In a stunning twist of events ...
... I'm going to gush about my newest fandom, Skam. So, yeah, I'm kidding. This isn't a stunning twist of events - this is par for the course when I find something new. I kidded myself that i was going to talk about all my fandoms and why I like them, but then I just shrugged - like, who am I kidding? I'm so immersed in this thing that the others all seem to be a bit blah, even ones that a few days earlier I was totally into. Of course, the fact that they're ALL either finished canonically or on hiatus didn't help.
In this case, I kind of joined reluctantly, a long time after it first came to my attention on my dash on tumblr. The third season was coming out over the last few months of last year and gifsets of it were everywhere. And, I mean, sure. It looked cute. Like a lot of stuff I manage to ignore on tumblr forever, I kind of shrugged and went 'aww that's sweet' and then scrolled past. I don't even know what made me save the links to the ways to watch it, but I did and one day - roughly a week after the season finished - I clicked on them and started watching. Now I did that in a way that I personally wouldn't recommend. I could only get the s3 links to work, so I started there, and even then I couldn't watch it all in order (this is not as bad as it sounds because every season focuses on one character and it changes each season, so there wasn't any vital backstory I missed that wasn't filled in during the show anyway). I got through episodes 1-3, then it skipped to episode 5 and missed 4. I just went with it because by then I was totally addicted to it. Then the epoisodes stopped at 7 so I had ti hunt down more links. I found them eventually, this time with s1 and 2 as well. I decided to finish s4 before going back. So then I watched episode 4 then 8-10. So yeah. Don't do that. Episode 4 is actually pretty vital in terms of plot and the expansion of characterisation. But it didn't matter anyway because I immediately went back and watched it all again (because of something that happened at the end which changed the context of a lot and necessitated a rewatch). Then I went back and watched s1 and 2 as well. There are things I absolutely love about s1 and 2 (which I will go into later) but there were also a few things that niggled at me which means s3 is still my favourite. S3 is close to being the most perfect season of anything I've ever seen, ever, so s1 and 2 were akways going to have a hard job measuring up.
But anyway. I'm going to start with the stuff I don't like so much so that I can then go on to gush to my heart's content.
First - the handling of the main relationship of s2. And this is actually a really big one because of the way the show was conceived. This was what they wanted from the outset, this romance and this story. The whole thing was developed and conceived around this storyline (which also got close to 2 hours more screen time than the other two seasons which probably contributed to how annoying I found it). Which, you know, that's fine. But ... ugh. The main guy is a manipulative asshole and the show (and half the fandom) lets him away with it because apparently he knew deep down what was best for the girl. And I'm just so sick of these stories where a strong, independant girl needs to learn to look past some douche's 'bad boy' exterior to see the lovely person within. It's just boring, it's been done a million times before AND in this case his actions are always excused because troubled past, and he is never ever once ever held to account for what he does. We're just supposed to see the 'new depth' (which isn't all that deep tbh and in which he is still a controlling jerk) and it's even explicitly said to Noora that she's to blame for not exploring him further, that her changing her opinions because he's 'right' is okay and she's still strong and powerful even so. When in actual fact, they have totally incompatible values and she is the only one of the pair to change her mind and try to understand him and I ... I'm just so sick of this storyline being romanticised.
Second, and related - William Magnussen. It's not often that I hate a character, but I hate this one. I hate his 'development' which wasn't development at all. I hate what he did to Vilde, and to Noora, I hate that he's supposed to be a romantic hero and that he is painted as knowing better than Noora what she needs and thinks. I just really really dislike him a lot. I wish he'd had some actual development and learned that the stuff he did in s1 and the first part of s2 wasn't okay and that he needed to do better. I hate that he's seen as the romantic ideal in this show. I'm just over this type of character from every other show I watch and I hate that in this one he's so 'good' and 'perfect' when in actual fact he's really really not.
Third - the treatment of homosexuality in s1 and 2 (and even in parts of s3). It's treated as a joke, as a punchline, as something for friends to giggle over, something to accuse someone of and then laugh about. The character is fetishised, and stalked by the other characters and while he later learns and grows and apologises for things he might have done wrong, no-one ever apologises to him for how they treated something that was (in hindsight, and which was planned) very sensitive and difficult for him. He is talked about behind his back, and people say things like 'you only know gay songs' and 'okay sure, I'll go in the room with the gay guy' - well before he ever admits, even to himself, that this is a thing for him. I'm actually quite flabbergasted that they managed to deal with the issue so well in s3 given how badly they did it in the lead up.
