Long-running Australian soap Neighbours is set to come to an end later this year, but it’s looking like the beloved series is intent to go out with a bang, or two… or three!
Set in an around the bustling Ramsay Street cul-de-sac, the popular show premiered way back in 1985, was canceled in 2022, and then was revived the following year due to fan demand. Along the way, it’s had its fair share of LGBTQ+ milestones, including Australian TV’s first gay wedding and a groundbreaking trans character in 2019.
But Neighbours isn’t done leaving its mark on queer media yet! Recently, the series has begun to explore its first-ever gay love triangle, and the steamy three-way drama is already heating up our screens.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Makes you wonder why it took over 9,000 episodes to get there, no?
At the center of it all is fan favorite character Aaron Brennan (Matt Wilson), a former exotic dancer whose also tried his hand at being a bodyguard and a social media manager, among other career choices (hey, it’s a soap—nobody stays in one place for long!).
Eventually, Aaron met and fell in love with David Tanaka (Takaya Honda), and the two had their ups and downs over the years, from that aforementioned landmark gay wedding to dealing with the adoption system. Sadly, David passed after a tragic tussle off a cliff in an early 2024 episode, leaving Aaron heartbroken and alone.
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Just when he thought he’d never find love again, Aaron’s got not one but two options pulling him in different directions—good thing he’s taking yoga classes because he’s going to need to stay flexible!
One love interest is Rhett (Liam Maguire), who Aaron first met when he was recruiting for his Boylesque dance troupe. The other is Colton Keys (Jakob Ambrose), who Aaron has a fling with on vacation in Queensland—and who later takes up a new job in town, giving Aaron & Rhett quite the surprise when he shows up on their date.
Things really came to a head during an especially hot yoga class which saw all three guys rolling out their mats next to each other, bringing out the competitive spirit in Rhett and Colton, who both have feelings for Aaron. Yoga is not traditionally a contact sport… but it is now!
Life moves fast in the world of soaps, so as of publishing we can say that this love triangle is still firing on all cylinders. In fact, after some encouragement from his friend Nicollette Stone (Hannah Monson), Aaron’s still playing the field, actively dating both suitors at once.
For its part, Neighbours is leaning in, posting some flirty pictures of the guys on Instagram and asking fans who Aaron should choose: Are they #TeamRhett or #TeamColton?
To help you decide where you land, here’s a few shots of the actors behind the roles….
Liam Maguire, a.k.a. “Rhett”
Jakob Ambrose, a.k.a. “Colton”
But who gets our vote? Who do we want to see Aaron get with before Neighbours comes to an end later this year?
Forget #TeamRhett or #TeamColton—we’re #TeamThrouple!
If Neighbours wants to keep breaking new ground for LGBTQ+ representation in its home stretch, how about a little threesome, eh? The chemistry between the trio is already there, so why make Matt choose? Besides, the series has already had a polyamorous arrangement in the past!
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At least star Jakob Ambrose seems to agree that the show is at its best when it’s able to make space for everyone:
“It definitely was something I recognized reading these scripts that we were going to be given the chance to portray queer characters in a really fun, messy, playful, honest way. It’s not so reverent and polite,” he shared with Yahoo! Lifestyle. “I think it’s important that all our colors are seen on screen—the happy family, but also the messiness it sometimes takes to get there.”
So let’s hope Neighbours keeps showing audiences these fun, messy, playful, honest gays in all their glory, right until the very end, when the season finale is set to air this December.
New episodes of Neighbours air every weekday in Australia on Channel 10, and are available to stream in the US and UK via Amazon Prime Video.
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