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lightsandlostbells · 6 years ago

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Skam season 3, episode 8 reaction

I am so, so excited to talk about this episode. It’s probably my favorite overall episode of Skam, maybe tied with episode 5 of this season. It took me forever to write this one because it’s so jam-packed with things to talk about, and I know that despite my best efforts, I’ve likely forgotten something.

This is the show firing on all cylinders: the acting, writing, directing, editing, music are all excellent. The social media content from this week is brilliantly deployed. Watching episode 8 in real time was one of the best experiences in the fandom, as Julie kept us happy with amazing Evak content and wonderful interaction with Isak’s friends, while also stringing us along with a feeling of dread. Something was off. Something was coming to knock us on our asses, and every clip and text message kept the speculation flowing as we waited for answers.

I meant to get all the S3 reactions done before the first S3 remake starts airing, but lmao, that’s not happening. I do want to finish them by the end of October, though.

Episode 8

Clip 1 - The clip that turned us into Gabrielle stans

Saturday, 11:11 - the repeating numbers have returned!

Isak wakes up the morning after spending the night with Even, alone again. The other side of the bed is conspicuously empty. Poor Isak! You know how crushingly disappointed he must feel this time. Like … if Even has left him again, Even basically used him for sex and then bailed. What an asshole. That’s even lower than everything else that has happened so far. Isak must be feeling so stupid at this point. You know he thinks that he’s fallen for Even’s bullshit yet again, and angry at himself for giving in to Even’s Evenness. He just had the night of his life, and now it was all a lie.

He even checks the pillow for signs of a sketch left behind, and that little detail tugs at my heartstrings. He knows Even’s patterns now, and he’s really hoping for something.

He checks his phone but there’s no text from Even, just one from his dad telling him about wanting to go to a Christmas concert with Isak and his mom, but lol, Isak doesn’t have time for his dad’s shit right now.

Please note the strategically placed toilet paper on Isak’s nightstand. I will leave it to your imagination why it is there. But I will say that I kind of love the production team for even thinking of this, lmao. Talk about attention to detail.

Isak gets dressed and when he opens his door, we hear faint laughter coming from elsewhere in the apartment. I will say that when I first watched this clip, I definitely expected this to be the case, that Even was making breakfast or using the bathroom or doing something else in the flat and hadn’t actually left. Otherwise it would be too repetitive, you know? How many times can Skam show us Even bailing on Isak before enough is enough? But obviously, the seeds are in place to make us think this could be the case. It’s a clear parallel to episode 5 when Isak woke up alone to just a sketch and Eskild and Noora’s curiosity. Still, isn’t it such a relief when we hear Even’s voice? When he’s just hanging out charming the pants off Eskild and Noora?

The way Isak creeps into the kitchen like he’s not sure this is real, that maybe he’s still dreaming. Or maybe he just doesn’t know what to think about this whole thing. I mean, he did just sleep with Even after they were apart for weeks, he doesn’t know what Even’s deal is, if Even still has a girlfriend…

I love that Isak has a Simpsons shirt, by the way. The Simpsons peaked like … before Isak was born, but the older episodes are still classic. And we get this super intense scene where Isak is about to climb Even like the tall Norwegian tree he is and he just has Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie chillin’ on their iconic sofa to bear witness. Personally I don’t think The Simpsons are a good aphrodisiac but Even is so hot for Isak that Isak could be decked out in full Krusty the Clown cosplay and Even would want to hit that. (I think this is Tarjei’s shirt? I try not to dig too deep into that kid’s life out of respect for his privacy but at the same time, Tarjei’s existence is like … fascinating.)

But oh man, imagine Isak creeping into the kitchen and seeing Even interact with Eskild and Noora. These two people are meeting Even! They are meeting the guy he likes! Especially Eskild, who knows about the Isak/Even drama in detail! It’s got to be nerve-wracking even though Even is clearly getting a positive reception. I mean, it is like Mom and Dad are meeting the boyfriend, kinda? It’s a very tangible reminder that this thing with Even is real, that Isak’s relationship with Even is going to have to be public eventually, or at least known to the people in his life.

Let’s respect that it’s 11 in the afternoon and Noora is fully dressed and Eskild is just in a blue silk robe. That sounds about right for their characters. (Are you a Noora or an Eskild in terms of weekend apparel? I’m definitely an Eskild.)

I love seeing Even, Noora, and Eskild all smiling together. Noora and Eskild are smitten. I mean, who wouldn’t be? A cute swoopy-haired dude is cooking breakfast in your kitchen. Shout out to Josefine for getting in some light hair twirling as she stares at Even.

One of my favorite things about Even is how well he gets along with the other people in Isak’s life. He’s warm and friendly to his roommates, to his friends, etc. Even is just a very social person, but I think it’s cool how he makes other characters feel at ease. And Even being so likable has got to be helpful for Isak, too - it’s hard enough to come out, but his new boyfriend being charming and winning people over might lessen some of his fears about how they’ll be perceived. At least he won’t have an awkward divide between his friends and his boyfriend.

I love Even’s delivery of “God morgen” and the way he just plants that kiss on Isak. Isak is standing there with his hands in his pockets, not sure what’s happening, but Even is confident and happy (and well… manic). Still, the way he grabs Isak’s face before laying a quick, solid smooch on him? Swoon. You know Isak was wondering how he was going to introduce Even to Eskild and Noora, what exactly he was going to say (what did Even tell them before Isak walked in???) and then Even swooped in and planted a kiss on him and it’s like, well, that probably says it all, doesn’t it.

This is a good way to clinch that things have changed, too. Even isn’t going to run from this relationship this time around, he’s making more of a commitment. At least this is what I felt - I’m sure you could still have doubts about him, as many viewers did, but man, I felt sure from this moment that Even wasn’t going to bail like before.

Okay, it’s going to bug me what Even brushes away on Isak’s face. I assume it was some cooking ingredient, butter or oil or whatever, that Even got on Isak’s face when he put his hand there to kiss him. I have a lot of feelings about that little gesture, though! It’s so simple but such a sweet thing, just a tiny expression of taking care of someone. It’s so fond and domestic that it makes my heart swell. Even Bech Næsheim loves Isak Valtersen a whole lot, guys.

This exchange with the good morning kiss is shot over Eskild’s shoulder, and it gives you the impression of watching it through Eskild’s eyes. Imagine looking at this 17-year-old kid who you’ve known mostly as closeted and grumpy and miserable, who you let sleep in your basement and then move in with you because he didn’t want to go home, who’s been struggling just to acknowledge when a man is attractive, and here he’s got this very attractive man staying overnight and kissing him in front of other people. It’s like watching a butterfly break out of its cocoon. How happy and proud must Eskild have been of Isak in this scene! I mean, even if he’s still befuddled and dazed, Isak also just let Even kiss him in front of other people. That’s what we call character development.

Even making a ton of food for breakfast is very sweet, what a thoughtful boyfriend, but of course it takes on a new context once you know Even is manic. This was one of the little clues that people picked up on and that stood out to me. He doesn’t make just one or two dishes for breakfast, he makes everything.

Honestly Even makes me really sad throughout this episode. I think he got it into his mind that making everything for breakfast was a romantic comedy thing to do. I mean ... it literally is. He gets some of his ideas in this episode straight from Pretty Woman, including this one from a part where Richard Gere orders everything on the menu for Julia Roberts; he remembered that scene and wanted to make his own version of it, and because he’s manic he took it further than it needed to be. And cooking a lot of breakfast isn’t a huge deal, but unfortunately it’s going to escalate.

Henrik does some of his best acting in this episode. A lot of it is related to him conveying mania but there’s also how wonderfully smitten he is with Isak. Look at how Even glances toward Isak while Noora is talking! Just lovely, taking in Isak in a way that’s casual but conveys his affection. Of course Isak is having a Moment but Even is, too. Even just got to sleep with the boy he’s been pining over for months. He looks at him so fondly. He has this slight smile on his face, like he’s just so thrilled to see Isak, and that he just wants to make Isak so happy.

Both Noora and Eskild shoot some looks at Isak, too. Noora realizes that Isak and Even probably want to be alone, so she tries to make an excuse for her and Eskild to leave. Eskild, I think, is still monitoring Isak’s reactions, making sure he’s okay with everything, taking in his godkitten’s emotions on this fine Saturday.

God, they’re all so cute. My heart grows a couple of sizes just watching this scene. I would give anything for more domestic snippets of Kollektivet + Even just hanging around on a lazy afternoon. I am happy that Evak got their own place in S4 since the flat was overcrowded and you know Even was over there constantly so it was like five people lived there, and the Evak love nest turned out to be a tiny domestic paradise. But I wish we could have seen more of this awesome Kollektivet dynamic before Isak moved out.

Lol, Noora is seriously checking out Even. She’s even more shameless than Eskild here.

Noora and Eskild are leaving to do “yoga.” Water yoga. What do you think they actually did? Grabbed coffee and gossiped about Evak?

Isak knows shit is up, and I’m pretty sure Even realizes there is no water yoga awaiting Isak’s roommates, but he’s just amused and delighted to get more alone time with his boy so he’s going to play along.

Eskild and Noora kind of dawdle out the door, knowing they should go but still wanting to see more, more! Noora gives Isak a big beam before she leaves and Eskild touches Isak on the stomach. They’re both so thrilled with this development.

Even paraphrases Pretty Woman at Isak (“I didn’t know what you’d like so I made everything) and then quizzes Isak on what film it is. But when Isak is confused, Even doesn’t explain, give a hint, or pursue the question further. He just moves on. Again, a small moment. But it’s a clue as to how Even’s mind might be racing from topic to topic.

Even blowing on the eggs and then giving Isak a taste test - how gallant of him. He’s just so pleased and wants to do all these nice things for Isak, treat him to good food, sex, spoil him in all ways.

