Stacked

A comedy/drama pilot for Channel 4 this was a show aimed at teenagers. It was far more compelling and complex than I would have expected, representing three sisters each with her own set of problems and their dad who's the editor of a lads magazine. What really got me about Stacked was how it illustrated that teens are manipulated into feeling they should look a certain way/fit a certain role by the media - and the media is run by adults. As far as I'm concerned television is a bit of a wasteland at the moment. Amongst the endless drivel this was a real gem - something that made me think while also being very entertaining.

I stumbled across this last night on channel 4 and I loved it! I haven't seen something this witty, dirty and darkly funny centred on British females since Sugar Rush. In a similar vein to Sugar Rush, Skins and Shameless, it accurately portrayed both teenagers and their parents, not siding with either, in a funny and watchable way. My only grip is why the hell was it on so late, hidden away in the TV schedule? Why, when we are subjected to so much crap TV, was this little gem not properly publicised and advertised. Because it is set in Scotland? Channel four should be doing better than this to support genuine talent when they are lucky enough to find it. I really hope it becomes a series, I'd be a guaranteed viewer! I'm not going to say anything about the plot- go seek it out and watch it.

Several thoughts come to mind fairly early on while watching this show on a first time viewing. Unfortunately, all bad things. I'm not sure what hit me first, the cringe-worthy, terrible acting, or the awful script.

In its defense, a lot of actors/actresses in this are quite young, and everyone has to start somewhere. However, i almost find that statement too kind as i wonder if some of them will ever develop an ability to act as it's already starting at such a poor non-existent standard.

In saying this, i can't say much positive or hopeful comments about the older, presumably more experienced cast such as the father/magazine owner character. This guy needs to think of ulterior methods of employment, away from anything remotely related to acting.

And now on to other issues. The directing and writing of this show was a tacky cesspit of clichés and uncreative stereotypical techniques and elements. Some of these made it hard to watch to a toe-curling extent. A good example of what i am referring to is the likes of the typical rebellious angst-ridden teenager portrayed through the character of the youngest daughter. Every time a scene cut to her character, she displayed a face which quite obviously directly reflected a director telling her "show some attitude, GRRR be angry!" and some techno style music would play, as if to reflect the music of a young angry person with an attitude. How disgustingly obvious!

There are also a barrage of other stereotypical issues touched upon that are obviously blatant and miserable ways to make the whole thing seem 'topical'. A lame attempt to raise modern day issues in a way that has already been completely done to death. If you're looking for examples; the father owns a top shelf 'lads mag' that raises the usual sexist issues, his daughter becomes influenced by it so as to give him a 'taste of his own medicine', underage girls becoming exposed and influenced by sexual behavior and the usual moral dilemma's that ensue, oh and not to mention... how do these lad mags change impressionable teenagers idea of a beautiful body and what lengths will they go to in order to copy the catwalk image?! YAWN. Just watch an episode of Trisha or Jeremy Kyle if you are really still oblivious to these media saturated issues.

It all gave the entire duration of the show a student film, unprofessional vibe that resembled a class assignment handed in by someone studying a media course in college. If i was the teacher of such a course i would have rated it quite averagely even at that standard.

On a side note, i did research this enough to discover the director is none other than one 'Jennifer Perrott', also responsible for directing such TV gems as 'Doctors' and 'Hollyoaks'. Not surprising as these are two of the worst shows to ever grace the silver screen - and 'Stacked' came across as just another episode!

P.S Sorry for any 'Spoilers', trust me, it ain't spoiled much more than it already is to begin with. The only regret i have in this review is the time i wasted on 'Stacked' by writing it.

Stacked is one of the best shows I've seen in ages. It followed real girls with real and recognisable problems, all of whom I felt I actually cared about by the end. The premise - three sisters whose dad runs a Nuts/Zoo type lads mag was relevant and topical. I'd never stopped to question what kind of men are behind these sort of magazines, well beyond imagining the stereotypical sleazebag, but Jamie was a very interesting character and made me wonder whether men who work in the lads mag industry do also have families and how they manage to combine the two. We live in a time where girls are made to feel more insecure than ever before about their appearance and whether they are sexy enough - even pre-teens are aspiring to look like porn stars. Stacked tackled this deftly - each of the sisters had a different reaction to their father's profession from the fourteen year old man- eater Tallulah to Ginny suffering from low self-esteem about her body to lesbian Shona using the magazine as a way to get closer to scantily clad girls. I'd love to see more of Stacked and find out how the story unfolds. It aired in August and I've heard no news of it since then so I assume it won't be continuing but I think this is a real shame - it's one of the few dramas that is both entertaining and thought provoking.

Shown as part of C4's 'Next Generation of talent blah blah blah...' season, "Stacked" was just another unfunny, direction-less story which relied on resorting to 'lad's mags' tactics for its points of interest. The performances were adequate given the material, but the characters themselves were devoid of any likability.

C4 have spent the last month constantly advertising the fact that 'new talent' is taking over C4, when really they should actually invest their time and money more sensibly.

The whole thing smacks of rolling the dice and lets hope something good comes of it somewhere along the line...

Next!