One of the Boys

The two adult actors Morten Burian and Rasmus Botoft, both known for many other rôles, were firing on one cylinder here. Their hearts just weren't in it. And I'm not surprised. They were meant to be mentors of a group of kids who'd been sent to the countryside to learn toxic masculinity. I'm sure they deplored any such thing on real life and it showed. They couldn't get any enthusiasm up for the concept.

The plot, such as it was, involving two strands, one of unrequited infatuation and the other the competion to find out who was the "real man" of the group of lads, was played out in four episodes of fifteen to nineteen minutes. So there was about an actual hour of action.

Plot development was sketchy and hurried as it had to be. Motivations for behaviour had to be guessed at rather than being organically shown to grow. Characters acted in the opposite way to their supposed personalities with no reason for it.

I'm sure a young audience might think this was fun. I have a more jaded eye at my age. Although I watched right through, I can't give this more than a three.

The series One of the Boys regrettably falls short of delivering a meaningful or relevant narrative in contemporary society. It predominantly glorifies the archetypes of bullies and a bully-centric society, showcasing a disturbing celebration of such behaviours in this real-man-camp coming-of-age gay story. The portrayal of adults within the series is particularly concerning, as they appear oblivious or indifferent to the surrounding events. This lack of adult awareness or concern significantly detracts from the realism and relatability of the story.

Furthermore, the series seems to be mired in outdated perspectives and narratives. The approach to character development and societal critique appears more fitting for a storyline set in the 1990s, failing to reflect the significant progress made in societal attitudes and awareness in recent decades. In this era, where society has grown increasingly conscious of the complexities of human behaviour and the impact of gay bullying, the series misses an opportunity to delve deeper into the nuanced exploration of its characters.

The narrative could have been a powerful tool for introspection and addressing crucial bullying-related issues in a boy's camp and societal change. However, the writer's approach renders the story dated and disconnected from the current societal context. The series misses a pivotal chance to contribute meaningfully to contemporary conversations about bullying, character growth, and the transformation of societal norms. The lack of depth in character exploration and the failure to engage with these themes in a more profound and updated manner leave the series feeling irrelevant and a missed opportunity for impactful storytelling. Frustration is the feeling I get after watching this series.