I've always thought that Skins's similarities with As If were a little bit more than coincidental! And while Skins at its best had a power and emotional intensity that As If never quite managed to reach, As If was far more consistent, and (in my opinion, at least) consistently good. Skins, for example, has a whole season that's basically episode after episode of utter suck (season 4 - the most disappointing season of television ever made as far as I'm concerned). As If never resorted to random acts of ridiculousness or brutality to create drama, they didn't use character death for emotional manipulation, and it was clever, funny and well written. Also, fantastic soundtrack :) It really deserves to be more well known that it is. And, of course, there was the Cabaret-inspired season 2 finale. 25 minutes of surreal brilliance, and one of the most memorable and brilliant things I've ever seen. Seasons 3 and 4 are definitely worth watching if you never saw them. I'm incredibly fond of the whole series, I have to admit, and they also ended it really well, without completely messing it up or flogging a dead horse. I'd finished university a little before it first aired but I can still identify with you on how easy shows like As If and Skins make college (and later) friendships seem. You always imagine from them that it's the most natural thing in the world to just pull together that small, tight-knit group of friends, almost as if by magic. The reality's pretty different a lot of the time :/
It was a wonder to me how Rob put up with Sasha for so long. God, she treated him like dirt. Really, no redeeming features whatsoever. The other characters made up for her, though. They all had their flaws but they were all likable in their own way. Sooz and Jamie were always my faves though :)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-06-12 04:34 pm (UTC)As If never resorted to random acts of ridiculousness or brutality to create drama, they didn't use character death for emotional manipulation, and it was clever, funny and well written. Also, fantastic soundtrack :) It really deserves to be more well known that it is.
And, of course, there was the Cabaret-inspired season 2 finale. 25 minutes of surreal brilliance, and one of the most memorable and brilliant things I've ever seen.
Seasons 3 and 4 are definitely worth watching if you never saw them. I'm incredibly fond of the whole series, I have to admit, and they also ended it really well, without completely messing it up or flogging a dead horse.
I'd finished university a little before it first aired but I can still identify with you on how easy shows like As If and Skins make college (and later) friendships seem. You always imagine from them that it's the most natural thing in the world to just pull together that small, tight-knit group of friends, almost as if by magic. The reality's pretty different a lot of the time :/
It was a wonder to me how Rob put up with Sasha for so long. God, she treated him like dirt. Really, no redeeming features whatsoever. The other characters made up for her, though. They all had their flaws but they were all likable in their own way. Sooz and Jamie were always my faves though :)