The only successful things we produce are generally stolen from other countries (e.g. The Office, American Idol, the upcoming -and entirely unnecessary- remakes of the Swedish masterpieces Let the Right One In and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Sometimes we steal ideas from books (e.g. Never Let Me Go, Bridget Jones's Diary), but those are also mostly written by people from other countries. In short, we are unoriginal, thieving asshats and I don't blame anyone for thinking so.
Cut to contemporary Bristol, England, the backdrop of the enormously successful (and for once, equally high-quality) British TV drama Skins. It's gritty, dark, depressing, and most importantly, it feels real. The first and second seasons (or series, as they're called across the pond) focus on one set of teens, and the third and fourth seasons focus on a new generation. It is safe to assume that this two-season-per-generation format will carry through the rest of the show. However, regardless of which characters we follow in any given season, the show offers an unapologetic look at teen sexuality, drug use, body image, peer pressure, and everything else you see in bad American teen dramas. The British difference? Skins is smart.
The high production value alone warrants watching, but what's more impressive is its cinematic approach to television production. Extreme attention to detail, shot composition, direction, etc. make this a refreshing change from the endless "mockumentary"-style sitcoms that saturate the television landscape stateside. But I'm not here to talk about the overall quality. I'm here for the gay, just like you!
The first generation focuses on an openly gay character named Maxxie, a cute blond boy whose sexual misadventures are about the hottest thing I've seen since this happened. The second generation is where I'd like to call your attention, though. This group of kids contains THE BEST TV LESBIAN COUPLE EVER. Behold the glory that is Emily Fitch (left) and Naomi Campbell (yes, that's the characters name and it's glorious). After you've finished salivating, tear your eyes away from the photo and I'll talk about why "Naomily" (I FUCKING hate the obnoxious nomenclature, but it's a cultural phenomenon and it makes writing much easier) is better than anything we could come up with stateside.
Reasons "Naomily" are far superior to TV lesbians in the U.S.:
1) Um, they call it "fucking" and refuse to pretend that the viewing audience has never used/heard the word before.
2) We actually SEE them fucking, which is something lesbians in the U.S. NEVER EVER DO, according to our network TV lesbian representations.
3) They casually do a lot of drugs. This isn't specific to Naomily, though. All the characters just do a shitload of drugs. Casually, and without a forced disclaimer at the beginning/end of the episodes. Jesus, someone smokes a joint in the background of a show in the U.S. and the entire series gets canceled.
4) They are more explicit on network television than we are in PREMIUM FUCKING CABLE (don't get me started on The L Word). Like the time Emily woke up and wasn't sure whether or not she cheated on Naomi with the girl in bed next to her, so she did this:
5) They're not pointedly used to get ratings during sweeps week. Ok, I don't know if sweeps are a thing in England, but you get what I'm saying. They're used exactly as the other characters are used, to tell the story of adolescence in contemporary England. Boom. Not for the benefit of straight men, not to be "subversive," not to be "edgy." Just because it's real. They're real. Or at least it feels that way to an American media audience who is only used to televised lesbianism during November, February, and May.
So. Watch Skins. Aside from the questionable oral hygiene of the characters, it's the best teen drama you'll ever see. If it isn't, I have no use for you and you shouldn't read my blog anymore. Lates!
