Cavegirl

The above was how the Radio Times described this programme; personally I wouldn't go that far....

In response to whoever wrote the previous comments, 'dirty old mans dream', it is a kids programme on a kids channel CBBC. It is not meant to be entertainment for adults, the programme is set in caveman times hence the names Trunk and Cave girl and Big Sis is what Cave girl calls her older sister (I call my older brother Big bro). The programme is good light hearted kids TV. My only reservation is perhaps the programme is slightly to short, only being about 15 minutes long, although its difficult to get children to sit down for much longer, a problem easily solved by showing two episodes back to back, like with Tracey Beaker. Compared to some of the rubbish on kids TV these days this is by far one of the best programmes on, and it is of some educational value- learning about stone age practises. Not a classic but descent enough

I like the energy, and I love the idea, but I just couldn't get through this. It's silly, on purpose, and that part is good. Somehow the men are all clean shaven, and the women have blow-dried hair. You have black and Asian people randomly appearing - how did that happen? But that's ok, this is a comedy after all.

But the camera work - ugh. For some reason the camera is constantly doing so many close-ups on heads and faces that you can't see the scenery. And the scenery looks really repetitive and uninteresting. Maybe that's because it was difficult to find a location in the UK where no buildings were visible? But there are ways around this (even Gilligan's island gave us an illusion of a large island when in fact it was a small lot in back of a studio). Or at least show us the different seasons - seems it's always Summer. Where are the winters?

Also, this is supposed to be a cavegirl, so you would think she lives in a cave. Instead of caves, her people seem to live in huts and shaded rock outcroppings. They couldn't even find a proper cave to film in?

I'm watching on the limited version known as "Cavegirl Rocks" and I've not even seen all of those yet, still got two more to go, but I've seen enough to be able to tell you, as far ad Season One goes, this is cute, small as it is, and aimed at children. You'd have to be very hard for it not to bring a smile to your face.

Gorgeous scenery? Sure. But definitely trumped by the wildly energetic buck-skinned little flash running this way and that way across the screen.

Okay, I also thought, wow, that's a kid running around in her underwear on the BBC, but closer investigation reveals that Stacey Cadman was in her early twenties when this show was done. She is amazing in the part, she comes across as about fifteen. And as winsome as only a young teenager can be! Wily too...

It is as Cavegirl sums it up: Very easy to be clever within that group, mostly a lot of idiots. I find Dad to be a very confusing character, because he is too quick to dole out punishment to Cavegirl whom he adores. Mum is the more dependable one. Gran is round-the-bend cuckoo nuts with a vengeance. Big Sis is the femme fatale.

Small, but likable.

There is more to this, like, it is absolutely more than the sum of its parts. The acting seems minimal from the other lot, but all in all, effective. I am already sensing the loss the unavailability of all the rest holds, for I'd never get to see the other episodes on DVD, and seven episodes is just wetting my appetite.

Come on, release 'em all!

CAVEGIRL really rocks!

Cavegirl is one of those really good shows that is deeper than it first appears. Superficially it seems to be silly entertainment for kiddys however, as with all good family fare, it works on two levels. This cleverly written show appears to be set in the Australian outback. The actors, especially Miss Cadman who plays the lead, are hyperkenetic. They are rarely still and seem to be constantly running and jumping. I get tired just watching them. Some of them frequently do silly stupid things and thus the comedy effect.

However this show always seems to have a subtle message in every episode. In one episode Cavegirl liked a necklace but didn't have the pieces of fruit needed to buy it. So she gave the vendor some nuts and explained that if he would bring those nuts to her village in one month when the fruit was ripe he could exchange them for the price of the necklace. Suddenly everyone was using all kinds of stuff to make purchases on credit.

In another episode Cavegirl and her sister both wanted to move into a nice new cave however this required "stuff". So Cavegirl started collecting pretty rocks from the area and began to parley them into various desireable things. Suddenly everyone was creating all sorts of fashionable objects.

In another episode Cavegirl ate some purple fruit and her face turned purple. No one wanted anything to do with her and she was an outcast because people thought she might be contagious. She then dyed her skins purple too and strutted defiantly around the village. A visiting rock star took one look at her and was enchanted. She was different from all the other girls and he was smitten. Of course then everyone wanted to have purple faces and wear purple skins.

All of the episodes are like small morality plays. Like I said above, this cleverly and well written show works on two levels. It works for all ages.