User reviews

First Day is groundbreaking in that it's a show aimed at a younger audience that has a transgender lead character, played by a transgender actress.

I, as a trans person who came out in secondary school, was able to directly relate to the experiences shown on screen and feel that this show has brilliantly emotional and touching writing and acting. I found myself tearing up because this how affected me on such a personal level, and I can't express enough how important it is to have a show like this.

I especially want to praise the acting, as the child actors, especially the main protagonist, did a brilliant job of successfully and compassionately portraying their characters and the emotions they're feeling.

The show tactfully handles trans issues, and may help to show cisgender individuals a taste of what trans people go through, while presenting a great character-centred story. Although, as a trigger warning for trans viewers, the main protagonist faces transphobic bullying, and is misgendered and deadnamed throughout the show by the bullies and ignorant peers. And even though this treatment is portrayed as wrong and addressed in the show, it may still be triggering for trans people who have faced such treatment in real life.

A lot of the negative reviews and ratings of this show are simply a result of transphobic individuals who have never watched the show and just wish to harm what little good trans representation there is on TV.

I binged this today on Hulu and thought it was excellent. The story was compelling without being preachy, and the acting was superb. It's sad that at least one other review has attacked it for having an "agenda," when the only agenda is that people deserve to be accepted for whom they are. Being transgender is not a mental illness, no matter what small minded people claim.

This show, in just it's first episode alone, stands it's ground and is a beautiful demonstration of diversity and how to cope and help.

Highly recommend.

Such a cute and heartwarming story. Highly recommend it for anyone with kids around 10-14.

I have really enjoyed this show from Australia on a girl dealing with being trans as she goes to a new school!! Touching and well acted i highly recommend it!!!

To be honest, the show is not perfect due to the low budget, but the plots and actors' performances are all terrific and worth watching. I am not surprised the show has won the 2021 International Emmy Kids Award.

If you're open minded enough, you'll realise that this story is an honest and heartwarming coming of age story that absolutely is worth watching.

Highly recommend it for all ages!

A terrific story, well written, acted and produced.

For the people who think this is evil or warped, I say this: this is just the world catching up with what's always happened.

I am have limited knowledge on this topic. I'm learning too and will most likely use clumsy wording.

Since the start of time, there have been gay people. And since the start of time, there have no doubt been people who don't feel comfortable in their own identity. For many of us who are catching up (and this includes me) now is the time to educate people of the trials, highs and lows that trans people -- including young people -- must feel.

I don't believe young people watching this show are going to suddenly "become trans".

Instead, this show serves a number of purposes.

1. It educates people (including young people and parents) that trans people exist. There are people who don't feel comfortable in their own identity. Trans people have feelings, troubles and challenges.

2. For trans young people, this gives them the opportunity to think about their own situation and maybe give them courage or empowerment if they have doubts about themselves

3. Like racism, sexism, homophobia and many other social issues, it's about time discussion like this exists. The message that I feel it tells young people (and older people, like me) is that trans people exist, be kind (like you should be kind to everyone who meet in life) and accept people for who they are.

For the wowsers, the ignorant and the fearful - we're now as a society catching up with talking about things and ideas that have existed for a very long time. It's time to catch up, put your old, backwards ways of thinking behind, and be open to new ideas.

In Australia, we had a national plebiscite on legalising gay marriage, which was unnecessary and painful for many people. But, the positives were that the discussion helped to educate many people in Australia that gay people are just people.

So I say well done for creating "First Day". Well worth watching and well worth discussing with young people and older people.

First day is so sweet and Evie is such a great actress! Considering all ways Australia is currently failing trans youth - it's exciting to see that there are people out there who will back stories like this. Have followed Julie's work since starting from..now, so great to see her be able to take her story telling to a new, bigger, platform!

So beautiful, sweet and honest. Evie Macdonald is a revelation. I loved it. I felt seen though I didn't know I was being seen. Its a joy to watch and re-watch.