Top Five Highlights from Utopia Season Five Down Under

Five things we loved in Utopia’s season five

By Anna Macdonald

July 28, 2023

As a source of cathartic, light entertainment during these dark days for the public service, the latest season of Utopia has been a welcome respite. Here at The Mandarin, we have compiled our top five things from the fifth season of this beloved bureaucratic comedy. However, we are also eager to hear what you, the audience, thought about the latest season.

1. Beverley

Beverley, the head of HR and series villain, was a standout character in this season. Appearing in most episodes, Beverley constantly vexed NBA COO Nat. Whether it was meddling with Nat’s romantic relationship with workplace training, thrusting inappropriate hires upon Nat, or coaching her through a culturally insensitive photo that went viral, Beverley was someone I loved to hate.

2. Yes, minister

The minister and the assistant minister both provided entertainment this season. One particular episode showcased the minister’s childish behavior when he iced out NBA CEO Tony simply because Tony criticized his #Aussiewood. It’s oddly satisfying to see a politician acting like a toddler and facing rightful ridicule for it.

3. The initialisms

The abundance of initialisms in this season accurately depicted the jargon-heavy nature of the public service. While the NBA is the obvious one, we were also introduced to the BBA (Better Building Australia), the acronym STARD (Stop, Think, Ask, Reject, Delete), and the NHDP (National Highway Duplication Program). In this sector, it often feels like a dictionary is required to comprehend what everyone is actually saying.

4. Topical treatments

Two episodes delved into major news topics from the past year: cybersecurity hacks and the NBA’s venture into TikTok. The fifth episode saw the NBA joining TikTok as part of a recruitment effort, which obviously backfired once the government banned the social media app on work phones. Meanwhile, the seventh episode featured a cybersecurity plotline resulting from new hire Abbey. Last year’s high-profile Optus and Medibank data breaches prompted a government crackdown on corporations that fail to safeguard consumer data.

5. Girlboss Gen Z-ers

I particularly enjoyed the characters of Abbey and Carla, both representing the Gen Z demographic. As a fellow Gen Z-er, I felt that both of them did nothing wrong. Abbey, who was work-shy, and Carla, who was overly ambitious, were not the best fits for the NBA. However, Carla managed to secure a job in the ministerial office through manipulation, while Abbey realized that she would be happier elsewhere and chose to quit. Both characters proved to be sources of frustration for Nat, but in the end, happiness is what truly matters.

If you believe we have overlooked any standout moments, please don’t hesitate to contact us at media@themandarin.com.au.

About the author

Anna Macdonald is a journalist based in Sydney and currently works for The Mandarin. She previously reported on Australia’s media and marketing industry at Mumbrella. Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts and Laws from the Australian National University.

Keywords: Australia, Utopia, season five, highlights, top five