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, BEST OTP BEST BEST

This is Even’s dad’s recipe according to Julie’s script. I really want to know a lot more about Even’s parents and family life. They seem to be generally supportive of him, his sexuality, and his mental illness, or at least we don’t hear about any major problems with how they treat Even, but there’s so much more we could’ve known about his home life.

After I saw this scene I made scrambled eggs with sour cream a few times, and they were pretty good. Thanks, Even!

Let’s all admire that one jaunty curl hanging against Henrik’s forehead.

Isak’s reaction to everything is so good, I’m proud of him. He doesn’t get swayed by Even being all affectionate and cooking breakfast; he stands his ground and pushes Even about the state of their relationship, getting out his concerns, not being afraid to show what makes him less happy. He may have lost his chill when Even showed up at his door last night, but the morning after, he’s going to make sure they talk a bit. The shock of Even not being in his bed reminded him that, oh yeah, things between them are very uncertain and Even has been leaving him hanging for the last few weeks. Isak’s in too deep. This isn’t a casual thing. He cares for Even so much, so he needs to make sure Even is on the same page.

I don’t think Even realizes that Isak was pretty upset when Even wasn’t there. It might be because he’s manic right now, and that he cares for Isak so much that obviously Even wasn’t going to walk out on him. In his mind, the idea is ridiculous, so he’s trying to reassure Isak that he was here the whole time.

Isak is not reassured though, he has plenty more questions. Like “Does Sonja know where you are?” which is really code for “Are you still together with Sonja?”

Even responds so quickly that he’s not with Sonja. So as I stated in the last recap, I think he was broken up with her well before last night, and Isak was under the impression they were still together because of the kiss. But I think the kiss was a one-off or temporary thing.

Again, round of applause for Isak for not dropping the subject, for continuing to push the topic of Sonja and letting Even know he can’t just forget about her.

I bet Even realizes during this scene that Isak saw him kissing Sonja. I wonder if he heard the rumors going around school that there was a fight at Emma’s party, between Isak and Mahdi, and that gave him suspicions. Because that would mean Isak was there, at the same party, and Isak had some reason he was pissed and physically lashing out at people, and it could possibly be related to Even dumping him or Isak seeing him and Sonja together. This just confirms that Isak knew all about it. You can see Even react to this information, that it’s probably something he feels bad about and that it’s something he doesn’t really want to talk about, or explain more about his thing with Sonja, but Isak’s called him out on it.

Even’s rant about Sonja is … off-putting. Sure, she’s his ex, and we saw them fight. But we also saw them be kissy and affectionate together. And Even is the one who’s dumped her, who cheated on her. It seems like a lot of anger directed toward her when we haven’t seen her do anything particularly wrong at this point, other than get on Even’s case about drinking too much beer in episode 4. But of course it makes more sense when you realize her attitude toward his mental illness.

Also, Even’s answer to Isak’s query isn’t really an answer? Isak wants to make sure that Sonja isn’t still in the picture and Even goes off on her personality and their problems. Which … isn’t really a yes or no. There’s no clear answer to why Even got back together with Sonja, or why she would have this control over him in this first place. This scene gave me a prickle of unease because something’s clearly going on with Even that we don’t know yet. I don’t think Isak really comprehends what Even’s talking about, either, just that his final point - that she can’t know what Even feels - is something he understands on a universal level, and an area where Even needs his support.

Notice that Even does most of this rant turned away from Isak, talking with his back to him, like he’s still hiding something. We can’t fully see his face or his expressions. That’s totally deliberate of Julie. Even could have been talking with Isak directly, with eye contact, but of course she wants to create the sense that something’s still off, there’s something we’re not getting. That Even isn’t letting Isak (or us) in on everything. We really don’t see his face at all for some of this scene. It’s only when he looks back to Isak, asking if he understands, that we see his face again. Because that’s when Even is inviting Isak in, not trying to keep him away from things he doesn’t want Isak to know.

Of course, Even’s rant makes a lot more sense after the hotel scene, and it’s a huge key to understanding his character and his relationship with Sonja. Even is used to relying on Sonja for “control” - as a presumably neurotypical person, her judgment can be trusted, while Even’s is doubted because of his mental illness. Their relationship is such that Sonja is the one who calls the shots and tells Even what he’s feeling. It’s gone on so long that Even now doubts himself and his own judgment and defers to Sonja’s. “Everything she says is true” - does he really think that? Or is he just used to Sonja’s judgment being “right” no matter if he agrees?

But he’s tired of it, and he wants some independence. And I think his feelings for Isak are that deep that they’re the catalyst for not wanting to rely on her judgment anymore. She’s telling him that his feelings for Isak are fake and he knows they’re not in his heart.(Though honestly, I think it’s likely that some part of him did kind of question whether Sonja was right about his feelings for Isak not being real. His rant gives me the vibe that her words wormed his way inside his head and he’s frustrated over that. Ultimately his feelings for Isak were so strong and vivid that he trusted them instead of her opinion. He could feel them and know they were real and that overpowered the doubts.)

But this is part of why Even ran hot and cold at first, why he was flirting with Isak while backing off and being with Sonja. His romantic feelings for Sonja have faded a lot, and he knows they don’t work as a couple. But Sonja has been there for him through the worst times, and she’s safe, she’s someone he can lean on. Dumping Sonja means he has to start relying more on his own judgment. And for someone who isn’t used to trusting his own mind, that’s scary.

My interpretation is this: Sonja told Even some version of what she tells Isak at the end of the episode - that Even’s feelings for Isak are not real and are just the result of his mania/mental illness. She did not really believe that Even was breaking up with her for good. It was just temporary and he’d come back to her once his manic episode had ended. When she kissed him at Emma’s party, it was under the assumption that they weren’t really done. Maybe she was even aware that Isak was no longer in the picture - it’s possible she and Even were still in contact, or Emma told Sonja that Even was at the party alone and not with Isak. Who knows! Many options. But I really think that Sonja doubted the veracity of Even’s feelings for Isak, manifesting in her kissing him at the party, and that’s what he’s addressing in his rant about her here, even if Isak can’t know that’s what it’s about. And this is why he chooses to tell Isak about these qualities of Sonja now, even though it seems almost like a tangent. I think they have a lot to do with his relationship with Isak, specifically - it’s not just random. Sonja has said things about Even’s feelings for Isak that are weighing on Even’s mind.

This sounds like a pretty harsh take on Sonja, so just to reiterate: I really like her as a character, I think she’s sympathetic and overall a good person. But she does have this big flaw.

Even looking back at Isak after his rant is so meaningful. He needs Isak to understand him. It’s so important to him that Isak get what Even is saying, even if Even isn’t being upfront about everything. Isak has to believe him that Even knows his own feelings, and that those feelings are for Isak. And even if Isak doesn’t know everything, Isak does get it. He gets that Even needs him to understand.

Again, Henrik does some good acting here. His rant is strikingly angry, totally different from his softness with Isak a moment before. Then he turns back to Isak, and that one little question and one look are super vulnerable. It’s a deft shift from emotion to emotion.

Let’s talk about chemistry again, because wow. Look at Tarjei swallowing when Henrik approaches, look at Henrik roaming his eyes over Tarjei’s whole face. These are two actors whose entire bodies are in sync with each other. They’re acting with everything they have.

Even literally closes the distance as they wrap up the tough part of this conversation that might push them apart, and they now can just be together again. He looks Isak up and down, vulnerable. He pushes his forehead against Isak’s and is sure to rub their noses together - their shared gesture of intimacy. He swallows before going into this big confession.

I love how you can hear every breath and every swallow over the background hum of the radio. Like we are right there in the thick of this private moment.

Even’s confession is so raw and intimate. Fragile. He’s really sticking his heart out there. He’s telling Isak that Isak is the one, he may have been with Sonja for years but what he feels with Isak is something special. It’s very, very real.

Again, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Even says this right after talking about Sonja thinking she knows what Even feels. Like it’s not just a romantic confession, but I believe it’s a refutation of what Sonja has said. She said Even’s feelings weren’t real. Even is saying they’re so real they’re not like anything else he’s felt before. Even is making sure Isak doesn’t just hear this, but that he feels it. Feels Even’s closeness, how Even looks at him so intently before and while he says this.

And Isak’s voice drops to a whisper - because this is just between the two of them - as if this emotion is so strong that he’s almost overcome with its power (good job on this delivery, Tarjei) and says he feels the same way. This is something special between them, on both sides. And then they kiss. Isak being able to be so candid and open about his romantic feelings for a boy is truly a gift.

I 100% think it’s justified to have the camera on Isak’s face during this incredibly pivotal moment. But damn, don’t you wish you could have seen Even’s face reacting to Isak confirming his own feelings?

This kiss is beautiful, by the way. The good morning kiss was casual, easy, instantaneous. This kiss is coming after a period of some tension, and now their emotions and feelings for each other are being laid bare, it’s so delicate. They don’t kiss right away; there’s a pause as it’s like they’re breaking a spell.

When they break away, there’s that intimate little nose rub again, and Isak clearly looks ready for more kissing. Or more than kissing. He wants Even soooo much, he’s pushing his face forward for another kiss.

Of course, St Gabrielle intervenes, and Even gets distracted from further makeouts. Even, you’re killing Isak here. The way Even turns his head away at first? A tease.

