[WanderinWonder]

I actually enjoyed this episode even more than the last one! It was funny and very touching in parts. I find her best friend odd, one minute she acts like a fake bitchy friend to her, the next moment she seems to be really genuinely rooting for her. That said, a lot of teen friendships can be a hotbed of fickle bitchiness, so it portrayed that well.

I wouldn't take much notice of AA Gill, he has a problem with any woman who doesn't look like a Barbie doll and is intelligent (cases in point: his insulting remarks about Mary Portas, Clare Balding and Mary Beard).

[LaceyLouelle3]

I'm quite enjoying this now.

[ukool]

Im loving the music and all the 90s stuff in this show. I even had that care bear bed cover when i was 4 or 5.

Really enjoying this show.

[johnny-br]

Is the lead actress the same woman who was Scary Mary in the Phones 4 U adverts?? They look the same but she looks a lot younger here - of course I could be totally wrong...

[Supratad]

Originally Posted by WanderinWonder

I actually enjoyed this episode even more than the last one! It was funny and very touching in parts. I find her best friend odd, one minute she acts like a fake bitchy friend to her, the next moment she seems to be really genuinely rooting for her. That said, a lot of teen friendships can be a hotbed of fickle bitchiness, so it portrayed that well.

I thought that too. It was hard to tell where the friends loyalty truly lies. I think they were lifelong friends that are starting to grow apart. Her keeness for Rae to attend the pool party seems to me to be both friendship and the old story of "having a fat friend there to make you look thinner"

[hsellors]

I caught the first episode last night by accident and couldn't stop watching it so am catching up with episode 1 now. It's great there's something that grabs you straight away. Kind of Skins / grown up Tracey Beaker lol

The soundtrack is awesome!

[indie.star]

I loved it! I'm looking forward to next week already. How many episodes are there?

[suesuesue]

Enjoying this so far, I thought Archie was leading Rae on either as a nasty joke or to get a notch on his bedpost - can't believe I didn't twig the real reason. Think the other lad who is grumpy with her and who she doesn't like is actually looking out for her. Like her friend in the psych unit, clearly more of a story there to unfold. Claire Rushbrook as mum and Ian Hart as Kester both good as always. Excellent music - never rated a lot of 90s stuff but they have chosen well.

[Shawn_Lunn]

I think this is a good choice. Much as I like Skins, this oen does seem a bit more subtle but just as skilled at delivering some thought provoking issues as well. I think Rae is a good character as well, which helps.

The twist with Archie was a little obvious, but good though.

I get the impression Finn does fancy Rae though.

[keepingquiet]

Again I loved this weeks episode. I wish it had been on when I was a mad fat teen I might have coped better lol
Love the interaction with Kester as I once told a physcologist that if they told me to stand in front of a mirror saying rubbish like you are great they could get lost so brought memories.
I think the actors are very good at being who they are supposed to. In that I feel for Rae I get annoyed at her 'bestie' bitch I feel so much for Trixie (? girl in hospital) ect

[cuza]

I'm a woman in my fifties, so I doubt it's aimed at people like myself, but I love it.

I wasn't fat as a teenager, but, since I committed the heinous crime of wearing unfetching National Health glasses, I always felt like an outsider.

I wanted to be a part of the in crowd, but they were raucous, I was quiet. They smoked and drank, something I never did. I never swore, never had a boyfriend and loved to read. I was really out of place!

I can sympathise with Rae feeling like she will never get a boyfriend and being self conscious about her size. I wasn't fat, but I wasn't exactly slender either. So believe me I've been there.

As for her so called friend, what a cow! Telling Rae to go first when they were talking about the most romantic thing that had happened to them. Obviously she knew that nothing like that had happened to her. I knew how she would feel, being put on the spot like that. I wouldn't have had anything to say either!

Happily, in my case, the situation improved and lots of nice things have happened since

[misslibertine]

Originally Posted by cuza

Happily, in my case, the situation improved and lots of nice things have happened since

Good for you Cuza

[gilesb]

Originally Posted by barbeler

I too read AA Gill's review and I quickly got the impression that he only watched the trailer, waited for other people's reviews and then quickly cobbled together a few words that were designed to be contradictory.
To imply any political bias is self-important posturing and absolutely laughable. It is a true account of events, told more or less as they happened. As I mentioned before, the accents are positioned 100 miles too far north and I'm not convinced of the need to bring it forward to the Brit-Pop era. Having said that, the tracks used do actually work quite well.
One thing I did pick up on was the occasional use of the word "like", which I don't think became a teenage girls' speech impediment until about five years ago.

