Skint

Magnificent moody monologues with poetic scripts and charismatic performers. The nature of being skint is expressed across diverse regional UK settings and in varied dialects. What emerges from these superb snippets is the idea that social standing and prosperity are not inevitable correlates of intelligence and hard work. The characters are all good, bright, industrious and self-aware. Material success and comfort are not the rewards of virtue and poverty is not the reward of idleness; being skint is available to everyone regardless of the correctness or incorrectness of life choices. A brilliant examination of poverty in our times and the sheer impossibility for most to escape it.

Watched the first three. The second is a word salad with no burger - simply a cluster jumble. The two female monologues are notably well delivered. Saoirse-Monica Jackson (episode 1) is particularly strong but the writers undermine it with a poor choice of resolution. Emma Fryer (episode 3) makes the best of what she is given though ultimately this is devoid of content.

Cheap BBC TV which is neither as intelligent nor as cultured as it purports to be. If I ever lose-the-will-to-live I will watch the rest.