Now here’s where I really want to praise the hell out of Henrik’s acting in this scene. The first time I watched this scene, it was in unsubtitled Norwegian. Because frankly, how could I possibly wait for subtitles after that glorious finale of episode 7? I was hooked on this story, no fucking way I was waiting any longer than I had to for an update. I just watched the clips on the official website and read a transcript afterwards. And during this scene, without having any idea what they were talking about, I knew what was up with Even. I could tell just from Henrik’s acting (and Julie’s directing, of course). His body language, his facial expressions. The way he easily and rapidly shifted between moods. The fact that Even just seemed cranked up to 11 - this was an Even who seemed vibrating with energy. Compare him to the baseline Even of say, episode 2, when he’s hanging out and smoking and cooking with Isak. Even is an extroverted, charismatic guy, but this seemed to be … extra. Honestly, the first time I saw this scene? The cuteness of the Gabrielle lip sync-a-thon was overshadowed by this queasy feeling I couldn’t shake. I fucking knew he was bipolar and that he was having a manic episode. And again, that was without the context of their conversation. Henrik nailed it here. Even here is not a caricature, he’s still Even, he’s just … more. A little too much.

And of course then I read the transcript and holy shit, is there a ton of foreshadowing in this scene.

Time to talk about 5 fine frøkner! First of all, let’s marvel at what a huge success this song was. From what I understand, it was already a hit by the time this scene aired, but this clip just made the song so iconic and associated with Skam? They played it at award shows when Skam was being recognized. They played it at gay pride parades (and I know it was a hit before Skam but you can’t tell me Skam didn’t make it more of an anthem). Have you seen those Spotify stats?

After being featured in an episode in the third season, Gabrielle's song "5 fine frøkner" saw a 3,018 percent increase in listening on Spotify, with over 13 million streams and, at one point, rising to eighth place on the Swedish top music rankings.

Damn.

Julie originally wanted several other songs in place. One was “Joyride” by Roxette, as Henrik mentioned in an interview. But they couldn’t get the rights and had to use a Norwegian song. Julie suggested “Take on Me” by A-ha, which is a hugely well known song and a karaoke classic, that happens to be by a Norwegian band, but they decided it was too cliche? (”Take on Me” has one of the most iconic music videos ever, by the way.) In the script she also has a note about Maroon 5, though not a specific song. They then settled on “5 fine frøkner” which Henrik didn’t want to do at first because it had been everywhere like Despacito, lmao.

Can you imagine if those songs were used instead??? One of the most beloved Evak scenes could have had a totally different feel.

I don’t know how I feel about “Joyride” being used, although I adore the idea of Even imitating the whistling at 1:08. And it’s great fun and captures the feeling of getting on this wild journey called love together. Join the joyride, Isak! But I don’t know if it’s be as catchy to lip sync. Plus “Hello, you fool, I love you,” as adorable as that would have been to see Even mouth to Isak … it seems a little forward??? Like even in the context of lip syncing pop song lyrics, that’s got to seem loaded given their confessions a moment previously, and I think maybe it would’ve been better for Even not to sing “I love you” in this situation.

Now, “Take on Me” - that one could’ve been amazing. I am a fan of that one as an alternate version. Tell me it wouldn’t have been super fun to watch Even mimic the falsetto in the chorus. Or “I’ll be coming for your love, okay?” (Idk, that seems less loaded than saying “I love you” directly, but STILL ADORABLE.) However, it’s still a little ominous and provides some foreshadowing - Even would lip sync that he’ll be gone in a day or two...

However, despite these other options, I think Gabrielle’s 5 fine frøkner was the best option. It’s a newer song, less tied to nostalgia or pop culture and therefore more free to become the Evak song since it has fewer past associations, if you follow me. (I mean, I just heard “Take on Me” used prominently in Deadpool 2.) And the lyrics are perfect for this scene. Fitting and cute in the moment, ominous foreshadowing in the larger picture.

Even is so delighted when that opening starts to play, and it takes Isak a few moments to break out of his Even haze and recognize that there’s a song playing on the radio and that there are like, other people and things in the world besides him and Even at this moment.

AGAIN, LET’S ADMIRE THAT PERFECT CURL. And Even’s little smile and head bop to Gabrielle.

Isak seriously cannot believe this shit. Gabrielle is breaking up his makeout-maybe-more with Even. Fucking Gabrielle of all people.

This is such a departure from Even as we knew him, too. It’s almost like the beginning of the end of Isak’s more idealized perspective of him. Even’s past behavior aside, he’s been the cool guy, the hip artist, the film expert. He’s put Isak on to both Nas and Romeo + Juliet. Here we see a less cool side of Even. An Even dressed down, his hair not perfectly styled. An Even who turns out to be a Gabrielle fan. Like this is a relatively small trait but it’s showing us that there are hidden sides to Even that we might not expect, that he’s not all Norwegian James Dean swagger and artful blunts behind the ear.

But also, despite Isak’s protests, this is really cool for him to experience! Gabrielle isn’t music you listen to when you want to feel tough, like N.W.A. Even is someone who’s just being himself, who has interests that don’t fit into the mold of stereotypical boy that Isak was trying to emulate. It’s great for Isak to recognize that in someone he’s so into, as it will help him incorporate that attitude into his own life (and not, say, modify his answers on an online test to seem less gay).

Isak tries to make a joke about hashtags and roll his eyes at Even, and instead gives away the depth of his feelings. Isak, you dork.

“Mannen i mitt liv” is literally “man of my life” but translates more into “man of my dreams” in English. But yeah, Even is That Guy for Isak.

If you watch carefully, you can see Even’s eyebrows fly up when Isak calls him “mannen i mitt liv.” He’s so happy about it. Really, from Even’s perspective, remember what happened with Mikael, remember that he’s given up this four-year relationship to be with Isak, remember that he’s been keeping himself away from Isak because of what Isak said about mentally ill people. Now think about what it must mean for Isak to let it slip that he considers Even the man of his dreams. He teases Isak, because that’s what Even does, but Even is so damn overjoyed.

Isak keeps moving his head in exasperation at Even making a big deal out of his comment, although he’s a little amused, he’s trying to downplay it. Ohhh, it’s just about the hashtag! He doesn’t seem panicked or anything though, just maybe a little embarrassed that he put his heart on his sleeve when he didn’t mean it. Get used to it, Isak. You’re going to love it.

And indeed, Isak looks so warm and fond of Even even when he’s being teased. You know he damn well meant it.

This little kiss, ahhhh! I love it! Even goes in for it and Isak is like, a little stunned and full of affection. Even gets in a quick nose boop. They’re both sooooo happy and rapturous about each other. I feel okay saying they’re in love at this point. I’m not sure Isak realizes this is full-on love yet, but it’s sure as hell something deep to him, and he’s falling faster with every second. (I think Even totally loves Isak and knows it at this point, though.)

Tarjei swallows and then Henrik swallows like right after him, again, that is some chemistry. They’re clearly responding to each other and feeding off each other’s body language.

Even wants Isak to say the man of my life part again. It meant that much to him. Even has gone through so much shit and has been pining after Isak for months, and now Isak is saying that Even is essentially his perfect guy. How amazing would that feel???

I guess less amazing if you think about precarious Even’s situation is, and how he must know it, that it all could come crashing down once his bipolar disorder makes itself known or Isak finds out.

NAH I’M NOT GOING TO RUIN THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT, IT’S AMAZING

Isak openly tells Even he’s the man of his life, and again, character development, that he can make such romantic statements to another boy. That he’s putting everything out there for Even. I love that his voice is lowered, too. Like a whisper. It’s more intimate that way. Not a performance. Just for Even’s ears.

Kiss! Right as the music swells, like a Hollywood smooch.

Even can’t keep himself from smiling and dancing. Isak tolerates it because he is in love with this goofball.

I love Isak’s slight shyness in this scene, like he’s so happy but doesn’t know what to do with himself, or how to be so open about it.

Look at Even pouting and upping his dance after Isak says the song is shit. He just takes it as a challenge. Isak gets in an adorable little head bob and Even counts that as a victory.

Part of me wishes the camera pulled back so we could have full view of Even’s dance moves, but it’s truly for the best that he’s all the way in Isak’s face, because this is such a close, connected moment for them. We don’t need any distance.

When we cut to Even fixated on Isak’s face at the end … hooo boy. Get you someone who looks at you like that.

For real, look at Even trailing his fingers along Isak’s face and cupping his neck and jaw. Look how completely gone Isak is. Look how content and warm Even looks, look at how he teases Isak a little with the movement of his face.

There are little cuts in this scene that make it clear that this was more than one take or that some stuff has been edited out. Like Even is right in Isak’s space touching his face and then he’s suddenly standing back not touching him. It kind of muddles the perception of time just a bit, if you’re paying attention, because obviously this song is really on the radio and they can hear it, but their actions are not totally in line with how the song is progressing, if you feel me? And that’s probably just because Julie wanted to splice together the cutest or best takes but I like it because it’s just slightly hazy and dreamlike. Not on the “Head Over Heels” level by any means, but enough that things are a little cinematic. We’re using the best takes, and Isak is so swept off his feet that it makes sense for it to be a more like a movie, a dream.

I really want to know how much direction Julie gave Henrik for this Gabrielle scene, because he’s so charming in it. Bravo if he was just winging his dance moves.

I love that you can vaguely hear Even mouthing the lyrics at a certain point. And that he teases Isak again and gets all up in his face. (I also love that Henrik didn’t completely know the lyrics, it’s realistic.)

Him touching Isak’s face in tune with the song!!!! What a charmer!!!

Love that shocked face he makes when he pulls back, and that Isak mouths something back and squirms because he is just that turned on. (It looks like he mouths “me?” but of course that’s in English. But I think “meg?” would look the same? Norwegians, feel free to weigh in on what Isak is mouthing.)

Isak finally having enough of this and going in for a kiss, and Even accepting it ferociously, but still wanting to pull back and dance and sing and smile a little.

Man, this scene is SO cute even after watching it a million times, but yeah, the first time I saw it, what stuck with me was the things that were lurking beneath the surface. The way we linger on Even’s face, the music continuing to play … somehow there’s just a beat off of it.

But of course the lyrics!!! The lyrics! All about how “you make me go up in smoke” - obviously a cute declaration of Even’s passion for Isak, but also foreshadowing as to his mania. This is why “5 fine frøkner” was a perfect song. That beautiful double meaning.

