Lovleg

I went in expecting better quality than Skam but after two episodes I knew I had been lied to. On it's own Lovleg is an okay, a bit boring and dragged out tv show that tries too hard occasionally but this is nowhere near as good as Skam. I would have rated it as just one star but I really liked that they included a lesbian couple and did it well, extra points for that.

This series is in some ways like Skam (the format with short clips, protagonists are teenagers), in other ways completely different (rural youth, less polished and "perfect" world, nature setting instead of city). It shows a completely different kind of Norwegian teenage life. In a place where nothing really happens around them, it's the protagonists and their relationships, friendships, fears and struggles which drive the plot. It's very well done. Gunnhild isn't your typical confident and comfortable female main character. Yes, she's insecure and awkward and we have to suffer a lot with her. But if you have never felt these feelings of being new, nervous and insecure to some degree, you're either lucky or lying. I think it's important to have characters with mental health issues, anxiety/panic attacks represented in media.

The second season has a much warmer and more positive vibe. Also, they're showing a lesbian relationship which is realistic with its ups and downs.

On top of that, the views of the mountains, fjord etc. Are just breathtaking.

All in all, I give 7 stars because the first season was a little too sad and depressing for me at times, but the second one was simply beautiful. I wish they had continued the story.

I loved Skam, so when I repeatedly stumbled on Lovleg and claims how it was new and better than Skam, I was both thrilled and sceptical. When something is described as "better than the other one" it's never a good sign. And I should've listened to that tiny, sceptical voice in my head.

I couldn't even get through the first episode. The show seems to ride only from one awkward scene to another, the lead actress is no way even remotely close to being 15 as her character, and it was such a pain to watch. When I found myself constantly fastforwarding the ridiculously awkward, nowhere near "like in real life" scenes, I finally let this one go when the first episode was around 2/3 in.

I can handle some funny, awkward moments, but in Lovleg they're so stretched and not in any way relatable. Which is a bit weird, since I remember reading from somewhere that Lovleg was supposed to be "more realistic" than Skam. True, Skam had certain polished world, but the scenes and characters were well written - not in Lovleg.

So, sorry, but 3/10 for me. I really wanted this to be another enjoyable show with characters I could fall in love with, too bad it didn't happen.