What begins with a chance reunion on a Brisbane bus gradually unfolds into one of the most grounded and emotionally authentic Australian dramas of 2026 so far.
Paramount+ Australia’s latest drama Two Years Later explores love, loss and second chances through a refreshingly imperfect relationship that feels far more interested in real life than fairy tales.
Set against a distinctly Brisbane backdrop, the beautifully shot eight-part series at times feels almost cinematic as it follows Emily (Phoebe Tonkin) and Ryan (Brenton Thwaites) after a fleeting pandemic-era connection unexpectedly reignites years later.
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The city becomes a character in its own right, with its riverside setting, familiar landmarks and local locations giving the series a strong sense of place, even if sharp-eyed Brisbane viewers may notice a few timeline quirks involving landmarks and developments that don’t quite align with the story’s 2020 and 2022 setting.
Co-leads Phoebe Tonkin (Boy Swallows Universe) and Brenton Thwaites (Titans) anchor the series with natural chemistry, while Tonkin arguably delivers some of her best work to date, bringing dry humour, emotional complexity and quiet vulnerability to Emily.
Phoebe Tonkin and Brenton Thwaites bring warmth and authenticity to Two Years Later, where romance and reality frequently collide (image – Paramount Australia)
Heather Mitchell once again demonstrates why she remains one of Australia’s most dependable and much-loved screen performers, while Roy Billing brings warmth and charm as Ryan’s grandfather, helping ground the story’s more emotional moments in genuine family dynamics.
Each episode is framed around a new date, allowing the relationship to evolve naturally through family complications, career setbacks, personal tragedy and one particularly heated disagreement.
An early coffee date also raises the obvious question of who willingly orders caffeine at 4.30pm, which feels considerably riskier than anything else in the episode, or indeed the story so far.
One entire episode unfolds inside IKEA and its restaurant, blurring the line between relationship drama and what may be the least subtle piece of product placement ever attempted.
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Somehow, watching two people navigate furniture displays, the dilemma of whether to buy one spatula or two, meatballs and post-breakup life proves far more entertaining than it has any right to be.
The frequent references to pandemic life, from masks and Teams calls to working from home, may prove confronting for viewers eager to leave that era behind, but the series uses the backdrop effectively to explain why their brief connection faded and what brought them back together.
At around 25 minutes per episode, Two Years Later rarely overstays its welcome and often leaves you wanting to immediately press play on the next instalment.
By the time it reaches its emotional final stretch, Two Years Later has earned its heartfelt moments through Pete Bridges’ strong writing, confident direction and characters worth spending time with.
Romance and reality frequently collide, but that’s precisely what makes this Brisbane shot drama so easy to invest in.
Rating: ★★★★½
All eight episodes of Two Years Later are now streaming on Paramount+ Australia.
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