That breakfast totally got burned. Or it got cold while Isak and Even found they were hungry, just ... not for food.

I’m just imagining Isak and Even dry humping against the counter and Linn wanders in, makes a bowl of cereal, and wanders out without comment or anyone noticing.

Anyway, I’m pretty sure this is one of the scenes that most garnered attention on social media and got newbies to watch Skam, other than the episode 5 cuddle scene. The fandom lost its shit after this scene aired. We were all blessed with Evak’s power and chemistry and cuteness. And also worried and fervently debating whether or not Even was mentally ill. It was a hell of a time.

Clip 2 - Isak and Sana and religion

Isak is typing away at his laptop. Doing his homework because he was obviously, ahem, preoccupied this weekend.

He gets a text from his dad, who’s snapped because Isak’s been avoiding him. The following exchange is pretty illuminating as to that dynamic. Isak’s dad has been pretty polite up til now in texts - I feel like he’s been making a concentrated effort to reconnect with his son. He knows Isak is unhappy with him because he left Isak’s mom. You can read into his texts a sense of over-politeness, IMO. But here, unable to get through to Isak, he snaps and defends his actions. He says there was nothing he could do for Isak’s mom and that he’s doing the best he can. In it he acknowledges Isak’s feelings of disappointment and anger; however, he doesn’t really apologize or acknowledge he could have done better.

Isak also is done with his dad, and taps out a rather sporadic text. Frankly, it’s kind of telling that he comes out to his dad so easily. First of all, this is the easiest it’s been for Isak to tell anyone about Even - and I do think Isak expects his dad to be OK with him being gay, as he said to Even in episode 5, but I also think that it’s a mark of how fed up he is with his dad and how little he cares about his opinion? I mean, he’s basically throwing his relationship with Even in his dad’s face, in a way. Not to upset him because of his dad’s homophobia, but to lay this huge fact on him without warning. Fine, Dad, you want me to go with you to the concert? I’m going to take my boyfriend!!!

And Isak’s temper is maybe in action here, because he does this without really thinking and out of spite, when for many people this would be a huge life moment. It was for Isak when he came out to his friends. It will be when he comes out to his mom.

The line about Even being a boy’s name is so funny. Tarjei came up with it on set, bless him. I know it’s because the word Isak uses for boyfriend is gender neutral in Norwegian (I think), but it’s also so dramatic, in a way. Just to drive it home that Isak is in fact in a gay relationship. Gay! Super gay, dad! Get the message!

Also, the only way Isak thought he might get through this concert with his parents is by bringing Even along.

Isak takes a moment after he sends the text, and I’m sure he’s thinking, oh, I really just did that, but it still seems like he’s more guided by anger that anything. He’s just so pissed at his dad. How dare his dad call him out when his dad left them and let them down? What right does his dad have to scold Isak for his behavior when his own is awful?

I feel like Isak wasn’t super close with his dad, maybe even before his dad left. He never really seems to miss him the way he misses his mom? That might be because his dad has disappointed him and he no longer cares, but who knows what their relationship was like before things went to hell?

Dad thinks Isak might be kidding and I mean, I don’t totally blame him, that was a thing Isak dropped out of nowhere. To his credit, Papa Valtersen seems fine with his son dating another boy, so that’s one thing he has going for him. However, he says Isak’s mom gets stressed very quickly, basically implying that bring his boyfriend will upset Isak’s mom. Implying that his mom is homophobic and will not approve. More or less suggesting that it might not be a good idea to bring Even to the concert.

You can imagine what the implication that having a boyfriend would stress Isak’s mom would do to Isak - the last thing he needs to think about is his mom’s possible rejection. I think you can see it in his face - he starts to type out a whatever reaction to the text, but Isak does look a little shaken. It’s subtle but there. So the following conversation with Sana comes at a really good time for him. It would be good at any time, but especially when Isak’s dad has just planted doubts on whether Isak’s mom would accept Isak’s sexuality.

Isak tells Sana he forgot to do the assignment. I mean, Isak did study plenty of biology this weekend! Just ... not in the way he was supposed to.

Isak is so focused on trying to get his assignment done that he doesn’t really take in the entirety of what Sana’s trying to say. Sana is the one who’s actually nervous and trying to figure out what to say.

She sent Isak a link. Isak isn’t paying that much attention, he didn’t see it. Who has time to look at links when you have an Even in your bed?

Iman does some good acting here, with how she struggles to get out what she wants to say, how to approach the topic, how she admits she was wrong. It would be so much easier if Isak had seen the article! You can see her not really wanting to explain the article or not knowing how to broach the subject in a completely natural way, but she’s trying. (From the script: “Sana wishes he had read it so she doesn’t have to talk about it.” Iman displays that perfectly here.)

When Sana says the article is about evolution and homosexuality, that’s what finally gets Isak’s attention. He looks at her, but then looks away and doesn’t say anything. Probably a little tense over the topic being raised again. He knows why she’s bringing it up. He knows how this conversation went last time.

Sana says, “I’m very seldom wrong” (lol) but admits that she was wrong this time. Because she knows this is not some random argument they had, but that this is important to Isak. Because Sana may have a tough exterior, but she’s a kind person at heart.

Isak looks at her when she starts to talk about how she was wrong. He smiles just a little to himself, because he sees this for what it is. It’s not just an apology for Sana being wrong, factually; it’s an acknowledgment that she regrets what she said. She understands why he was asking. It’s pretty great of her that she remembered this specific conversation from weeks ago and considered the effect it would have on Isak, once the rumors started swirling and she realized he was probably gay.

Isak takes a moment and then finally responds to her, asking about Islam. Because that’s the issue that’s hanging between them. As Julie puts it in the script, “there’s still an Islamic elephant in the room.” Sana may want to apologize for saying the wrong thing and not wanting to hurt him, but are they cool? Is she okay with him being gay because of her religion? This issue is bigger than Isak and Sana. The topic of homosexuality as influenced by organized religion has very wide-reaching effects, greater than any two people. And Isak’s concern was that Islam, as a religion, is against gay people. Sana might be OK with him personally, but Islam might not.

Sana gets sturdier here, because it’s hard for her to admit she’s wrong, but it’s easier for her to speak about her religion because her faith is strong. I wouldn’t say she gets annoyed here even though Isak is still kind of confronting her about her religion. I think she wants to stand up for both of them: she wants to represent her faith well and help Isak. Because Isak’s question really is one of vulnerability. (And Sana herself asks why Islam has to be against gay people in S4, so there’s something to unpack with her own feelings toward it.) But she really finds her voice here, and she’s giving Isak advice not to listen to the people who use religion to hate.

Isak doesn’t say anything else, but wow, he is moved by this. This is exactly what he needed, especially regarding the topic of his mom. She probably doesn’t even realize what a godsend her words really were. She’s given Isak the strength to come out to his mom, despite her religious views.

In the script, Julie refers to the biology teacher as “Boobs,” and it’s pretty fucking funny reading it for this highly touching moment to suddenly be cut off by a line from a character called Boobs.

Clip 3 - Even meets the boy squad, Magnus hugs ensue

Most of this scene up until Sonja calls was improvised. It’s a really adorable scene, and it makes you wonder who came up with stuff like Even suddenly being like “it’s for the best you guys weren’t there 😏” Like imagine that Henrik just dropped that shit in there and the reactions of the other boys were genuine. (They probably planned it out on set, it’s just amusing to consider.)

The boys are planning to go out for pizza. They’re trying to convince Isak, who says he can’t skip class. Can’t he study at home, the boys ask? Well, no, Isak cannot study at home. He says it’s because you do better by attending class, but somehow I think this has something to do with Isak having an Even at home and knowing full well that he won’t be able to study there. He can’t sex in class, he has to sex at home; therefore he can’t study at home, he has to study in class.

But also I like that Isak is studious. Nerd.

The boys are laughing and WTFing at Isak’s comment about studying in class - he’s laughing too so he knows he’s being ridiculous - but his expression suddenly changes when he spots Even coming up the stairs. Coming toward them. Him and his friends.

It’s the moment of truth! His two worlds are going to collide; Isak is going to have to introduce Even. He must be so nervous about it - are his friends going to approve of Even? Will they get along? How does he act with Even in front of his friends? They’re a romantic couple but surely Even isn’t like, expecting a kiss or anything? In public???

Even, meanwhile, glances side to side, before stopping and greeting the boys. He doesn’t pretend like he doesn’t know Isak or anything, he comes right up to them. However, he waits for Isak to make the first move and introduce them. He doesn’t go in for a kiss or hug or anything, he just waits.

Meanwhile, the boys pause and look expectantly. Who is this dude? Magnus especially is starstruck. (Bi Magnus headcanon, activate!)

Isak knows he has to say something so he says, simply, that this is Even. Not Even-my-boyfriend or anything like that. Just Even. Because the boys will know and hopefully they can connect the dots. Isak looks kind of shy and unsure of himself, but he does it! Good job, buddy! Proud of you!

The boys are great and shake hands with Even, they don’t make a big deal out of Even in himself. As has been noted, Jonas introduces himself as Marlon, lmao, and Magnus thinks Even is Eivind at first.

As Even asks the boys what’s up, Isak just kind of stands there awkwardly and looks toward the ground. He’s still shy and not comfortable with this being-gay-in-public thing.

Even, however, is not shy. He looks like a fucking prince, and he’s looking at Isak like he’s a five-course meal. For real, check out that look he gives Isak right there! In public!!! His eyes are glowing, he gives him this little smile. And even Isak, being shy, can’t help but smile a little back. Very small, very shy, but he’s internally glowing.

It is really something how Isak and Even find each other even when they’re in groups of other people. They have these private looks, you can feel their attention gravitating toward each other. That’s a mark of great chemistry and of true attraction between the characters. It’s very astute of Julie to include this detail time after time. Because that’s really how it is when you have a crush, right? You can’t help but look their way.

