Netflix Heartbreak High Finally Gives Us The Eshay Love Story

Netflix’s ‘Heartbreak High’ Finally Gives Us The Eshay Love Story We Deserve

Tell us you love Punkee without telling us you love Punkee. Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. It'll mean the world.

It is without a doubt that Netflix’s Heartbreak High is one of the most ‘Strayan shows I’ve ever watched.

The ’90s reboot is one of the hottest shows out right now on Netflix. The eight-episode series focuses on the students of Hartley High and their experiences with sex, love, and friendship drama. One of the highlights of this show is how the dialogue and characters are unapologetically Australian, and this is especially evident in the series’ representation of eshays.

If you have no clue what an eshay is, I would best describe them as onions. They have layers, and every eshay is different. But to simplify: an eshay is a stereotypical term for an Australian who typically engages in stealing, drug-dealing, and other criminal activity.

Train stations, skate parks, fish and chip shops and shopping centres are typically an eshay’s natural habitat.

And if you ever needed to spot one out in the wild, Urban Dictionary defines an eshay as someone who wears “polo shirts or puffer jackets, baggy shorts or tracksuit pants, Nike TNs or another type of air force shoe and usually wear brands such as Nautica, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas etc.”

@torrelltafa How to eshay with qualified eshay expert @Yasin Kofteros ? #aus #eshay #akl #nz #melb #adlay ♬ original sound – TorrellTafa

Thanks to Heartbreak High, eshays have finally made it to an international audience through the character of Ca$h, who has become a fan fave for his eetswa (eshay for ‘sweet’) demeanour and his unexpected character arc.

FYI: Before you get any further into this article, beware, there are Heartbreak High spoilers ahead. You have been warned.

So when we’re first introduced to Ca$h, he kinda passes as your regular eshay. He’s a drug dealer, he runs in a pack, he uses pig latin, and he’s decked out in lad wear. Everything about Ca$h screams eshay.

As the season goes on, we learn Ca$h is more than meets the eye. He starts a romance with Darren, he has a wholesome relationship with grandmother, and he’s grappling with his sexual identity.

These little parts of Ca$h’s journey challenge the stereotype that eshays are raging with toxic masculinity.

@yianni2k This is what the Eshay-Verse looks like w/@wesda_ #eshay #trainstation #scooter ♬ original sound – Yasin Kofteros

Ca$h’s sexuality is explored throughout his blossoming relationship with Darren, giving us the eshay love story we’ve all been waiting for.

In the final episode, Ca$h rebels against his eshay friends, which eventually leads to a cop chase. The cop chase becomes one of the most defining moments that combines Ca$h’s eshay-ness and queerness. Ca$h runs from the cops to Hartley High, where he professes his love for Darren during their SLTS (sexual literacy tutorial).

“I love you Darren,” his monologue begins. “I’ve loved you since Year 8 and the only good thing about coming to this shithole everyday is seeing your face.”

@breadcrackers69 my fav eshay and non binary #heartbreakhigh #heartbreakhighedit #heartbreakhigh2022 ♬ original sound – H&lt3

OH MY GOD. Butterflies in my stomach right there.

The scene ends in the most eshay way: right after he passionately kisses Darren, Ca$h is dragged away by the police. ALSO this was happening to the tune of ‘Strawberry Kisses’ by Nikki Webster, making it even more iconically Australian.

We’re not too sure what will happen to Ca$h and Darren, but we can only just hope that Netflix explores the eshay love story more if the teen drama gets a second season.

Ever since the debut of the Heartbreak High reboot, it seems that viewers have taken a liking to this eshay, with some creating memes and fancams to display their love for Ca$h.

@mypersonalhe11 One small step for Australia ?#eshay #heartbreakhigh ♬ Don’t Fuck with Kerser – Kerser

As the world begins to learn more about Australia’s eshay culture, maybe we’ll get more of these refreshing love stories in the future.

Fingers crossed!