What It Feels Like for a Girl

Brilliantly written, thrilling and yet well-grounded. Showcasing the reality of a low-income upbringing in the Midlands with all the drama that comes with new experiences and relationships. It's painfully relatable whilst still leaving you on the edge of your seat. Uncomfortable at times but never enough to make you want to skip ahead, everything adds to the story in one way or another, never a second of waffle. Byron's character development is excellent and gripping, every small smirk, the long stares see his limits pushed that little bit further and opens the gates for more of these experiences that little bit more, especially with his homelife troubles giving a supporting arm to explain why he puts himself out there so boldly. The narration by Ellis Howard in the same vernacular, adding to the grit of the setting, ramps up the tension.

Wouldn't change a thing.

I have only watched one episode but can already tell this is a groundbreaking show. It has that honest raw queer depiction like Queer As Folk back then but with a deeper sensitivity akin to the film Beautiful Things. It balances humour, coming of age drama and sexuality with perfection. The lead Ellis Howard is fantastic and so are the rest of the cast. I must admit I was worried it would be one of these overstylized and over the top LGBTQ dramas with ridiculous storylines and fierce characters. It's the opposite, it shows the flaws, doubts and struggle of a young queer character but in a funny and original way. The writing reminds me of author Douglas Stuart but lighter. Also the UK 2000s rendition is spot on. I know where the story is going and I'm impatient to follow it.

First four episodes felt so timely, tight, subversive and is some of the best looking TV in recent memory.

I loved how uncomfortable the first few episodes make you feel, it's a tough watch. The relationships, specifically between Byron and their parents, were unconventional and complex and really interesting. It's just a shame that the latter half of the series doesn't really keep up with what was promised.

It seems to lose focus and derails for me. Some characters set up to be of importance are completely dropped and there are a few decisions later on that have little logic to them at all.

By the end I sort of felt nothing for these characters, which is such a shame considering how much I was rooting for them to begin with.

I felt like it could have been such a tight 4-6 episode series focussing on the earlier storyline.

Still enjoyable and totally worth watching, just could have been so much tighter.