And this is such a private little glimpse between them. So much is said in that look, just how happy they are to be with each other, happy and blushy at all the stuff they’ve been up to in the last few days. As the boys keep talking, they’re in their own little world.

Magnus has an OH SHIT moment that this is Even, not Eivind. Isak’s Even!!! The guy who was coming to the apartment on Friday!!! Jonas and Isak are like, goddamn our friend is dumb. Isak is like cool, now Magnus is going to make a big deal out of this.

You can see Isak still trying to retain a semblance of casual and cool until Magnus is like, this is the guy you threw us out for, right? Magnus ruins everything, but he’s so earnest about it.

LMAO I love Tarjei’s reaction to this, his utterly exasperated face. That’s a good face.

Magnus makes sure to call Even handsome, hmmMMM (bi Magnus rise) and Isak weakly puts up a protest that he didn’t throw them out, while Even looks on, at first baffled, then amused. Look how fond Even is! He’s so happy that he was worthy of Isak kicking out his friends. That for all the cool Isak was playing it with Chiller hjemme, he was just as desperate to see Even as Even was to see him.

And look at that malfunctioning wink he gives! He’s adorable. Like you know he’s thinking how lucky he is that he gets to be with Isak, that he’s so happy at this moment in time.

The way Tarjei plays Isak’s feeble protests about throwing out his friends is so cute. He’s almost a little squeaky, his body language is young.

Even is like, wow, I guess this is a good time to drop in that we totally had sex.

I want to highlight Mahdi’s reaction, because he is fucking delighted by this news.

Isak is a little shocked, a little embarrassed, because holy shit Even is talking about their sex life in front of his friends?? But he’s also like … oh yeah, Even and I had sex, and that’s pretty cool. AND everyone here is cool with it, and that’s also cool.

Headcanon: Magnus actually has no idea what Even meant by “it’s a good thing you guys weren’t there” but he’s going to laugh along with everyone else and ask Jonas about it later.

Magnus and Even hug when the boys leave and my soul ascends. It’s beautiful. It’s so sweet, Even looks so happy, Magnus is so lovable here, like he’s saying, welcome to the family! Adorable. Even Isak has to smile a little at that even though his phone is ringing. I love Magnus/Even hugs and I will die on the hill of that friendship.

Jonas doesn’t actually say much in this scene. Maybe just because Magnus running his mouth dominates the scene, but you could interpret it as Jonas being a little more cautious than the others, because he is Team Isak first and foremost and he wants to get a read on this guy who’s been running hot and cold with his friends the past few weeks. Can he trust Even? Like he’s not going to be a jerk or anything, Jonas is a chill guy, but he’s going to scope out Even and make sure he’s good enough for his bro Isak.

Man, Even’s mood changes so fast when Isak say it’s Sonja who’s calling. He goes into scarily efficient panic mode. He shuts that shit down fast. Imagine what’s going through his mind? He was just SO happy about meeting Isak’s friends and bragging about them boning, and now here’s Sonja as a reminder that she’s going to ruin everything.

I mean, from his perspective, I also get why he’d be annoyed? He’s broken up with her and she’s trying to interfere with his life. She’s trying to tell Isak personal, sensitive information about him, something that should be private and his story to tell. Now it is possible that she knew something more - for instance, maybe she had been contacted by Even’s parents because they were worried about him, as he hadn’t been home much. In that case, I think her contacting Isak is more justified, especially if Even wasn’t responding to her texts or calls. But the idea that she’s calling Isak just to tell him about Even’s mental illness is not great. It’s extra not great if she was going to at some point include the whole “he doesn’t really love you” bit of information.

Isak is of course flabbergasted not only by why Sonja is calling him, but how Even’s mood changed so fast. I remember people were making serial killer jokes after this scene and suggesting that Even’s big secret was that he was a murderer and I mean ... there’s an AU for you.

“She wants to control you.” Uhhh, what? Again, Isak is confused. Nothing Even is saying makes sense. Because Isak doesn’t know Sonja, how the hell can she “control” him? This is also just such an over-the-top thing to say. Even could have said something like, “She just can’t handle that I broke up with her,” to get Isak to not pay attention to her. But instead he’s making Sonja’s sound something a step above in terms of nefariousness, like she’s a Bond villain.

I like that little tongue gesture Henrik does here, it’s like a tip-off that Even is lying or hiding something. Also his eyes are locked onto Isak, as if trying to make sure Isak buys what Even is selling.

Isak is not buying what Even is selling. Instead, he is making a lot of memeable faces.

Why would Sonja control Isak, of all people? Because she does not like people who live free and are genuine, according to Even - a nod to Even maybe not taking his medication, perhaps? We never hear more about this or Even’s treatment plan regarding his mental illness. Or else it’s just a reference to Sonja trying to monitor stuff like Even drinking and smoking weed. In any case, it’s a strange, confusing statement.

Even just goes in for a kiss, taking Isak off guard. Which is probably the intent. Get Isak’s mind off the Sonja incident with Even affection. Put him at ease, show him Even’s feelings for him.

I don’t want to attribute everything Even does here to being manic, because Even does do some impulsive or TMI stuff when he’s not manic. I mean, one of the first things he said to Isak was about sucking dicks. Dude is not shy about posting sex pics to IG and post-coital tissues on YouTube. But I do think you can see how being manic may influenced his behavior in this scene. He drops a sex comment and kisses Isak in ways that seem impulsive. If the kitchen scene shows him exhibiting signs of mania, then this one does too, especially considering he must have booked the suite later that night, and his texts after this clip make him seem like his mind is racing.

Isak is super surprised by that kiss. They’re basically alone in the stairwell so he doesn’t really freak out, but you know he was startled and panicked by that. Not to mention Even’s very strange behavior and answers that don’t really answer anything.

Even tells him how hot he is. Again, a distraction. Again an attempt to show Isak how much he cares. Isak is very confused but also flattered and a little horny, let’s be real.

Put yourself in Even’s mind during this. Sonja is potentially about to ruin everything. I feel like Even was aware that maybe there was an expiration date on this relationship. It’s interesting because part of his behavior with the songs and emojis and suite seem like mania, it’s just too much. But some of it isn’t that abnormal for a teenager in love, someone who is head over heels and in the flush of a new relationship. And some of it feels like a kid who is scared to lose someone, so he overcompensates to make the most of the time they do have and to try to convince his boyfriend that he does love him. That if Sonja tries to say his feelings aren’t real, Even can convince Isak otherwise. He wants to hang on to Isak so much.

This was a huge week for theorizing as you might guess. I think some people were still believing that Even was a creep and a two-timer, but more people were coming around to the idea that he was mentally ill (and bipolar in particular). It made sense with the hints dropped throughout the season. With this clip I remember more certainty from the fandom that Even was manic, because even Isak seems thrown by Even’s strange behavior.

Clip 4 - The hotel scene that destroyed us

15:15 - 1:01

Here we fucking go!!!!

Listen, I can completely understand why the hotel scene is traumatizing and hard to watch for people. Because it traumatized me too. However, it’s one of my favorite scenes of the season nevertheless. Everything about it is superb.

I’m pretty sure this is one of the only Skam clips to feature not just a starting point, but an end point. Some of that is surely because of how the clip stretches over one night, but it also gives it kind of a foreboding feeling, personally? Like …. This clip has an end point. Something’s coming to an end. (And it’s also the title of the clip, calling attention to the period of time.)

If you were watching this season in real time, you can remember when the clip went up, the events were still “happening” in real time for hours afterwards and it made everyone freak out that Even was leaving the hotel naked that moment, Isak was wandering the streets that moment…

We see Isak at Kaffebrenneriet. I’m not sure if it’s the KB that Henrik Holm worked at but I think Julie got the idea from that, just like she had Even work there in S4 because of Henrik. (Who remembers the fandom when Henrik was still working at KB and all of a sudden fans starting taking pictures of him at work?)

Isak is sitting there by himself, waiting for Even, looking out the window, until he starts to write a text to his mom. I feel like Isak was psyching himself up to write this text, it wasn’t spur of the moment. Especially with how long it was and how he seemed to know what to say, other than a few pauses.

But he’s writing this text message because of Sana! I mean, not just because of Sana, obviously, he has to come out to his mom eventually. But his talk with her has given him the courage to face this moment. He’s taking her words, about God creating everyone to be of equal worth, and applying them in this situation with his mom. That’s why he phrases it like this. He even hesitates just a little bit as he’s typing that part, as if he’s trying to remember what Sana said or phrase it similar to how she did.

He’s also writing this thinking that he and Even will be going to the Christmas concert together next week, and perhaps he wants to tell his mom ahead of time instead of springing it on her. Just in case she does get upset.

But actually, how much did Isak think that through? Because we know he thinks he’s better off without mentally ill people around him, and he’d be introducing Even to his mentally ill mom. That’s a HUGE step. Isak doesn’t know Even is mentally ill at this point; he’s counting on Even being OK with Isak’s mom and not thinking she’s weird. He’s counting on himself not to feel embarrassed or ashamed of her. So I do think the the concert comment had a lot to do with annoying his dad, but I wonder if, had they not been separated at the time, Isak would have really asked Even to go with him. I can see it both ways.

Again, he comes out to his mom by telling he’s been with a guy - what he has been doing. Not that he’s gay - what he is. I think it’s especially important in this case with his mom how he phrases this - perhaps he thinks it’s better that she not see him as inherently something she might not approve of.

In the script, Isak writes that he thinks he’s gay. On the one hand, I like him making the shift and being able to say that about himself in a text to his mom, of all people, since that makes it even more of a pivotal character moment. But him saying it in terms of dating a guy rather than being gay is consistent with how he comes out to everyone else throughout the season.

