Awkward.

[domino harvey]

Well, who knew, but apparently MTV still makes scripted, non-reality programming, and that's how we've been blessed with Awkward., which is a foul-mouthed female-centric romantic teen comedy that is funny in the way that people must think Juno is. It has the same consciously artificial dialog, but here it's actually kind of brilliant (Example: "I gave him the Gift of My Vagi"-- that pun belongs in a museum or something) and not really the center of attention in the midst of a show that's filled with a very acidic worldview on modern teen life that's tempered with a refreshingly progressive attitude towards sex. It's admittedly a little hard to buy the lead actress as a social outcast given that she might be the most attractive girl I've ever seen in my life, but such is the magic of mass entertainment.

[domino harvey]

Awkward., the best show you're not watching, just got renewed for a second season \:D/

[mfunk9786]

Domino seems to be getting younger before our eyes. Soon it'll be:

You should all be watching the 100th episode of Yo Gabba Gabba tonight

[knives]

I have actually heard a lot of nice things about the show, but I'm not going to unblock MTV to see.

[domino harvey]

You're right mfunk, I should definitely spend my time on more mature entertainment like Howard Stern

[mfunk9786]

I'm comfortable with my life choices.

[John Cope]

Then there are those of us who are still watching Degrassi.

[domino harvey]

The UK Skins trumps all

[Murdoch]

My So-Called Life! Oh, you guys mean current shows =;

[knives]

Cope's right once again. Degrasi is the be all end all of teenage melodrama.

[domino harvey]

The New York Times lavishes praise on Awkward.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

The New York Times lavishes praise on Awkward.

This review is dead on. I just finished the series this afternoon (via Hulu Plus) and it was very good. The lead character is incredibly sympathetic without being too clever and goes a long way to sell the show despite the shortcomings of some of the supporting characters. The chief antagonist is pure evil, but the actress plays her so well that I marvel and cringe in equal measure. A female lead that has two males to choose from and a narrative that critiques the double standards of privilege made for a breath of fresh air, I think. I mention the former as one of my pet peeves is the lead who has a suffocatingly single-minded crush on one male. Two of them not only opens up greater story possibilities, but also frees the lady of the burden of the one man only rule that usually runs these scenarios. I don't want to oversell the show, but if you have a mind to watch it then by all means give it a try.

[domino harvey]

The New York Times lavishes praise on Awkward.

This review is dead on. I just finished the series this afternoon (via Hulu Plus) and it was very good. The lead character is incredibly sympathetic without being too clever and goes a long way to sell the show despite the shortcomings of some of the supporting characters. The chief antagonist is pure evil, but the actress plays her so well that I marvel and cringe in equal measure. A female lead that has two males to choose from and a narrative that critiques the double standards of privilege made for a breath of fresh air, I think. I mention the former as one of my pet peeves is the lead who has a suffocatingly single-minded crush on one male. Two of them not only opens up greater story possibilities, but also frees the lady of the burden of the one man only rule that usually runs these scenarios. I don't want to oversell the show, but if you have a mind to watch it then by all means give it a try.

I'm glad someone else here finally watched this show!

When you mention the weakness of the supporting characters, I imagine you are referring to the rather token second best friend, Ming, who wasn't given any reason for existing in the series the entire first season (though she finally had a funny storyline in the finale where she had to fake lesbianism to be able to go to the school dance). Her weakness is all the more obvious because she's playing second fiddle to the funniest cast member in the show, Jillian Rose Reed's Tamara-- if this show has any breakout talent, it's Reed, and her pathetic yet exuberant bestie was one of the most consistently hilarious characters on television this year. If you haven't seen this yet, well, you should

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

I was thinking of Tamara, but now that you mentioned Ming it reminds me that we need more Ming. Maybe the second season? My cavil is that Tamara and the mom are drawn so broadly that sometimes it's difficult to ever take them seriously. Not that Tamara is suffering too much because her lines are so good. She reads them with such aplomb and performs them with so much energy that I don't care very often when she seems too shallow. Some better acting would help me care more about her and Ricky, for instance. Yes, I do know - first hand, thanks to one of my "little" sisters - that adolescent ladies act as much like Tamara as they do Jenna. That's part of why I wish Tamara was less of the cliche parade than she gets to be at times. Then again, those one liners often kill me so maybe I should wish for what I want a little less. On the other hand, the mom never seems to be serious. Or the counselor! Is this some satiric political point about Jenna's immediate female elders? But - the characters have their own feelings and logic that the show consistently respects. This aspect of the characterization really draws me in and refreshes me as it does. It's inspiring that no-one is outright mocked. The point is that they exist as story fodder for Jenna, though. Yes, it's only twelve episodes and the central conflicts have to move forward, but I had hoped for some more nuance in the area of supporting character development. I can't live on Jenna-Matty drama alone (as well done as it is). But I'll stop complaining now because (1) Jenna is a superb character, (2) the writing is never less than humorous and affecting, and (3) I want to watch it all over again.

[domino harvey]

Jenna is a superb character, and there's something to be said that her primary driving conflicts are not drawn from her decision to have sex. If nothing else, this is a thoroughly progressive show that not only grants youths the sex they're having regardless, but shows a female character working through her value as a person and how she is perceived by others without taking the cliched conservative tack of regretting losing her virginity for virginity's sake. It's a complex thought process, and it makes me mighty glad that young women in the audience have a character like this to look up to, someone who realistically demands the things she deserves and eventually arrives at decisions that further her towards a more well-adjusted womanhood than any of her adult "role models" can provide (which is I think the point of the broadly-drawn mother and counselor-- though as a high school teacher I take particular delight in the characterization of Val's exaggerated and often damaging "caring" investment, which is still more accurate than you'd guess)

[mfunk9786]

Perhaps an Awkward thread, a mod shall seek

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

I hadn't thought of Jenna and the "role models" in that way. The kids are alright, indeed. I really did appreciate how Jenna makes her own decisions. I forget the episode, but Tamara and Ming were unavailable at one point so Jenna had to rely on herself for support. She also defines the terms of the relationship on her own terms rather than letting Matty continue to string her along. On top of that, she also keeps her cool around Jake rather than running to the next man as some would expect her to do. I kinda like Jake, but it's heartening that Jenna decides to make sense of everything for herself first. It probably shouldn't feel like such a feat that a show respects its own lead character, but as domino just noted the agenda of Awkward is quite progressive in the all the best ways he noted.

[domino harvey]

For those who never got around to watching Awkward., MTV will be airing the entire first season on June 2

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Which means that the second season should be coming soon. I hope so as I haven't heard much about it yet.

[domino harvey]

June 28!

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Thank god. I was starting to think it was mired in some sort of development fiasco. I've got a feeling illegal downloaders will be showing Awkward more love than MTV itself. It's a pity because Amazon is still offering season one only on DVD-R.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Awkward is back!

[domino harvey]

Can't wait-- I wish more people here watched it, but whatcanyado

[domino harvey]

Pretty good season premiere (and the season preview looked promising)-- I like that the series is still taking a realistic approach to Jenna's decision to have a sex life, now in how it impacts her new relationship. Jake being "a nice guy" but already exhibiting a double-standard with Jenna (though he wasn't successful it wasn't for lack of trying to bed his Christian girlfriend, after all) shows the series remaining attuned to youth issues without being judgmental or hedonistic. Also, I liked how just about every Tamara line had to be bleeped out

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Spoiler

The scene with Sadie and Matty felt a little rushed, but I was still surprised by how it made me feel for her. I hated her last season, but it was great to hear "You're welcome" again.