He Had It Coming Looks Set to Deliver a Sharp, Funny and Twisty Ride on BBC Three

L-R: Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Liv Hewson (image: Jungle Entertainment/Stan Entertainment)

By Jon Donnis

BBC Three has picked up what looks to be a refreshingly different comedy-drama for August, with Australian series He Had It Coming arriving on BBC iPlayer before making its television debut a week later. Combining dark comedy, mystery and campus drama, the eight-part series has all the ingredients to make for an entertaining watch.

Lydia West leads the cast as Elise, a socially awkward British scholarship student whose life takes an unexpected turn after she strikes up an unlikely friendship with fashion influencer Barbara, played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo. Frustrated after a string of bad experiences with men, the pair decide to make a statement by vandalising a statue of the university's male founder as part of an activist art project.

What begins as an impulsive act soon spirals into something far more serious. The following morning, the university's star athlete is discovered murdered beneath their political statement, leaving Elise and Barbara desperate to remove any connection between themselves and the crime. As Detective Shepherd, played by Liv Hewson, closes in on the truth, the pair are forced to investigate the growing mystery themselves while tensions on campus continue to rise and the body count climbs.

It is an eye-catching premise that blends humour with genuine suspense, placing two unlikely amateur sleuths at the centre of a murder investigation that they cannot simply walk away from. The mix of comedy and mystery should give the series plenty of opportunities to balance lighter moments with the escalating danger surrounding its central characters.

Alongside its intriguing story, He Had It Coming also brings together an impressive cast. Lydia West continues to build on an already strong body of work, while Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewson look equally well suited to the series' blend of comedy and drama. Cody Simpson also makes a special appearance as the university athlete whose murder sets the story in motion.

With an unusual premise and a talented cast, He Had It Coming has certainly caught my attention ahead of its UK debut. If it can deliver on the promise of its central mystery while maintaining its sense of humour, this could prove to be a very enjoyable addition to BBC Three's growing catalogue of international drama.

He Had It Coming arrives on BBC iPlayer on Saturday 8 August, before premiering on BBC Three at 11.15pm on Friday 15 August.