds of questions they don’t feel my energy in the room.

Those who sign up for the show are fully aware that they might find themselves faced with uncomfortable questions, but very rarely bother to answer them honestly.

Instead of sounding outrageous, the responses often simply state facts, destigmatizing what people do in their everyday lives.

At the end of each interview, Docker gives interviewees the opportunity to mention anything they don’t want to include.

Netflix has just made the series available in the UK for the first time, with the first two seasons now streaming on the platform.

The second season includes 12 episodes, some of which focus on the blind, suicide attempt survivors, refugees, gambling addicts and the homeless.

Fans of the show took to X, formerly Twitter, to urge others to tune in, with one writing: “Why hasn’t anyone told me about ‘You Can’t Ask That’ on Netflix ?”

Another said: “You can’t ask for that” On Netflix it’s a must-see!

“I love watching ‘you can’t ask that’ on Netflix,” said a third.

A fourth wrote: “So Netflix has a show called You Can’t Ask That. It’s about gaining insight into different people, breaking stereotypes, and asking people things that others are afraid to ask. Interesting watch! »

A fifth added: “The ‘We Can’t Ask That’ series on Netflix is ​​good.” I never thought to ask most of these questions, but they are questions that most people probably want to know the answers to.

A sixth commented: “Have you all watched ‘You Can’t Ask That’ on Netflix!? OMG PLLEAAASSEEEEE!!!!! The whole episode is funny, sad, witty, charming and downright entertaining AND informative!’