Anyway, that's enough griping. The things I love about this show, and why I'm obsessed.
First - the characters (apart from aforementioned William Magnussen and his friend 'penetrator' Chris). The characters in this show are so real. They are loveable and loving and good friends to each other, but they are also deeply flawed. They do soem terrible things to each other but (unless they are William Magnussen) there are consequences for what they do. I'll go over some of my favourites. Eva, the main of s1. She's shy and anxious, has few friends outside her relationship, and most of those are her boyfriend's mates. We find out at the end of the season that she's been dealing with her guilt over something she did before the season started and that's basically what has held her back. She's jealous and possessive of her boyfriend and she doesn't really trust him (due to aforementioned thing that happened before the season started). She has a big heart and she is willing to stand up for the new friends she makes, and she eventually finds a new group after her old one kicked her out (because of aforementioned blah blah blah). She bonds with these new girls and learns a lot about friendship and what she wants and needs as a person. Her relationship is toxic (and tbh if s1 were all I knew of his character I'd hate him too, but thankfully he's developed across the next two seasons), but by the end of the season she learns to be herself. He spends most of the time telling her she's a follower, and knocks her confidence even though a lot of her problems actually stem from him. But anyway, by the end, we see that he's still hung up on her and yet she realises that the relationship is not good for her and she breaks up with him. So I like that she manages to get herself out of a bad situation and eventually moves on.
(I was going to put a video here of Eva, but I can't find one that has her talking apart from one with Isak where it makes it look like they had a thing, which ... lol. Also, they all include her making out with another girl, which she only did while extremely drunk and in a bad place and so they misrepresent that, and so long story short, no video of Eva, but yes videos of the others)
Then there's Sana (hasn't been a main yet, but here's hoping), a Muslim in a very obviously non-muslim country, Sana is cold and aggressive. She snarks her way through life and can be really bitchy. She is opinionated and can be nasty, and 'tells it like it is' sometimes to devastating effect. She is convinced she's right all the time and can be insensitive. However, she would literally lay down everything for her friends, is willing to give everyone a chance, is open minded about other people's lifestyles and beliefs and always always acts out of a desire to help rather than harm. She's very intelligent and loves having debates on all sorts of topics but will always defend people's rights to their own belief system even while vigirously defending her own from them. I wish I could boil Sana down into an easy little bundle, but it's not easy. She's not an easy character but she is probably the one I fell in love with first. i remember sending a message to a friend going 'I really like this girl, what a shame it looks like she's a minor character' when I first started watching s3. I do hope she gets her own season because I want her to have her arc. i want her to step out and take on islamophobia, which has been a lowkey issue throughout the whole show (and as an aside, I love that even characters who are annoyed with her or who she has just pissed off defend her and her religion from outsiders) and I just want more Sana, okay.
Finally, Isak (main of s3). I love Isak - he has the best development of the whole show. He goes from being quite a manipulative little piece of work in s1, through a vulnerable stage when his parents break up and he tries to come to terms with himself in s3. I wacthed the first few episodes wanting to shake him because he was such a bro-ish little shite. He was rude to girls, in a way that was quite reflective of what William had done in s1 and he was often a shit to his friends too.. But, because this was Isak's season and we could see behind the facade, it was so easy to also sympathise with him. He was lost and confused, very vulnerable and unsure of himself and his place in the world. He also managed to apologise for most of the stuff he'd done to other people, unlike certain other make characters, grrr. Isak basically had to learn to be himself, and accept that he's gay, by the end of the season (I mean that sounds like every coming out story ever, but a - it's done very very well and b - there's more to his story but it would totally ruin the show if I talk about it in too much detail). Talking about this with someone else, we came to the realisation that he has two examples of masculinity around him - the bro-ish lads he's friends with and the very camp gay man he lives with. He tries to emulate and perform bro-ish masculinity because he's so worried that if he's gay he has to emulate the very open campy style of his flatmate. It takes a lot for him to work out that he can be himself and 'real' and not have to be either one of those two types of masculinity and watching him grow is just so satisfying. And it's in the moments when he allows himself to just be himself that I really fell for him (and on a side note, the actor is phenomenal - only 17 and yet very accomplished. You can see and believe every single little emotion that Isak feels reflected in his face and his body language), because his vulnerability and soft, caring side are just a treat when he lets them out.
