“Boy Swallows Universe,” a seven-part series that shows Eli’s troubled life in Brisbane in the 1980s. The first episode, “Boy Smells Rat,” is based on Trent Dalton‘s semi-autobiographical book and gets us acquainted with Eli and the Bell family. Eli has to deal with a lot of problems, including a mute brother, a mother who is recovering from drug abuse, a stepfather who is involved in heroin selling, and a babysitter who has a criminal past. The episode sets the stage for an exciting story, offering a unique mix of interesting plots, well-developed characters, and the mystery that builds around a dramatic opening scene.
Boy Swallows Universe Episode 1 Recap
The episode starts with a dramatic break-in at the Bell home, drawing you into the chaos of Eli’s life. The attackers, Lyle, Frances’s lover, and Eli’s stepfather demand something that leaves Eli, his silent brother Gus, and their mother Frances vulnerable. The events that happen show a complicated family relationship. Slim, a former prisoner and Lyle’s friend, acts as an unusual babysitter.
The story jumps ahead six weeks to show Lyle’s questionable activities. Slim, who has been to prison for murder, tells Eli to write to Alex Bermuda, who is also in jail. As Eli makes an odd bond with Bermuda while he is in jail, the audience learns more about the problems the Bell family is having. Gus, Eli’s quiet brother, becomes a focal point. His silence suggests a painful past involving their mother’s drug use and their father’s death.
Bullies bother Eli at school, and Bermuda gives him tips on how to deal with them in this episode. As the series goes on, Lyle’s participation in drug trafficking comes to light, even though he was in jail before. Eli has mixed feelings; he worries about his family’s safety and questions Lyle’s decisions.
A strange phone call, a red phone hidden in the basement, and meetings with sketchy characters, like the school bully Darren, add more layers to the story as it unfolds. The episode shows Eli’s moral problems as he thinks about making money by following Lyle’s lead.
Boy Swallows Universe Episode 1: Ending
At the end of the show, a strange man is camping outside of Eli’s house, which has led to rumors about who he is. He might be Ivan Kroll, the character from the earlier phone call. There is a lot of tension around this mysterious figure because there are a lot of questions that haven’t been answered about them.
The complicated web of the Brisbane Drug Wars, Lyle’s drug dealing, and the Bell family’s linked relationships keeps viewers interested. The reason behind Lyle’s acts becomes clear during Eli’s confrontation with him; he wants to make things better for Frankie, Gus, and Eli himself.
The mysterious red phone that is hidden in the basement adds to the mystery and suggests that the person may have ties to the criminal underworld. Eli’s emotional fight with his mother, Frances, shows how events from the past still affect the family and how hard it is for everyone to get away from drug abuse and crime.
In the last few scenes, Eli’s finding that Lyle is involved in drug dealing is a turning point. The news causes a fight between the father and son, showing how moral Eli is and how determined he is to protect his family from the dangers of a criminal life.