It really hurts that Isak says, “Sorry if it makes you sad.” I totally get why he says that, considering his mom’s condition and his dad suggesting that knowledge of Isak’s boyfriend would make her “stressed,” but it still hurts. No kid should have to apologize to their parents for “Making them sad” just by existing and being gay.

“Hugs from Isak.” Babyyyyyyy.

He pauses before he sends the text. For understandable reasons.

This is a really important moment in itself, obviously. Isak is reaching out to his mom on his own, after being on the receiving end of her Bible-quoting texts for God knows how long, and presumably not responding. He’s being proactive and so, so brave in this scene. He knows there is risk in telling his mom that he’s dating a guy, but he does it anyway, with a clear head and some conviction in what he’s saying.

Isak’s mom doesn’t respond until the following day. Do you think she needed some time to process the text? It’s possible she just didn’t check her phone right away, and narratively her response has more impact if it comes right when Isak is at a low point and could use some words of support. Plus, it would have interrupted the flow of the hotel scene. But within the story, she might have needed some time to take in the information. I mean, we know Isak’s mom loves and accepts him. But it is possible that the news took her by surprise, and that she wasn’t sure how to react. Or maybe she did get “stressed” and needed to think it over or consider how she would respond.

I love that we see this whole text being typed. It’s just a scene of a text being written. Most shows wouldn’t consider this worthy drama to depict, but Skam does. We go through this process with Isak and it’s so immersive. We are there in his mindset.

And actually, I never thought about how acting this out would be? Obviously you have to strike the right balance of emotion, but you have to type for a while so you probably have to memorize the text so you can type it out for the right length of time and perhaps with convincing finger placement. Isak pauses at several points so he probably needed to remember to include pauses, and then the graphics team syncs up the text on screen. But it seems like kind of a challenge for an actor. You need to make this mundane moment compelling.

Isak rests after sending this text (or not since he’s probably thinking of how she could respond) but not for long because Sonja texts him. Sonja waited until now to text him, by the way, not right after the phone call yesterday. Probably she just waited until she thought Isak and Even might no longer be together (physically).

I don’t know if saying “Even’s Sonja” is just a simple way of identifying herself as the girl who Isak would know through Even, or if this is a way of saying she’s still with Even, not quite believing that they’re broken up.

This adds to the tension since Even is clearly hiding something at this point and Sonja knows something we don’t. However, Isak and we the viewers don’t really have time to process her text, because guess who knocks on the glass? It’s Even! And he and Isak are wearing like the exact same outfit, lmao. OK, not the same outfit, but similar colors. It’s like they’re mirroring each other here, with their outfits and the fact that they’re not just face to face, but there’s glass between them, making it seem even more like a reflection.

Henrik is fucking adorable in this scene, by the way. Look at that little head tilt as if to say “come outside”! And Isak instantly relaxes and smiles, no thoughts of his mom or Sonja, because here is Even. Even who makes his heart warm and who is so happy to see him. Here to make everything better.

The heart!!!! It’s the cheesiest, most beautiful thing in the fucking world! They improvised this moment on set, apparently, and I don’t know if it was Julie or Henrik or Tarjei or random grip #2 but bless whoever had the bright idea for the heart.

HE DRAWS A LITTLE I INSIDE OF IT

HIS WINK IS THE CUTEST. This is possibly the most darling Even is in the entire series. He’s bursting with happiness and love.

Isak is sooooo happy, too, guys! He has this dreamy boyfriend who clearly adores him! After going through the motions with girls, here’s a real relationship with someone who’s showering him with affection.

Isak is not happy, however, when Even tries to kiss him outside, looking around to who might be nearby. He might have been OK with a peck in front of Eskild and Noora (and he obviously wasn’t expecting it then, either) but on the street? In front of like … other people??? It’s understandable. He’s newly out of the closet to anyone, to the people he truly cares about. But being casually out and affectionate to his boyfriend in front of total strangers, where anyone can see them … he’s not ready for that. And that’s fine, and Even seems a little confused, but he doesn’t make a big deal out of it. Isak actually leans in just a bit for a moment, as if to say, I want to kiss you but not here, and Even seems to go along with that. He’s so damn happy to see Isak that it’s fine. To be honest, I think his mind is racing at this point and he might not even understand what just happened, but it’s good, it’s cool. Isak is here, that means all is well. He just looks at Isak and smiles with fondness.

He’s also so excited about this suite. He kind of draws out telling Isak about it, just a bit, and Isak doesn’t take it too seriously for a second, until he sees that Even is not kidding.

Even does his Even thing and just walks away backwards, mysteriously. Isak is like, why you always walking backwards like that? This line is not in the script so I would not be surprised if Tarjei improvised it, lol. But that Even, doing the most. Always favoring the drama of his exit rather than where he’s going.

“Daddy I love him!” is the place where it cuts off and it might be coincidence, but here’sanother opportunity to say that both Isak and Even are in looooove. Like I think Even knows already, and maybe this night, before shit goes down, is where it really starts to sink in that it’s looooove for Isak. I also think it’s possible Isak starts to realize it once he thinks he’s lost Even. I don’t know! Their relationship is so rich with content, you could point to any number of scenes and be like, ah yes, that is where they fell in love/realized they were in love.

The Danish receptionist! One of the few adults on Skam, and a nod to the Danish Skam fandom.

Look at Isak kinda trailing behind Even and hanging back just a bit, watching Even confidently check into his suite. It has to be a little nerve-wracking, right? This is a big gesture. But also, look at him watch Even and be like, wow, my boyfriend got us a suite. He did this for us. Even is spoiling Isak.

So Even has his own credit/debit card and is using it to book the suite, right? Since he shows his ID, that means he didn’t borrow (or “borrow”) a card from his parents? How expensive is this suite, anyway? On the hotel website it says to contact the hotel for rates for their signature suites, which seems like a sign that it’s pricey. And checking Expedia, the regular suites were in like the $700-$800 range, so it’s got to be more than that.

They don’t really go into what happened with Even booking this expensive suite and apparently ordering lots of room service and champagne, but it’s something that really makes me wince. I’m not sure what would have happened, if Even’s parents took care of the expenses afterwards, or if Even had enough funds to cover it.

By the way, this is the suite they stay in. It’s the Polar Suite at the Radisson Blu in Oslo, which I know has been visited by Skam fans. It looks like the Skam crew perhaps moved some of the furniture around for filming.

Even’s delivery of this whole conversation with the receptionist is cute, really. Isak watches him, a little proud and charmed. And a little like lmao, this is weird. But I really like the inclusion of this conversation, because it suggests that Even is manic but it’s not like … over the top. It’s harmless enough that you could just take Even as being a very extroverted, friendly guy, who likes films and Danish things and is really happy about getting to check into a hotel to bone his boyfriend. All of that is true! There’s just something about it, though, the intensity, the talkativeness. For me it was that the Even we saw in this episode was a few notches above normal, from what we’d seen of him in earlier episodes. More hyper. Burning more brightly.

As you might guess, Brothers and Antichrist are well-regarded Danish films, and Stjerner uden hjerner (Stars without brains) is a flop and one of the worst films ever, apparently. Antichrist is directed by Lars von Trier who’s one of the starters of the Dogme 95 filmmaking movement, the manifesto of which is shown on the Evak apartment wall in S4. So Even’s probably a big fan.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but Even’s film taste is really varied! He can talk about Romeo + Juliet and Pretty Woman, he has Star Wars posters, he likes artsy depressing Danish cinema. He knows his shit.

I want Even to talk Star Wars with whoever in Kollektivet owns that Star Wars mug we saw in episode 7.

I kind of feel like Even asking Isak whether he likes Denmark is similar to him prompting Isak to catch his Pretty Woman references in the kitchen scene or in the burgers scene. His mind is flying and he’s expecting Isak to keep up. I’m not sure Isak is keeping up with the Danish film talk but he’s charmed by Even’s enthusiasm.

EVEN INTRODUCING ISAK AS HIS BOYFRIEND, WOW. WOWWWW. Earlier this week Isak was like, “We’re not official.” Son, you thought wrong.

I mean, this has to be a little awkward for Isak, too, because surely this Danish receptionist knows now that he and Even are going upstairs to, well, fuck, and though I’m sure she doesn’t care, for Isak his sexuality is being made public and I can see how, for a guy who’s afraid to kiss in public, it would be a little overwhelming? But also, this has got to be one of the best moments in Isak’s life. Even is showing him off as his boyfriend and talking about how handsome he is. Tarjei plays that blushing pride so well. You can almost ignore that Even’s being a little TMI - not that he’s saying anything inappropriate, but that he’s just volunteering more information than necessary, unprompted. And that he keeps talking. He could probably have talked to this receptionist all day if he didn’t have an Isak to take to a suite.

Isak’s reaction to Even calling him beautiful (”Isn’t this man beautiful?”) is utterly fucking cute. He just rolls with it, plays with it. He’s having a good time.

ISN’T THIS MAN BEAUTIFUL? Magic words, let’s be real.

Even says, “Very beautiful” in Danish but you can understand why people would interpret it as “My beautiful” since he was just speaking in English and it sounds exactly the same.

ISAK IS NUMB WITH HAPPINESS

NUMB WITH HAPPINESS

Oh, Isak. I’m glad you got to feel this good in this moment, at least. He’s with his cute boyfriend who’s showering him with gifts, affection, and compliments. He must feel like a king. How did he get so lucky to find someone like Even? That Even chose Isak?

THIS FUCKING SCENE

The way the scene in the elevator is shot is so beautiful. Isak and Even ascending, looking down at Oslo, leaving it behind to go to their own private world. The constant movement of the elevator, slow and steady, makes it feel so calm.

