jpdfive

I'll be transparent and say I havent finished this show. I completed Series one, and based on the recommendations I've had from almost everyone I know, I'm not going to bother watching the rest.

From my limited experience, this show has very little keeping me watching. I like Sue as a character. I can say I dont think any of the characters are "well written", theyre all copy paste from other shows, but Sue is tolerable and has some level of creativity.

The remixes themselves, the actual songs, arent awful. Some of them lose some of the depth that made the orignals great, sometimes it was the voice that made a song what it was, and theres a lot of occasions where all of the charm is lost by Gwyneth Paltrow's flat shouting. I'll say that turning Defying Gravity into a duet (streaming version) was a good idea, and it adds a lot of character. I enjoy it.

Back to the show, to summarise, I dont feel at all compelled to keep watching. It's watchABLE, but I have no will to find out what happens next, as the storyline is not in any way gripping or exciting. The script is played by a load of rude and narcissistic noise machines with absolutely no redeeming features, and it makes for a totally unengaging show, because I cant become invested in anyone.

Be aware , Review has no spoilers but does point out errors

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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.

Small side note, I don't think it being the year 2000 is at all relevant to the story. The only signs you see of it being early noughties are that people use old phones, and some of the cars are old models, but it doesn't make much difference. I'm not detracting from the rating, as because it's mostly an irrelevant factor, it's still an excellent show, however it just sets the show up for mistakes and minus points, because theres also an occasional continuity error when you can see a brand new Stagecoach bus in the background at the bus station.