Betty

I loved the original film and thought the first season of Betty really did a good job of re-telling the same story, exploiting the extra time well to fill out the characters and detail the tale better.

So I was really looking forward to Season2.

Sorry, I know the general ratings seem to be a little higher but IMV it just didn't gel like the first one. As a skater, who lives in a big city I can say with confidence that S01 exuded the vibe of skaters in a big city, hangin, chillin and most importantly, skating! The pace, the rhythm, the flow, all felt so authentic. S02 though was more about what they were wearing or who they were making out with - even the Mrs, who is not a skater, complained "enough with the snogging, let's have more skating".

In all, the girls in S02 weren't represented as skaters so much as 'chicks who (mostly/maybe) still own skate boards'. The underlying tragedy is that the derogatory connotation of the term 'Betty' which was so neatly and artfully dispelled in S01, was actually affirmed by S02. The irony of using 'Betty' to describe a sick little crew of skater girls is now lost, and in S02 they have become, in the most part, girls who hang around skate spots but don't really skate anywhere much - Betty!

I love that the actors are skaters plucked from the streets, so zero 'trained' acting ability but a naturalness that transcends it. I love the fashion, almost like '80's UK rave (yeah, I'm that old). I love the feminine love angle and the guys that get it, and pity the those that don't. I'm surprised that male skaters are so bigoted, it's the preserve of free thinkers like surfing, or so I thought. But it turns out it's just another bastion of Alpha A-Holes, with a capital A&H. Bummer. Skating is about freedom of expression, not conforming, doing your own thing. The assumption that women can't know their own minds is absurd, they're often the ones that keep men in check and encourage them to be better. Show me a single man that made it on his own? You can't. Apart from Steve Jobs, maybe? And he excelled at getting others to do the work, His right hand man was a woman. So go figure. The soundtrack is also pretty good, a few have made it onto my Spotify. I've only seen two ep's at the mo', but I'm liking it, a lot, memories of gravel rashes, lumps on my head and moments of unconsciousness are coming back, and they make me laugh in a nostalgic, old fart way. More power to you, chaps, I'll keep watching. This is skating.

No character development, and I'm throughlt surprised it has a 5.4 I don't mean to single anyone out, cause the acting overall is terrible but the long haired blonde girl in this show ( I can't even name her cause I have no idea) is especially atrocious it makes me sad for people who actually train.

Watching Betty feels like nothing else I've ever seen on television. I love that this isn't another empty statement about empowerment and defying expectations in a man's world. It just does it and doesn't feel the need to brag about it. And that is exactly what we need today.

I never write reviews and when I came onto the IMDB site and saw this was only rated a 6/10 I was shocked. It seems as if the show is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. Luckily I loved it. Such a refreshing programme that is essentially about nothing. But still managed to bring me so much joy. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching a programme this much.

Yes some of the acting is questionable but that is part of its charm. I cannot wait for the follow up to this. Definitely going to go back and watch skate kitchen!!