You get two Isak videos, because Isak is my favourite and I couldn't choose. The first is sad Isak learning to open up and show himself to the world, and the second is just Isak being Isak (including a rather nasty comment he makes to a girl at the start which sort of shows the type he was at the start of s3)
And that's it. If it weren't for stupid William, Noora would be on here, but I hate her relationship and character devolvement so much that I just can't include her.
Second - the way they develop friendships. The friendships depicted in this show are so good and so real. While each season focuses on one character, their friend groups are very important to their stories. The first two seasons focus on the 'girl squad' - Eva, Noora, Vilde, Sana and Chris. And they are so supportive of each other, even when they are also ripping into each other's dumb decisions (Vilde often makes dumb decisions). Eva starts the season with no-one and she gathers this beautiful group of girls around her slowly. Sana and Vilde have a very turbulent relationship but when it counts they really support each other. When someone called Vilde a slut, Sana took them on even though she herself had been trying to explain to Vilde that her decisions weren't exactly the wisest. Vilde started out very islamophobic but by the end of the second season the two were actually quite clearly fond of each other and had each other's backs. Noora was Eva's best friend, and in s 2 when Noora tried to isolate herself Eva ws one of the few people who was able to get to her and talk to her. It doesn't always work, and if they sometimes fight among themselves but their friendships are shown to be stronger than any arguments and they always communicate effectively and end up supporting each other. Then in season 3 we switch to the 'boy squad' - Isak, Jonas, Mahdi and Magnus (with honourable mention to Even once the other boys meet him). They are such a bunch of bros, with all the disgusting boy stuff that goes along with that (right down to explicit discussions about girls, sex etc), but they are also all so very very supportive of each other., Isak and Jonas have been best friends forever, and in fact they were a big part of s1 since Jonas was Eva's boyfriend. They have always been shown as very good friends, but it was in s3 where it shone. isak isolates himself for a number of reasons and Jonas just gently always makes it clear that he's there is Isak ever needs him. And when isak does finally turn to him he is a calm supportive voice who helps him deal with all the stresses of being in a new relationship. They're just lovely together. And magnus and Mahdi seem like comedic relief and magnus in particular is full of terrible comments and ignorant ideas, but then at a moment where it really matters he has a lot of wisdom and support himself. So, I'm actually torn here - in s4 if it's Sana we go back to the girl squad and I love them. But if it's one of the boys we get to see the boy squad again and see another depth and layer to their friendship and I don't know which I want more.
Third - the way it deals with sensitive issues. So far we've seen self esteem, pregnancy, eating disorders, sexual assault and nonconsented spreading of compromising pictures, islamophobia, homosexuality and mental illness all dealt with sensitively and in depth. Some have been covered in more depth than others because they have been the issues of the mains or their partners, but all have been done well (though like i said, i wasn't impressed with the way they approached homosexuality in s1 and 2). The characters all feel real and relatable and you can understand why they react the way they do to their specific circumstances. Things characters say and do return to affect other characters later in ways that they probably didn't mean. For example, William (grr) tells Vilde that she isn't good enough for him, probably as a way to look cool and important in front of his friends, but it sends her into a spiral and she develops an eating disorder which - since she hasn't been a main yet (though I expect her for s6 just given some stuff that has happened) - is dealt with in an organic way as she interacts with Noora and the other girls in s2. It's not brushed off, and it's shown in this way, and others into s3, just how much that comment by William impacted on her. I just like that things are allowed time to impact the characters and thoughtless remarks actually prove to have an impact on those you talk to. Isak apologises to Eva at the end of s3 for the way he behaved in s1 and I just think it's great that characters can learn and grow and be held accountable. These issues are real and present and the characters aren't all perfect, and they make mistakes, but those mistakes are never brushed off (with the exception of William's asshattery - yes i will never shut up about that) anf they are held to account for them either in the moment or later and it's just so refreshing, you know?
Fourth, and most shallowly - the soundtrack is amazing. Seriously amazing, and it's used so very well throughout. The song choices often reflect and comment on what the chatracters are going through. And the editing of the songs into the work is very good too. I have spent the last few days listening to the s3 soundtrack on repeat on spotify, and it's a nice mix of stuff I know and things that are new to me. Since the show is Norwegian, there are a lot of Norwegian songs and they work really well mixed in with the usual stuff that's mkore familiar. I haven't spent as much time with the s1 and 2 soundtracks because I'm just not as connected to those seasons, but there are a lot of people who are and so they swear by those soundtracks as well.