There’s this one shot where they both look out the window where I personally read it as some awkwardness, like they’ve been fooling around all week and getting boners from stuff that happened in the shower but there’s some nerves in like … getting a hotel room on their own and what might happen there. And this utterly beautiful kiss from Even on Isak’s cheek, which feels like he’s not just trying to show Isak how much he cares, but soothe him and make this less nerve-wracking. And then that hug while Even kisses the other cheek, before they finally, finally kiss each other on the mouth.

Isak raises his eyebrows before the kiss and it’s just. All so good. Like this moment is just as intimate as what follows. They couldn’t kiss in public, but they can kiss here, in their own little space, alone together. And with their outfits and the positioning of the kiss, they’ve never seemed so in sync, like they’re two halves of a whole.

Skam’s music game is at its best here. “High for This” by The Weeknd is a phenomenal choice because that double meaning is sharrrrrrp. This song is apparently about drugs but it sounds like it could apply to sex, too. Personally, I do think that these lyrics apply to the fact that they’re going upstairs to have sex - if you view this as a new step in their level of intimacy, then these lyrics apply to any potential nervousness. “You don’t know what’s in store/But you know what you’re here for” fit that scenario perfectly, particularly with Isak, and with Even telling him not to be scared, they’re in this together. BUT of course it hints at what will happen later in the evening, too - “You don’t know what’s in store” because Isak has no idea his night is going to end in disaster. The song itself has an unsettling feel, too, like it’s the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.

I do want to talk about the sex scene here and overall how sex was portrayed in S3. Overall, Skam does right by Isak and Even in its depiction of the sexual side of their relationship. Canons often feature noticeable double standards in their portrayal of the gay couples compared to the het couples. And it’s not that a canon has to include sex scenes for anyone, including its canon gay pairings, but the thing is, there is a stigma specifically against gay sex, and a tendency to make it seem dirty or perverted, with no room for love or romance. Or the straight pairings will get explicit sex scenes, while the gay couple will get ones that are comparatively more chaste, if they even get sex scenes. Skam does a really good balancing act. Isak and Even have sex and it is not the focus of their relationship, but it’s not something that’s ignored, either. Not only that, they get sex scenes like Jonas/Eva and Noora/William did. The fact that they get sex scenes on par with the straight couples is important, because they’re not othered, they’re treated like the other romantic couples on the show.

Lmao, let’s just address it: I have heard many debates about who is topping and who is bottoming in this scene, using evidence like thigh placement etc. It’s not something I personally care about unless it’s relevant to characterization or story for whatever reason, but I don’t think people are bad for being curious or wanting to make sense of what they see on screen. Personally, I think Julie shot this scene precisely to sidestep the top/bottom discussion. This isn’t a linear sex scene, there are a bunch of edits and jumps, we only see them in closeups and not from wide shots across the room where there would be less debate over the specifics. So I can see your arguments but IDK, to me it’s a little like asking what’s in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. It’s whatever you want it to be. (If you want to laugh at me or roll your eyes because OBVIOUSLY X topped and Y bottomed, go ahead, lol.)

(Also they were in this suite for hours, guys. And they’re horny teenagers in love who have been together only a week, and Even was likely having an increased sex drive which is a common symptom of mania. They did it more than once. Both sides could be right!)

But on that note, I love that Julie shot it this way. She focuses on their faces and their expressions, rather than the gymnastics of their bodies. Not only does it feel very intimate and emotional compared to a lot of movie and TV sex scenes that are all about the mechanics of thrusting rather than feelings, but it’s a respectful way to film a sex scene with two young actors, including a 17-year-old, who have to act out this scene together in a room full of crew members, to later be viewed by like everyone in the country (and all over the world as it turns out). The idea gives me hives, personally. Or maybe it was NBD to the actors, who knows. Another day at work!

Even’s voiceover (“How many Isaks and Evens do you think are lying like this right now?”) starts while the sex is still happening. This is one of the only scenes in Skam that is non-linear to this degree, I think? Another one is Eva and Jonas’ breakup.

Lmao, that look Isak gives as he watches Even eat his burger. That’s the look of a man who is having the time of his life.

Remember when Henrik posted about filming this scene as a farewell to 2016 and mentioned that the burgers were amazing? Quality content, bless that dude. (I’m kind of curious to know if those burgers were like, just high-quality standard burgers with the usual fixings, or if they were artisan burgers with unconventional toppings.) (I definitely did not just spend a few minutes checking out the Radisson Blu Plaza website to see if the room service menu was available online.)

This is the point where the cringe starts, and it becomes hard to watch. I feel terrible for both Isak and Even. Like I think people acknowledge how awful this was for Isak since we’re with him every step in his confusion and heartbreak, but I keep coming back to how Even is going to feel about this night once the high wears off. And that’ll happen as he’s crashing into a depressive episode, making it worse.

It’s also where the ambiguities of Even’s behavior start to lose their, well, ambiguity. Previously he acted in ways that were maybe odd but still cute or within the realm of normal behavior, such as the kitchen scene or the conversation with the receptionist, but here this conversation really isn’t something you can file away as normal. It doesn’t make sense. For instance, Even starts talking about their wedding, and I mean, I firmly support Evak becoming husbands in the future, but it’s a little forward to present that event as a certainty when the two of you are still in high school and have been together a week, no?

Isak thinks so, too, but he’s not fully weirded out right away, not really. He goes along with the wedding talk at first, because hey, he’s with his boyfriend in a fancy hotel suite and they banged and now they’re eating burgers and life is good. Sure, let’s talk about our wedding. It’s just silly, idealistic chatter. Maybe it’s even fun, like Isak is too young to get married but it’s nice thinking that he could get married to a guy in the future, now that he’s out and more comfortable in his sexuality. But it’s not serious or anything.

Again, the acting from both of them is excellent. Henrik really got to me here when I was watching it without subtitles - he gets goofier and it just feels off. Not just that he’s messing around, but that he doesn’t know he’s messing around. And of course Tarjei’s reactions to him over the course of this conversation are amazing, we see him slide gradually into knowing something is wrong.

I want to perish when I see Isak and Even looking at each other on that bed. Even cannot stop touching Isak. The tracing of his eyebrow, over and over! It’s almost like he wants to make sure Isak is real, or to preserve the memory of Isak solidly in his mind, because who knows how long Even can have him?

We cut from this conversation on the floor with the burgers, to them in bed, and it’s like Isak is recalling this talk in bed later, like there was something strange about it to him that he can’t get it out of his mind. He might be having a good time with Even but there’s a puzzle he needs to solve. But the timeline really isn’t that certain - it adds to the instability of this scene. You could possibly read the entire hotel clip as a series of moments that Isak is running in his mind later, trying to make sense of everything. Most Skam scenes are so firmly planted in the “real-time” aspect that the idea is to feel that the clips were happening at the moment of their release, which was evident if you watched the season in real time. But this clip? The one that’s got a set time frame, one that’s significant enough to recognize in the yellow title cards and the name of the clip itself on the website? The one that jumps around over a period of many hours? When I was watching it live, I was just freaking out about what happened to think much about the timeline. Watching it now, I can totally see this clip as a collection of Isak’s memories, maybe after he got home later that night and he couldn’t sleep. All a blur of love and chaos.

Even some of the cuts on the floor feel disjointed, or they aren’t smooth. Like Even goes from talking about the wedding to suddenly having a champagne glass in his hand.

These sound effects also make things uneasy and unstable. Not in an over-the-top-way, but enough to make you aware of them and how they’re intruding on what could be a cute scene.

There was also supposed to be the scene of them in the shower mixed in here. Just imagine that gorgeous image of them under the water together! And then imagine it with the creepy music over it, or cutting to it like we do to Isak staring at Even in bed with fear in his eyes.

Even says that they’ll dress as God and Julius Caesar for their wedding, so they can get married in the clothes they were wearing when they first kissed. It’s pretty sappy! But kind of cute, right? Again, just silly conversation, fun to relive the memory of that night.

It’s when Even starts to talk about showing up naked that the joke starts to go too far, get too serious, too weird. Have you ever been messing around and laughing with friends and then someone takes a funny idea and keeps going further with it, until it’s a little too intense and you’re like, all right, it’s done, let’s leave it? That’s what this is. Especially because Even is really getting into this. Isak can be like “lol Even” at first when Even starts talking about going everywhere naked - because that’s still part of the joke, right? Except Even keeps going, recapping the ending of Pretty Woman. And Isak doesn’t know Pretty Woman, so this all seems baffling, but Even expects Isak to get it. Because Even knows Pretty Woman and therefore Isak should know Pretty Woman, obviously Isak will keep up with him.

When Even says “Princess Vivian!” it’s kind of cute, but in this context it’s like he doesn’t realize how he sounds to himself. It’s like when you remember something funny and start laughing out loud, and the people around you are confused as to what’s so funny.

They cut to Isak in bed after “Princess Vivian!”, looking dramatically less happy, more concerned, because this is the point where Even really loses Isak and the dread starts to sink in. We notably don’t see Even’s face like we did in the previous jump, because Even has locked us out at this point. He’s lost us, too.

Speaking of Pretty Woman, as I mentioned earlier, Even most likely got the idea for the suite from Pretty Woman in the first place. If you’ve seen the movie, Richard Gere’s character is on a business trip, and he pays Julia Roberts’ character to stay with him while he’s there, and most of the movie they’re staying in this luxury penthouse suite. He’s been romancing Isak this week with cues from that movie - making everything for Isak for breakfast, renting a suite, detailing his proposal plan that’s straight out of the movie’s ending. He is literally trying to capture a movie romance with Isak.

“The whole joke is that you think it’s a Romeo and Juliet reference but you don’t get that until you enter the balcony.” Isn’t that what’s happening here? We were so sure this love story was Romeo and Juliet, but now Even’s all about Pretty Woman. Romeo + Juliet, a tragedy, perhaps represents more of his depressive tendencies while the references to Pretty Woman, a comedy, spring up while he is manic.

