Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – Jonah from Tonga

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Jonah from Tonga May 2014 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
After being sent to his native Tonga following his expulsion from Summer Heights High, rebellious teenager Jonah gets a chance to start a new life at a Roman Catholic high school in the western suburbs of Sydney. Even though he's at a new school, Jonah quickly reverts to the behavior that got him kicked out of Summer Heights. Weeks into his posting, he's leading a new gang that defends its turf, and Jonah eventually gets into trouble with the law. Through it all, the teen's family continues to believe his future is bright and wants to help him reach his potential.

Where to Watch

Jonah from Tonga — Season 1

Critics Reviews

View More
Marc Snetiker Entertainment Weekly 08/08/2014
B
Lilley continues to find fresh humor, serving up the kinds of eye-rolling laughs and one-liners you'll be quoting for weeks. Go to Full Review Ellen E Jones Independent (UK) 08/08/2014
The good news is, this was much funnier than Ja'mie: Private School Girl, the disappointing first spin-off from Lilley's cult mockumentary Summer Heights High. Go to Full Review Julia Raeside Guardian 08/08/2014
It feels authentic, but after three hours it's like you've been sat next to him on a long coach journey and you basically want to shove him out of the emergency exit, however tragic his back-story. Go to Full Review Jac Kern Cincinnati CityBeat 09/15/2017
Chris Lilley is a master of disguise. Go to Full Review Kari Croop Common Sense Media 08/13/2014
3/5
Although Jonah from Tonga has drawn criticism for its overblown take on Tongan culture, it's not the first time show creator Chris Lilley has courted controversy -- and it likely won't be the last. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
prawnda s Jan 12 some people just don't know the difference between being a horrible xenophobe promoting toxic stereotypes versus "making satire". what's more disappointing is that people still watch this stuff, but at least the creator has basically never had a positively rated project that wasnt the subject of public protests. See more 02/14/2018 A one-note racist blackface horror show. Awful. See more 03/12/2015 Just doesnt work on so many levels See more 02/18/2015 I loved Chris Lilley"s past work but this was kinda disappointing. See more 09/06/2014 Repetitive, mean, fake sentimentality, homophobic and racist. Oh, and did I mention not funny? Very vocal 'fans', though, who know the systems so fill up ratings on here and IMDB. Odd the reviews slamming the show from the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Daily Mail, and more aren't included here. See more 08/22/2014 Although stigmatized as being racist, Jonah has almost as many quiet sly moments as it does uproariously funny, if not childish ones. Where Jaime lacks, Jonahs delivers, and pokes fun not so much at being Tongan, but at being a 14 year old boy. See more Read all reviews
Jonah from Tonga — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Chris Lilley

Jonah

Tama Tauali'i

Moses

Jason Moleli

Manu

Lafaele Tauali'i

Israel

Tana Laasia

Sonny

Doug Bowles

Mr. Joseph

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 8, 2014 Episode 1 Jonah moves to Tonga to live with his relatives; Jonah is sent back to Sydney to attend a Catholic school; Jonah and his crew must deal with a group of boys led by the school captain, Graydon. Details Episode 2 Aired May 15, 2014 Episode 2 After their bullying videos are discovered, Jonah and the Fobba-licious crew are forced to meet with a youth counselor; Kool Kris takes a special interest in Jonah; Graydon makes fun of Jonah's dance moves. Details Episode 3 Aired May 22, 2014 Episode 3 Jonah sneaks out of the house to go bowling; Kool Kris helps the Fobba-licious crew work on an original song and video against bullying to enter into a contest; Jonah and Moses try to prove themselves to the Soldierz. Details Episode 4 Aired May 29, 2014 Episode 4 Catholic education inspectors come to observe Lazarus House; the crew ends up in juvenile detention; Jonah finds himself isolated due to his criminal past. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 5, 2014 Episode 5 Jonah settles into his new home with his Juvelicious crew; Jonah and his father argue when Rocky visits for Father's Day; Jonah puts his parole hearing in jeopardy when he reacts badly to Therese's news. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 12, 2014 Episode 6 Jonah returns to Holy Cross; Jonah and his crew compete in the qualifying heat; Lazarus house undergoes a big change; Jonah returns to Tonga. Details

More Like This

View All
Angry Boys 54% 89% Angry Boys Watchlist Wreck 69% 93% Wreck Watchlist TRAILER for Wreck Bad Education % 67% Bad Education Watchlist People Just Do Nothing % 100% People Just Do Nothing Watchlist Red Oaks 93% 92% Red Oaks Watchlist TRAILER for Red Oaks Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Jonah from Tonga — Season 1

Jonah from Tonga Jonah from Tonga Jonah from Tonga Jonah from Tonga Linda Horan, Tama Tauali'l, Isaia Noa, Chris Lilley. View more photos

Season Info

Director
Chris Lilley, Stuart McDonald
Executive Producer
Chris Lilley
Network
BBC
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date
May 8, 2014