Betty

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.

Easily the best tv show I've seen in years. Such a strong tone. Every character has so much personality, even the minor ones. Such deep and varied emotions. So many subtle flourishes. Over and over, you'll notice a quick facial expression that makes you understand the entire scene in a different way. Such a powerful pacing and structure. The combination of everything nearly gave me Stendhal syndrome. Cannot wait for season 2!!

P.S. Apparently some reviewers disagree on this last point, but I would just like to say that I liked this even more than Skate Kitchen. Skate Kitchen was solidly good and quite endearing, but hinted at a potential greater than itself. This show achieves that potential.

Incoherent drivel. No cohesive storyline, terrible acting (an ensemble that never really gels) and just plain boring. For those who wonder why it only has a 6.5 rating - well, it would actually be lower were it not for the single-review users who give it a 10.

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 was so excited to see something like this was coming out and I'm always floored at how real Crystal Moselle's work with these girls feel. So good and so needed. Really wish you could review a review. It's all a matter of opinion I guess but the people here rating this show a 1, well, this kind of show isn't for you. It was not created for you. Periodt. I never do reviews of anything but these uglies kinda set me off.