Anyway ... why s3 in particular? Because there's no way I'd be this obsessed wif it was just the teen drama of s1 and 2 no matter how well a lot of those things have been handled. Well, let me explain. It's so well written and acted and put together. It deals with two issues that are close to my heart, and it deals with them so very well. The two main actors are very good and play off each other very well. It shows the consequences of toxic masculinity and internalised homophobia in a gentle, sensitive way. It allows Isak to develop and blossom into a very deep, rounded character. I could write 10,000 words just on him and his development (and tbh I could do the same for Eva, but I dunno, her story doesn't resonate with me as much - I think I'm too far distanced from that particular struggle). And, the thing that really first attracted me to this season, that made me fall for it while Isak was still being a bro-ish little brat, it heavily references Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet which is one of my favourite movies, and it plays with scenes from that movie and ideas from that movie. It cheekily casts the two mains in the roles of Romeo and Juliet (in the way they recreate some of the scenes from the movie, costuning, shot recreation, music choices, everything) but they change which one is which character back and forth throughout the season depending on who is most in need. the ending subverts what you'd expect from the story, and indeed what one character said was necessary for an 'epic love story' - namely the deaths of the mains, and it does it in such a lovely way. And the best thing is that isak and Even bring out the best in each other, they support each other, and when things get bad they make mistakes but they learn and grow from them. But they are never vilified by the text for the mistakes they made, they just gather themselves up again and move on. It's just .. so good. And with the revelation from the end, you go back and watch again and realise that a whole lot of assumptions you were making are in fact false, and the season takes on a whole different light. It's just very cleverly done and so subtly seeded throughout that it's obvious when you know what you're looking for, but the first time you see something completely different.
I'm a little wary, though. An American network has bought the rights to make a US version and I just can't see it working. It works in this show due to everything coming together and unless they get exactly the same formula I just don't see it happening. I'll watch it, of course, but we'll have to see if the format and the ideas translate. One reason Skam works so well is because they did a lot of research with actual teens and the actors are all mostly teens themselves - some even go to the actual school they film at - and so it feels real. If they deviate from that in any way I can't see it feeling so real or so relevant. But it will be interesting to see.
In this case, I kind of joined reluctantly, a long time after it first came to my attention on my dash on tumblr. The third season was coming out over the last few months of last year and gifsets of it were everywhere. And, I mean, sure. It looked cute. Like a lot of stuff I manage to ignore on tumblr forever, I kind of shrugged and went 'aww that's sweet' and then scrolled past. I don't even know what made me save the links to the ways to watch it, but I did and one day - roughly a week after the season finished - I clicked on them and started watching. Now I did that in a way that I personally wouldn't recommend. I could only get the s3 links to work, so I started there, and even then I couldn't watch it all in order (this is not as bad as it sounds because every season focuses on one character and it changes each season, so there wasn't any vital backstory I missed that wasn't filled in during the show anyway). I got through episodes 1-3, then it skipped to episode 5 and missed 4. I just went with it because by then I was totally addicted to it. Then the epoisodes stopped at 7 so I had ti hunt down more links. I found them eventually, this time with s1 and 2 as well. I decided to finish s4 before going back. So then I watched episode 4 then 8-10. So yeah. Don't do that. Episode 4 is actually pretty vital in terms of plot and the expansion of characterisation. But it didn't matter anyway because I immediately went back and watched it all again (because of something that happened at the end which changed the context of a lot and necessitated a rewatch). Then I went back and watched s1 and 2 as well. There are things I absolutely love about s1 and 2 (which I will go into later) but there were also a few things that niggled at me which means s3 is still my favourite. S3 is close to being the most perfect season of anything I've ever seen, ever, so s1 and 2 were akways going to have a hard job measuring up.
But anyway. I'm going to start with the stuff I don't like so much so that I can then go on to gush to my heart's content.
