Maybe youve seen the name mentioned in passing.
Perhaps youve seen gifs of its fresh-faced Scandanavian cast flit across your Tumblr dashboard or Twitter feed.
Still, you have only a vague idea of whatSkamactuallyis.
Allow us to clear up your confusion.
Meet one of the best shows on TV…
What is Skam?
How do international viewers get it, then?
This is a show that has truly been spread through internet word-of-mouth.
The basic premise?Skamfollows a group of teenagers who go to the Hartvig Nissen School in Oslo.
Each season has a different central character, with the narrative stickingveryclose to his or her perspective.
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The structure works to explore the main characters own personal source of shame.
This friendship group becomes the heart ofSkamfor the first two seasons.
Skam: the format.
Skamis often highlighted for its unique format.
Skamhas also been recognized for the way in which it uses transmedia storytelling to tell its story.
What does that mean?
Transmedia storytelling isnt something new.
However,Skamhas to be one of the first more traditionally-produced TV shows that has done it.
In other words: it has the budget and backing of a national broadcaster.
Most people I know have never heard ofThe Lizzie Bennet Diaries.One in five people in Norway watchSkam.
What makes Skam so good?
In addition to all of that, its just damn good storytelling.
What did she find?
Andemtold the New York Times: We found one main need.
Teenagers today are under a lot of pressure from everyone.
Pressure to be perfect, pressure to perform.
We wanted to do a show to take away the pressure.
Moving forward, Andem says she uses feedback from the teen actors and viewers to keep the show authentic.
This is an aspect of the real-world that our pop culture hasnt done such a good job of reflecting.
Most of the time, TV and movies dont even try.
Skamdoes this so, so well.
In an early episode ofSkam,we see Eva throw in, erase, retype, erase, etc.
For me, there was something so, so real about this moment.
And a quiet depiction of the modern experience I have never seen done quite so well on screen.
Its that word quiet that I keep coming back to when I think aboutSkam.
When we discuss modern life, we tend to frame it as faster and louder.
That opportunity is both wonderful and terrible, and is reflected inSkamsreal-time aspect.
Technology is an integral part of these teenagers lives, but it isnt inherently good or bad.
It only changes the way universally human experiences, challenges, and wonders manifest in their lives.
The authenticity of its cast and production.
Skamtakes a page from Italian neorealism and the French New Wave in its casting of actors.
This authenticity seemed to be a priority of the casting process.
Past that, the main cast seems incredibly grounded.
Theyre not playing Real Teens.
Above all else, Skam aims to be inclusive.
Andem created this show as a place for teens dealing with overwhelming pressure to escape into.
Its a scene that sees Isak coming out to best friend Jonas.
He doesnt treat Isak like a freak or make a big deal out of the admission.
He reads what his friend needs and he gives it to him: quiet acceptance.
Skamfurther creates this inclusive nature by creating an incredible intimacy between the character and the viewer.
We are in this together.
While they struggles through that very teenage process of self-discovery, we are their allies.
If TV and film and stories in general are all excercises in empathy, thenSkamis a master class.
Where to Watch Skam Online
WatchingSkamis tricky.
How do English-speaking fans watchSkamthen?
Have I mentioned that its a viral hit?
Not that we endorse that kind of thing.
