The Tribe

Talk about original. This show is available in very few countries, but it really is a gem. Not only does it deal with just about every issue under the sun (illness, death, heartbreak and teen pregnancy), combining it with wacky costumes, hairstyles, make-up, names you wish you had and some of the best talent New Zealand has to offer. There should be more shows like this on TV.

If I started watching this show today, as an adult, I would most likely consider it total trash. The acting is incredibly hard to bear at times (there are a few exceptions of course, but most of the actors could have used some serious acting classes); costumes, hair and make-up are insane (for lack of a better word); the music borders on annoying and the plot holes are big enough to swallow a fully grown person. Thankfully, there aren't any of those left in the world of The Tribe.

Eight-year-old me however could not have cared any less about all this. The show is a part of my childhood that still gives me this weirdly fuzzy, nostalgic feeling to this day. I remember re-enacting the show on the schoolyard with my friends and always being excited to come home after school to watch the latest episode. So, try as I might, I cannot bring myself to rate this any lower than 8/10. Doing so would be a betrayal of all these great memories I associate with The Tribe. This is eight-year-old me taking a stand.

I happened upon this Kiwi gem one lonely night while flipping through my new digital cable. It's basically a teenage soap opera set some years after a virus has wiped out the adult population. Following a small group (or "tribe") of kids who live in an abandoned shopping mall, the show is deceptively simple and silly. It is, in fact, epic in scope and deep in emotion. It even throws in the occasional religious allegory for good measure. Like all soap operas, the dialogue can be trite and the stories melodramatic and overly concerned with sex (yes, teen sex), but it is also one of the most addictive television shows I've ever encountered, capable of being funny, poignant, gut-wrenching and thought-provoking all at the same time. With, I might add, more inventive hairstyles, makeup and costumes than any you'll see on American television.

I came across this show during insomnia around 2 in the morning, and fell for it. This is an interesting premise that could have really blown, but they handle it so well, and its very interesting seeing teenagers and younger being forced to act like adults (getting married, arranging governments, and yes, having babies) so the world can carry on. It's absolutely addicting and I have often turned down plans to watch it if it rarely comes on.

I first stumbled across this show back in 1999 on channel 5 here in the UK. I must admit at first i didnt really take a liking to it, as it does give you the impression that its a silly show when you first see it, due to the wacky hair and strange make up. But you soon realize that these characteristics are there to add to the tribe's amazing mood and personality. There is a certain quirkiness to it that draws you in, and once you're there, you're hooked. It makes you laugh, scream and sometimes cry. The Tribe is a mixture of action, adventure, conflict, growing up and love. During my time watching the show, i have witnessed some of the most poignant scenes i have ever seen .Brilliant characters, brilliant actors, my personal favourite is Beth Allen who plays the amazing Amber. Well done to everyone involved on the show. Series 4 has just finished over here with a massive climax, fingers crossed for a 5th series.

Keep the dream alive :)