First - the handling of the main relationship of s2. And this is actually a really big one because of the way the show was conceived. This was what they wanted from the outset, this romance and this story. The whole thing was developed and conceived around this storyline (which also got close to 2 hours more screen time than the other two seasons which probably contributed to how annoying I found it). Which, you know, that's fine. But ... ugh. The main guy is a manipulative asshole and the show (and half the fandom) lets him away with it because apparently he knew deep down what was best for the girl. And I'm just so sick of these stories where a strong, independant girl needs to learn to look past some douche's 'bad boy' exterior to see the lovely person within. It's just boring, it's been done a million times before AND in this case his actions are always excused because troubled past, and he is never ever once ever held to account for what he does. We're just supposed to see the 'new depth' (which isn't all that deep tbh and in which he is still a controlling jerk) and it's even explicitly said to Noora that she's to blame for not exploring him further, that her changing her opinions because he's 'right' is okay and she's still strong and powerful even so. When in actual fact, they have totally incompatible values and she is the only one of the pair to change her mind and try to understand him and I ... I'm just so sick of this storyline being romanticised.
Second, and related - William Magnussen. It's not often that I hate a character, but I hate this one. I hate his 'development' which wasn't development at all. I hate what he did to Vilde, and to Noora, I hate that he's supposed to be a romantic hero and that he is painted as knowing better than Noora what she needs and thinks. I just really really dislike him a lot. I wish he'd had some actual development and learned that the stuff he did in s1 and the first part of s2 wasn't okay and that he needed to do better. I hate that he's seen as the romantic ideal in this show. I'm just over this type of character from every other show I watch and I hate that in this one he's so 'good' and 'perfect' when in actual fact he's really really not.
Third - the treatment of homosexuality in s1 and 2 (and even in parts of s3). It's treated as a joke, as a punchline, as something for friends to giggle over, something to accuse someone of and then laugh about. The character is fetishised, and stalked by the other characters and while he later learns and grows and apologises for things he might have done wrong, no-one ever apologises to him for how they treated something that was (in hindsight, and which was planned) very sensitive and difficult for him. He is talked about behind his back, and people say things like 'you only know gay songs' and 'okay sure, I'll go in the room with the gay guy' - well before he ever admits, even to himself, that this is a thing for him. I'm actually quite flabbergasted that they managed to deal with the issue so well in s3 given how badly they did it in the lead up.
Anyway, that's enough griping. The things I love about this show, and why I'm obsessed.
First - the characters (apart from aforementioned William Magnussen and his friend 'penetrator' Chris). The characters in this show are so real. They are loveable and loving and good friends to each other, but they are also deeply flawed. They do soem terrible things to each other but (unless they are William Magnussen) there are consequences for what they do. I'll go over some of my favourites. Eva, the main of s1. She's shy and anxious, has few friends outside her relationship, and most of those are her boyfriend's mates. We find out at the end of the season that she's been dealing with her guilt over something she did before the season started and that's basically what has held her back. She's jealous and possessive of her boyfriend and she doesn't really trust him (due to aforementioned thing that happened before the season started). She has a big heart and she is willing to stand up for the new friends she makes, and she eventually finds a new group after her old one kicked her out (because of aforementioned blah blah blah). She bonds with these new girls and learns a lot about friendship and what she wants and needs as a person. Her relationship is toxic (and tbh if s1 were all I knew of his character I'd hate him too, but thankfully he's developed across the next two seasons), but by the end of the season she learns to be herself. He spends most of the time telling her she's a follower, and knocks her confidence even though a lot of her problems actually stem from him. But anyway, by the end, we see that he's still hung up on her and yet she realises that the relationship is not good for her and she breaks up with him. So I like that she manages to get herself out of a bad situation and eventually moves on.
(I was going to put a video here of Eva, but I can't find one that has her talking apart from one with Isak where it makes it look like they had a thing, which ... lol. Also, they all include her making out with another girl, which she only did while extremely drunk and in a bad place and so they misrepresent that, and so long story short, no video of Eva, but yes videos of the others)
Then there's Sana (hasn't been a main yet, but here's hoping), a Muslim in a very obviously non-muslim country, Sana is cold and aggressive. She snarks her way through life and can be really bitchy. She is opinionated and can be nasty, and 'tells it like it is' sometimes to devastating effect. She is convinced she's right all the time and can be insensitive. However, she would literally lay down everything for her friends, is willing to give everyone a chance, is open minded about other people's lifestyles and beliefs and always always acts out of a desire to help rather than harm. She's very intelligent and loves having debates on all sorts of topics but will always defend people's rights to their own belief system even while vigirously defending her own from them. I wish I could boil Sana down into an easy little bundle, but it's not easy. She's not an easy character but she is probably the one I fell in love with first. i remember sending a message to a friend going 'I really like this girl, what a shame it looks like she's a minor character' when I first started watching s3. I do hope she gets her own season because I want her to have her arc. i want her to step out and take on islamophobia, which has been a lowkey issue throughout the whole show (and as an aside, I love that even characters who are annoyed with her or who she has just pissed off defend her and her religion from outsiders) and I just want more Sana, okay.
