Teen Dramas in the US and UK

There is something undeniably British about Misfits. As Faye Woods says in our reading, “…whilst inspired by US Teen TV, British Youth Television also seeks to define itself against it.” One of these “inspirational” US teenaged TV shows she mentions is the long-running, finally-about-to-die-thank-God CW show, One Tree Hill. The two shows are, of course, unthinkably different. But where can you see the inspiration and where can you see the definition in opposition?

We can start with the intros. Let’s take a look at both–

One Tree Hill:

Misfits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlqOuzkgIy0

We are dealing with two teen dramas when you peel these shows down to their bones. Sure, Misfits is edgy and cool and One Tree Hill is soapy and girlish, but Woods gets it right when she quotes Howard Overman, “Being a teenager is such a challenging time that is instantly throws up conflict. Every emotion is heightened, everything is life-and-death important. That’s drama.” Both shows are essentially about these challenges of teenage life–identity, self-esteem, sex, drugs, making mistakes (as Misfits‘ Nathan would say), etc.

Let me also say that both shows are cinematically polished and use very modern music that appeal to teens even in their intros. They are both screaming, we are you! We get you! They want to delve into those seemingly life-and-death issues that teens struggle with to make them identify with the show.

There is obvious pushing away on Misfits part from its American counterparts, however. For starters, there is the obvious fact that these kids are not quite as breathtakingly beautiful as the could-be models of One Tree Hill. Even the quiet, nerdy girl of One Tree Hill is exceptionally good looking. This is a show where 22-year-olds are playing juniors in high school. They are good and right, and when they aren’t, they are either punished or put on the fast track of being changed into a good person.

Woods references the visual desaturation that Misfits employs, and I, too, noticed in watching how the show experiments with focus. It is definitely edgier than the non-risk-taking One Tree Hill. Misfits is wholly uninterested with goodness and beauty, although those things are something found as a byproduct along the way. In fact, Nathan’s speech is like an anthem against goodness and beauty. The actors are either actually young enough to play the ages of their characters or more consciously chosen to look younger. Nathan, the cool asshole, still has that gawky awkwardness of teenaged years. Kelly, his love interest, has neither the body nor the face of a knockout. In that sense, Misfits is entirely more identifiable as the anti-heros.