Didn't the film clueless use "like" a lot? Mid 90s?

[zx50]

I was going to start watching this, but I thought it might start getting nasty and cruel, so I just stopped it and then just deleted the episode.

[Muze]

Still don't like it.

Self harm doesn't need any more attention or glamorising and the whole thing is terribly unrealistic.

[miss buzzybee]

Originally Posted by Muze

Still don't like it.

Self harm doesn't need any more attention or glamorising and the whole thing is terribly unrealistic.

Despite it being based on real life?

[picklesandginge]

I'm really enjoying it, the music and styling are fantastic. I think it's very realistic and relatable too.

I don't think her friend is a bad character, just uses Rae as a way to deflect attention away from herself/make herself look better, as many girls that age do.

I think the use of 'like' is a northern thing. I know in the NE I've always heard it being used, and not in a Clueless sort of way.

[Purple-Kiwis]

I am enjoying this show, has a similar charm to Skins but I always thought Skins was too over the top. It really captures the essence of teenage life be it in the 90s or now.

And does the red haired girl remind anyone of Chelsea from That's So Raven?

[Lola UK]

I'm enjoying this! didn't know it was based on real life. I've been watching it on catch up and can't wait for the next episode now.

[BBWorldWideFan]

I really like it so far. It has me in stitches one minute then the next I feel sad, I can't take my eyes off it.

The part where Rae was in the lift and she said: "Sometimes I look so good it f*cking scares me!" was hilarious

[barbeler]

Having known someone who has been through similar experiences, I think it is perhaps uncomfortably realistic. I alerted her to the programme and hope she doesn't find it hitting a raw nerve, although I think she will appreciate the fact that it is has been written based on true-life experiences. The dialogue is acutely observed, as are the the scribbled overlays from the diary. Rae's "best friend" seems to act appallingly (if unintentionally), but is there anybody who hasn't known somebody exactly like that?

[_elly001]

Originally Posted by barbeler

Having known someone who has been through similar experiences, I think it is perhaps uncomfortably realistic. I alerted her to the programme and hope she doesn't find it hitting a raw nerve, although I think she will appreciate the fact that it is has been written based on true-life experiences. The dialogue is acutely observed, as are the the scribbled overlays from the diary. Rae's "best friend" seems to act appallingly (if unintentionally), but is there anybody who hasn't known somebody exactly like that?

I think her best friend (name has completely gone from my head!) is incredibly realistic, based on personal experience of being a teenage girl in that era (although I think you'd find those dynamics in any era.) My friends at the time were exactly the same, as I'm sure I was - we were all nice enough girls but there were occassions when we were downright mean to one another simply to make ourselves feel better. That didn't mean we weren't friends, but often the friends you have in school aren't the ones you keep later on in life, because it's such a strange, awkward time and there are things you did back then that you'd rather not be reminded of once you've had time to mature.

Honestly, I think this is one of the best depictions of teen life that I've ever seen in a TV show. I wish it was getting more attention because it's so accurate and well done.

[picklesandginge]

What happened in the last five minutes when Rae was at Chloe's house? I went out the room and when I came back Chloe had left and Rae was crying.

Also I found Rae quite annoying this episode, she was too shouty and judgemental.

[Jillstar]

Originally Posted by picklesandginge

What happened in the last five minutes when Rae was at Chloe's house? I went out the room and when I came back Chloe had left and Rae was crying.

Also I found Rae quite annoying this episode, she was too shouty and judgemental.

Rae told Chloe that she had been in a psychiatric hospital for the past year and tried to explain about her issues, but I think Chloe felt awkward about it and a phonecall from her boyfriend ended the conversation and Chloe went out to see Steve.
Then I think Rae must have felt bad and sad about bringing it up (and it looked like she was going to harm herself) but then it ended as she was about to ring the psychologist.

I'm really enjoying this series so far!

[picklesandginge]

Thank you!