Click to viewFinally, Isak (main of s3). I love Isak - he has the best development of the whole show. He goes from being quite a manipulative little piece of work in s1, through a vulnerable stage when his parents break up and he tries to come to terms with himself in s3. I wacthed the first few episodes wanting to shake him because he was such a bro-ish little shite. He was rude to girls, in a way that was quite reflective of what William had done in s1 and he was often a shit to his friends too.. But, because this was Isak's season and we could see behind the facade, it was so easy to also sympathise with him. He was lost and confused, very vulnerable and unsure of himself and his place in the world. He also managed to apologise for most of the stuff he'd done to other people, unlike certain other make characters, grrr. Isak basically had to learn to be himself, and accept that he's gay, by the end of the season (I mean that sounds like every coming out story ever, but a - it's done very very well and b - there's more to his story but it would totally ruin the show if I talk about it in too much detail). Talking about this with someone else, we came to the realisation that he has two examples of masculinity around him - the bro-ish lads he's friends with and the very camp gay man he lives with. He tries to emulate and perform bro-ish masculinity because he's so worried that if he's gay he has to emulate the very open campy style of his flatmate. It takes a lot for him to work out that he can be himself and 'real' and not have to be either one of those two types of masculinity and watching him grow is just so satisfying. And it's in the moments when he allows himself to just be himself that I really fell for him (and on a side note, the actor is phenomenal - only 17 and yet very accomplished. You can see and believe every single little emotion that Isak feels reflected in his face and his body language), because his vulnerability and soft, caring side are just a treat when he lets them out.
You get two Isak videos, because Isak is my favourite and I couldn't choose. The first is sad Isak learning to open up and show himself to the world, and the second is just Isak being Isak (including a rather nasty comment he makes to a girl at the start which sort of shows the type he was at the start of s3)
And that's it. If it weren't for stupid William, Noora would be on here, but I hate her relationship and character devolvement so much that I just can't include her.
Second - the way they develop friendships. The friendships depicted in this show are so good and so real. While each season focuses on one character, their friend groups are very important to their stories. The first two seasons focus on the 'girl squad' - Eva, Noora, Vilde, Sana and Chris. And they are so supportive of each other, even when they are also ripping into each other's dumb decisions (Vilde often makes dumb decisions). Eva starts the season with no-one and she gathers this beautiful group of girls around her slowly. Sana and Vilde have a very turbulent relationship but when it counts they really support each other. When someone called Vilde a slut, Sana took them on even though she herself had been trying to explain to Vilde that her decisions weren't exactly the wisest. Vilde started out very islamophobic but by the end of the second season the two were actually quite clearly fond of each other and had each other's backs. Noora was Eva's best friend, and in s 2 when Noora tried to isolate herself Eva ws one of the few people who was able to get to her and talk to her. It doesn't always work, and if they sometimes fight among themselves but their friendships are shown to be stronger than any arguments and they always communicate effectively and end up supporting each other. Then in season 3 we switch to the 'boy squad' - Isak, Jonas, Mahdi and Magnus (with honourable mention to Even once the other boys meet him). They are such a bunch of bros, with all the disgusting boy stuff that goes along with that (right down to explicit discussions about girls, sex etc), but they are also all so very very supportive of each other., Isak and Jonas have been best friends forever, and in fact they were a big part of s1 since Jonas was Eva's boyfriend. They have always been shown as very good friends, but it was in s3 where it shone. isak isolates himself for a number of reasons and Jonas just gently always makes it clear that he's there is Isak ever needs him. And when isak does finally turn to him he is a calm supportive voice who helps him deal with all the stresses of being in a new relationship. They're just lovely together. And magnus and Mahdi seem like comedic relief and magnus in particular is full of terrible comments and ignorant ideas, but then at a moment where it really matters he has a lot of wisdom and support himself. So, I'm actually torn here - in s4 if it's Sana we go back to the girl squad and I love them. But if it's one of the boys we get to see the boy squad again and see another depth and layer to their friendship and I don't know which I want more.
