Betty

I never write reviews and when I came onto the IMDB site and saw this was only rated a 6/10 I was shocked. It seems as if the show is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. Luckily I loved it. Such a refreshing programme that is essentially about nothing. But still managed to bring me so much joy. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching a programme this much.

Yes some of the acting is questionable but that is part of its charm. I cannot wait for the follow up to this. Definitely going to go back and watch skate kitchen!!

The cast is great I love their personalities and the style of the show! Not sure whats with the ratings and reviews but I enjoy quite a bit. Reminds me of some chill show from the 90's except more updated to this generation. I love Betty for what it is!

I love that the actors are skaters plucked from the streets, so zero 'trained' acting ability but a naturalness that transcends it. I love the fashion, almost like '80's UK rave (yeah, I'm that old). I love the feminine love angle and the guys that get it, and pity the those that don't. I'm surprised that male skaters are so bigoted, it's the preserve of free thinkers like surfing, or so I thought. But it turns out it's just another bastion of Alpha A-Holes, with a capital A&H. Bummer. Skating is about freedom of expression, not conforming, doing your own thing. The assumption that women can't know their own minds is absurd, they're often the ones that keep men in check and encourage them to be better. Show me a single man that made it on his own? You can't. Apart from Steve Jobs, maybe? And he excelled at getting others to do the work, His right hand man was a woman. So go figure. The soundtrack is also pretty good, a few have made it onto my Spotify. I've only seen two ep's at the mo', but I'm liking it, a lot, memories of gravel rashes, lumps on my head and moments of unconsciousness are coming back, and they make me laugh in a nostalgic, old fart way. More power to you, chaps, I'll keep watching. This is skating.

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.