I was able to download a programe called Expat Sheild, an can now access the wonderful and fascinating world orf the BBC. I say this seriously and in no way mean any ridcule to anyone.
The TG episoce is one hour long, without commercials, and is quite excellent. There are a half dozen sub plots and like someone else, I found the parts about the girl with a brain tumor, and the GID boy to be especially moving.
I must say however, that the install messed with my settings a bit. Bing Search is now my home page but I can set that aright, I think. The accents are not as heavy as I am used to and that is a bit of a put off. Still, the whole thing is much better than TV here in the American Colonies. :)
Much peace
Khadijah
Comments
Actually it seems exactly like American TV
To me anyway, the clobber-you-over-the-head earnestness of the whole show, all the intersecting plotlines seeming pretty standard. Not terrible but not brilliant, and I was kind of relieved. Both because it helped assuage my national cultural inferiority complex (See? Auntie Beeb has her share of mediocre fare too...) and also because now I don't have to go hunting down the six previous seasons and watching them all in some getting-no-writing-done marathon. I did find the transgender kid plotline compelling, familiar to any reader here, and it was interesting to see all the little differences in the school environment and culture. Of course television is like heroin, and once I got to know all these characters (Gee I hope the girl with the brain tumor will be okay!) I could easily find myself addicted. The last highschool drama I tuned into I got so hooked on I went and named myself after its plucky crime-solving heroine.
~~hugs, Veronica Mars
I found the WATERLOO ROAD episode here:
http://www.torrentreactor.net/torrents/5151216/Waterloo_Road...
Well shit, I guess it really CAN happen here..,
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American TV is a joke to me
Laika you are joking right? Now, I have to admit that I have not watched TV in a couple years. It just frustrated me so much with all the commercials and stupidity. And, do you really think that a TG character like that would have a chance at all on American TV?
K
No Joke
All I can say is as I was watching it, everything about this show seemed very familiar. Over the years American high school dramas and family dramas have addressed issues like this, promoting diversity, tolerance and respect; starting with the anti-racist messages of 60's, 70's anti-sexist themes, acceptance of gays, religious tolerance- spelling it all out very carefully, that BIGOTRY IS BAD, to get through to even the thickest viewer. It's blatant propaganda and I'm all for it, if it makes a few people think, or keeps some kid like Martin from getting bullied even once. I'm sure there have been episodes of shows like this in the US that have promoted tolerance for gender variance, and if there aren't they're in production right now. The difference between us and the UK isn't that Hollywood shies away from addressing "contemporary issues", it's what happens after the thing is taped, when loudmouth idiots start screaming about the decline in morals such tolerance represents, and local affiliates bow to these poopyhead pressure groups & refuse to carry a certain episode etc etc etc.
Well shit, I guess it really CAN happen here..,
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Waterloo Road TG Episode!
Well, USA Channel supports the T.G. Community with their attitude about accepting others.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Waterloo Rd TG Episode
Now that I've gone to the trouble to bugger up my computer with the workaround software I really do hope that this storyline continues. I enjoyed the show and may have to go back and watch the earlier episodes.
Generally if a show on American TV is any good, it is because it is an Americanized rewrite of a British show that has already been popular for a few seasons. This tends to be more along comedy lines than dramas.
The concept of reality shows that are all the vogue today in the USA were originated in Japan about 30 years ago.
The upside of this is concepts get the opportunity to prove themselves elsewhere before risking them to the US market, even then there is no promise it will succeed in the culture translation.