Third - the way it deals with sensitive issues. So far we've seen self esteem, pregnancy, eating disorders, sexual assault and nonconsented spreading of compromising pictures, islamophobia, homosexuality and mental illness all dealt with sensitively and in depth. Some have been covered in more depth than others because they have been the issues of the mains or their partners, but all have been done well (though like i said, i wasn't impressed with the way they approached homosexuality in s1 and 2). The characters all feel real and relatable and you can understand why they react the way they do to their specific circumstances. Things characters say and do return to affect other characters later in ways that they probably didn't mean. For example, William (grr) tells Vilde that she isn't good enough for him, probably as a way to look cool and important in front of his friends, but it sends her into a spiral and she develops an eating disorder which - since she hasn't been a main yet (though I expect her for s6 just given some stuff that has happened) - is dealt with in an organic way as she interacts with Noora and the other girls in s2. It's not brushed off, and it's shown in this way, and others into s3, just how much that comment by William impacted on her. I just like that things are allowed time to impact the characters and thoughtless remarks actually prove to have an impact on those you talk to. Isak apologises to Eva at the end of s3 for the way he behaved in s1 and I just think it's great that characters can learn and grow and be held accountable. These issues are real and present and the characters aren't all perfect, and they make mistakes, but those mistakes are never brushed off (with the exception of William's asshattery - yes i will never shut up about that) anf they are held to account for them either in the moment or later and it's just so refreshing, you know?
Fourth, and most shallowly - the soundtrack is amazing. Seriously amazing, and it's used so very well throughout. The song choices often reflect and comment on what the chatracters are going through. And the editing of the songs into the work is very good too. I have spent the last few days listening to the s3 soundtrack on repeat on spotify, and it's a nice mix of stuff I know and things that are new to me. Since the show is Norwegian, there are a lot of Norwegian songs and they work really well mixed in with the usual stuff that's mkore familiar. I haven't spent as much time with the s1 and 2 soundtracks because I'm just not as connected to those seasons, but there are a lot of people who are and so they swear by those soundtracks as well.
Anyway ... why s3 in particular? Because there's no way I'd be this obsessed wif it was just the teen drama of s1 and 2 no matter how well a lot of those things have been handled. Well, let me explain. It's so well written and acted and put together. It deals with two issues that are close to my heart, and it deals with them so very well. The two main actors are very good and play off each other very well. It shows the consequences of toxic masculinity and internalised homophobia in a gentle, sensitive way. It allows Isak to develop and blossom into a very deep, rounded character. I could write 10,000 words just on him and his development (and tbh I could do the same for Eva, but I dunno, her story doesn't resonate with me as much - I think I'm too far distanced from that particular struggle). And, the thing that really first attracted me to this season, that made me fall for it while Isak was still being a bro-ish little brat, it heavily references Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet which is one of my favourite movies, and it plays with scenes from that movie and ideas from that movie. It cheekily casts the two mains in the roles of Romeo and Juliet (in the way they recreate some of the scenes from the movie, costuning, shot recreation, music choices, everything) but they change which one is which character back and forth throughout the season depending on who is most in need. the ending subverts what you'd expect from the story, and indeed what one character said was necessary for an 'epic love story' - namely the deaths of the mains, and it does it in such a lovely way. And the best thing is that isak and Even bring out the best in each other, they support each other, and when things get bad they make mistakes but they learn and grow from them. But they are never vilified by the text for the mistakes they made, they just gather themselves up again and move on. It's just .. so good. And with the revelation from the end, you go back and watch again and realise that a whole lot of assumptions you were making are in fact false, and the season takes on a whole different light. It's just very cleverly done and so subtly seeded throughout that it's obvious when you know what you're looking for, but the first time you see something completely different.
I'm a little wary, though. An American network has bought the rights to make a US version and I just can't see it working. It works in this show due to everything coming together and unless they get exactly the same formula I just don't see it happening. I'll watch it, of course, but we'll have to see if the format and the ideas translate. One reason Skam works so well is because they did a lot of research with actual teens and the actors are all mostly teens themselves - some even go to the actual school they film at - and so it feels real. If they deviate from that in any way I can't see it feeling so real or so relevant. But it will be interesting to see.