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What is Byron Baes? Here's your shortcut guide to Netflix's newest Australian show

The eight-part Netflix series caused controversy in Byron Bay before production had even begun. (Supplied: Netflix)

If you're rapidly running out of new shows to watch on Netflix, worry no more — the streaming giant has just released the trailer for its all-new Australian "docu-soap" Byron Baes, which is set to air next month.

Here's your shortcut guide.

What is Byron Baes about?

The show follows the careers, social lives and love lives of Byron Bay locals, plus some newcomers for good measure (and to create the all-important tension).

It paints Byron Bay as a creative hotspot with dreamy beaches, stunning sunsets and high-impact personal connections that make it brutally hard for those trying to break into the tight-knit community.

It focuses on the separate journeys of two newcomers who are moving to "make it" in Byron Bay — or as the trailer says, "hustling to make a go of it".

Netflix says the series explores a quintessentially Australian place by going beneath the surface of the online images. (Supplied: Netflix)

No, 'bae' isn't a typo

Bae is a slang term of endearment. People often use it to refer to someone they are in a relationship with, but it is also used to describe something being good or cool. Think of it as the word "babe" but without the second B.

It's commonly used on social media and R&B music, so you might have seen or heard it used before.

Netflix fittingly announced Byron Baes with a mock postcard. (Supplied: Netflix)

Hang on, when was Netflix in Byron?

Byron Baes first made a splash when Netflix announced it was casting for a reality series to be set in Byron Bay early last year.

The show was described as a "docu-soap following a feed of hot Instagrammers living their best lives, being their best selves, creating the best drama content, #nofilter guaranteed".

The Byron Shire Mayor asked his council to oppose the production of the series, saying it was "offensive" to the community. (Supplied: Netflix)

But it didn't go over well with a lot of locals, who said they wouldn't watch the show when it hit the streaming platform, and some businesses vowed to boycott it.

Some locals even went as far as protesting against it, although marketers said that was giving the show free publicity.

The series began filming mid-last year.

Who are the baes?

The series will follow the lives of 13 people, ranging from models, influencers, talent mangers, fashion designers and musicians to a spiritual coach and a fire performer.

The trailer introduces us to Sarah, who moves to Byron from the Gold Coast to try to make it as a musician.

We also meet Jade, who has amassed 1.2 million Instagram followers since a photo of him and Kim Kardashian went viral. He's also starred in a feature film, and is purportedly moving to Byron Bay to let his guard down and make meaningful connections.

Sarah, a singer originally from the Gold Coast, was drawn to Byron Bay's creative community. (Supplied: Netflix)

If you're a reality TV connoisseur, chances are you'll probably recognise some of the baes from other shows.

Model and marketer Elias appeared on Love Island Australia in 2018, and entrepreneur Nathan was a contestant on The Bachelor in 2018 and Bachelor in Paradise in 2019.

When can I watch it?

Netflix is releasing the series on March 9, with the first series consisting of eight episodes that are 40 minutes' long.

In classic Netflix style, all of the episodes will be released at once so you can power through the whole series in one day, if that's your thing.

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