Sugar Rush

First thing's first. Perhaps at the grand ole' age of 21 I'm too old to have a valid opinion on teenage fiction but the book the TV show is based on is, as 15 year-olds round my way like to say, a pile of crud. The fact that Channel 4 even considered adapting such a waste of trees for prime-time TV amazes me. What amazes me even more, however, is what a great job they made of it throughout this 10-part series. Although the fast-paced narration and eye-assaulting camera-work give it a "yoof drama" feel that belies the 18-cert sex and swearing, the acting is of a consistently high standard (Olivia Hallinan could well be the next Charlotte Coleman) and the script pleasingly sharp. Some of the characters are impressively well-drawn. Go down to any shopping centre in the country on a Saturday afternoon and you'll find ten versions of the central character Sugar. Nathan the houseproud father and Dale the dim handyman are also convincing even though Stella and Matt are far-fetched. My only real gripe with the show is the characterisation of 15 year-old Kim. As someone whose life was made miserable by largely internalised sexuality issues a couple of years later than that, I felt that at times her wry, breezy narration of her adversity was not entirely realistic for somebody of that age (even someone of her supposed intelligence and maturity) in that big a situation. Then again, fiction is fiction and some of the lighter moments made me laugh out loud. I am very glad they released it on DVD, as it is something fit to be enjoyed again and again.

My god this series was ahead of its time... it has that skins/shameless kind of allure two it and sugar is the perfect object of interest with her effy stonem persona, a true British icon. Kim is a complex protagonist who is extremely difficult to get behind however, I think she embodies the angst and untamed frustration of many queer teens. Even though I didn't want to to relate to her I ultimately did. Together the two girls are a match made in hell.. the perfect gruesome twosome to carry such a fiesty/unrelenting show. The family are brilliantly performed and balance them well. Cancelling this was a big mistake by channel 4 and a definite indication of the times. I don't blame the lead actresses for condemning the decision so hard. A true tragedy.

I am a big fan of the series, despite its having a few minor faults. It varies quite a lot from the book, more so as the series progress. I find Sugar particularly to be a very believable character, and it is good to see a real, uncensored teenage character being shown on terrestrial television. She drinks, smokes, takes drugs, is foul-mouthed, promiscuous and completely non-PC, and in my opinion is a much more realistic representation of a teenager than is usually seen, particularly in these teen drama type shows. Kim too is a believable character, and I think many teenage girls could identify with what she goes through. However, I do think that the writers could have perhaps focused a bit more on her struggle to identify her sexuality - she goes from an innocent, virginal type character to a wild, sex-crazed lesbian with hardly any time to stop and ponder her sexual preferences. I find it hard to believe that any teenager could be so quick to identify as gay without the slightest bit of confusion or worry. Also, she never officially comes out to her parents, and we just assume that after Series 1 ends that they, ahem, 'figure it out'. I think they could have done much better to have shown a realistic parent-teenager 'coming out' conversation, as this would be something a lot of viewers could relate to. In Series 1 Sugar Rush gets a little more far-fetched, and Saint is a bit of a two-dimensional character, but it's still a brilliant show, and I can't wait for Series 3! (supposedly coming to Channel 4 in around March 2007, or so I've heard)

I have to say, I've become addicted to Sugar Rush. It makes up for all those years I spent as a teenager where there was not a hint of lesbionic viewing was in site. Young lesbians of today should be pleased to have such a show. It's entertaining, funny and regularly shocking. Kim's life is messed up but you don't realize to what extent until she narrates it at the start of the next episode. Still, in Season 2 she's starts to pull it together when she meets Saint. At least she has the love sorted. Her family, are another matter. and of course there's the CC. Wicked! You find yourself wanting to be there or anywhere like it. Careful people, this one's addictive!

this series is amazing!! It is truly one of the best shows i have ever seen. the characters are relateable and funny. sugar and Kim are both beautiful and not stereo typed at all. They both convey emotions realistically and are extremely talented in there own way. the shows main brilliance is the fact that is deals with English teen culture in a true(slightly OTT but it is television)way, as a teenager i found most of the story lines very realteable and saw many of the characters in my friends. The only episode i found unrealistic was the last episode... but it is also oddly my favourite. Although it is over the top is develops the characters and Lenora Crichlow is amazing as sugar in that episode. shocking, different, emotional, realistic, relateable, strong, sexual. all words i would use to describe sugar rush one of my favourite shows on T.V.