But speaking of the connection drawn between the two and how they both feature famous balcony scenes, the fandom had so many theories about how Isak was going to reunite with Even on a balcony in the next episode, like maybe he would climb up the stairs to Even’s apartment. People also suggested the stairs on Even’s loft bed, like maybe Isak would climb them to see with Even while he was depressed and couldn’t get out of bed.

The “naked in a tie” thing is also from a scene in Pretty Woman, although it’s not the ending. Even’s kind of jumbling a lot of the film’s moments together, making it more confusing even if you have seen the movie.

Again, amazing acting! Henrik keeps selling it; Even isn’t a caricature, just a heightened version of himself, still Even and not an offensive depiction of a craaaAAAaazy person. He never feels like he’s overplaying, he’s just taking it far enough, in a way that feels natural.

Tarjei’s facial expressions are excellent as piece by piece he realizes that something is wrong. Even has already lost Isak with him rambling, Isak is hanging by his fingernails trying to keep up. Especially when Even wants Isak to complete the quote, and Isak is just totally lost, but he offers the smallest, weakest smile. And Even is impatient and wants Isak to keep up, he thinks this is something Isak should know.

“I’ll save you right back.” Cool, I’m flinging myself into the sun right now.

They did save each other! Even is the catalyst for Isak coming out and becoming an authentic version of himself - as he tells Eva later, even if it doesn’t work out with Even, he’s so happy he met him for this reason - and Isak is able to save Even before he hurts himself in O Helga Natt, as well as pulling him out of some of his worst ideas about himself - Isak can’t “save” Even from his depression but he’s able to get through to him with the “minutt by minutt” approach, and it’s because of Isak that Even can break out of a stagnant relationship where he doesn’t feel he can stand on his own.

I’m not sure Even literally wants Isak to rescue him from his mental illness, or something like that, but I think he wants to be accepted by him. The part where he’s like “It’s one of my dreams!” - Even is fantasizing about another epic movie ending, except interestingly, he’s changed his tune from thinking a romance needs to end in death for it to be epic. Here it’s like, with Isak, he can see the light. But there’s also something really vulnerable about it, how he longs for that type of love and acceptance.

The way the camera lingers on Isak’s face at the end, as it sinks in, then he looks back to Even, breaks my heart. He’s probably drawing a slight connection between Even and his mom. Now it seems like Isak’s mom has a different mental illness than Even, but it’s possible Isak recognizes similar behavior, such as expecting Isak to know something that isn’t grounded in reality and doesn’t make sense. In any case, he recognizes that this isn’t Even just being weird, or love-drunk, or whatever.

And it doesn’t help that the freaky tense music starts at the end, right before we cut back to Isak and Even lying in bed. We hear the question from Even again: “How many Isaks and Evens are lying in bed like this, right now?”

Actually, that really makes the burgers scene like a flashback, because it’s asked first at the end of the sex scene, and then again here, and it makes what happens in the middle (sitting on the floor eating burgers) seem like it happened earlier, and those shots of Even tracing Isak’s eyebrow in bed and such are when Isak reflects on this conversation. (To clarify: sex -> burgers -> lying in bed -> Even touching Isak and Isak looking at him with some concern thinking about how off the wedding talk was -> Even asks, “How many Isaks and Evens are lying in bed like this right now?”)

I don’t know if I over-explained that or if the whole scene is really obvious, lol. I think no matter what, this scene is edited in a way that is supposed to be a little hazy in order to add to the unease.

Heh, I do notice that Even’s hand placement doesn’t match up with the shots focused on him versus the shots focused on Isak.

Isak looks like he’s about to fall asleep in this scene. I wonder why? 🤔

Isak seems so pleased to answer the question, though. Even has really considered Isak’s worldview regarding parallel universes, hasn’t he? And what a gorgeous, heart-stopping thing to say, of course, that Isak and Even are together in infinite universes. This motif is one of my favorite parts of S3. It’s lovely and romantic but also vulnerable, and it doesn’t feel like some generic platitude? Like plenty of romances in media will have the characters make grand, sweeping statements, but many times they’re just the usual dialogue, empty words. When Isak and Even talk about parallel universes, it’s not just a cute idea - it is a concept that ends up profoundly affecting them, telling us about their personalities, becoming a lifeline when it seems they can’t be together in this universe, and turning into a core idea for their relationship. It’s incredibly specific and it adds texture to the entire narrative, not just a scene or two.

The way Even says “In infinite time?” with the utterly love-struck look on his face KILLS me. He loves this idea, because he’s a romantic soul, but he’s also looking for reassurance, because deep down he has doubts that it all will be OK.

The way Even’s face changes between the two shots freaks me out. First he’s glowing with happiness, his eyes full of love, and then he’s just … blank. Like Henrik was able to turn off the light. He looks dead inside. It’s alarming how fast Even switched moods, it really is. And we didn’t even see the transformation in action, since we cut to Isak’s face between shots. Imagine how it looked to Isak to see the happiness drain from Even.

And then Even comes out with just this deeply depressing comment. The only way to have something for infinity is by losing it. It sounds strange but there’s a certain logic to it. When you lose something, it remains that way in your memory. Imagine if Even loses Isak here. He will always have this moment, where they’re together and full of love and happy, where everything is basically perfect. But if Even holds on to Isak, he must know that the truth will come out, and everything will be tarnished. That’s how I interpret his remark, anyway.

In any case, Isak realizes how terrifying this comment is, how upsetting it is to have Even talk about losing something. He sounds very fatalistic. Like loss is inevitable. As someone who has dealt with depression, this part hit hard. I think everyone is capable of these pessimistic ideas at times, but for people with depression, these terrible, lonely ideas can be deeply embedded in your psyche, to the point where thinking of them feels as natural as breathing. They become part of your core as a person and it’s hard to overwrite them.

Isak tells Even not to say stuff like that because Isak is genuinely scared, and a little bit of Even comes back to himself. Just a little, though, a tiny bit of warmth. He gives a small smile and tells Isak he’s just kidding. Obviously he is not kidding, but he doesn’t want Isak to worry. This little smile is for Isak’s benefit.

Isak really isn’t buying it, but he’s tired and so his eyes close. Even touches his mouth, end me with that intimacy, JFC.

ARRRRGH THAT FUCKING MUSIC

I was a wreck watching this scene for the first time. I remember that Rogue One was released not long after this episode and I walked out out of the theater like, “yeah, the third act of that movie was suspenseful and all, but it had nothing on that scene of a guy taking a shower in the background while his boyfriend sleeps.”

For some reason I thought Even might try to jump out of the window??? Even though many hotel rooms do not allow you to open the windows wide enough to fit through, for good reason. Or I thought Even was going to hurt himself in some way. Him walking out naked was almost tame to what I had feared, but then I was like, “Phew, he just walked out naked .... HOLY SHIT HE WALKED OUT NAKED.”

The editing here is clearly similar to Noora’s blackout in S2.8, another traumatic scene that had people freaking out over what happened. The fact that the screen is just black for several seconds, to the point you might wonder if the video has frozen, and then cuts to the activity in the room, makes it so fractured and confusing.

This actually simulates Isak’s grogginess, perhaps? The blackouts are him drifting in and out of consciousness. You know how when you’re mostly asleep but vaguely aware of stuff happening around you? Especially because Even’s out of focus, it’s like Even’s doing stuff but Isak is too sleepy to really take in what. The sound and the movement are enough to rouse him, but not make him entirely alert until it’s too late..

The blackouts also make the timeline very distorted. For instance, how long was it between Even lying down for a second and him running around the suite again? Did Isak fully go back to sleep? This whole thing must have seemed like a dream.

That Isak is sleeping peacefully in the foreground while Even is messing around in the background, out of focus … it’s just so eerie. Not getting a clear glimpse of him makes it worse because you’re not sure what’s going on. And the thing is, he’s just taking a shower, it seems? Nothing that weird in itself. Except that he’s doing this while Isak is asleep. And because it’s late. And because the show has built up the tension and planted all kinds of questions that haven’t been answered, and by now you have realized something is happening with Even, so even an innocuous act like this puts you on edge.

The sound editing is very good. Even’s clanging around is loud and sharp, it’s jarring. He’s just walking around making noise, like … what the hell is he doing?

Isak voices our concerns, asking Even if he ever sleeps, as it should be apparent to us by now that Even’s sleep schedule is out of whack. Even manages to temporarily keep Isak’s question at bay with a kiss on the cheek and a cute comment about Isak looking hot. Isak makes a sleepy, content sound, and Even touches his face again and lies beside him. But only for a moment. The fact that he lies there looking at him but gets up so quickly and decisively is unnerving. It’s like he can’t lie there, that even with Isak lying there looking like a snack, there’s too much rustling under Even’s skin and he can’t stay still.

Remember the baby/Evy debate? When this clip aired, apparently the official Norwegian captions had Isak referring to Even as “Evy” while other people heard “baby.” Julie Andem herself had to show a snippet of the script to prove it was “baby.”

But Isak calling a boy his “baby”? Character development! Interesting how he just breaks out the terms of endearment so quickly. He just wants Even to lie down with him in this comfortable big bed and enjoy this time together.

Isak finally wakes up more thoroughly when Even says he’ll get McDonald’s, because obviously it is pretty damn late to be getting burgers. I don’t know how late McD’s is open in Norway but uhhhh, not that typical to just leave your naked boyfriend and grab snacks this late, especially when you’ve been gorging on the superior room service burgers.

And you know, generally you have clothes on.

This part shocked me on first watch and I still have trouble watching it now. I can make it through the burger conversation without peeking through my eyes, but I have to look away when Even walks out naked. I just feel SO BAD for him. I feel completely terrible for Even throughout these final episodes. It’s a humiliating thing to do, to go out in public naked, even if you can laugh about it later. And he left Isak alone, confused and scared, and ended up getting picked up by the cops. Of all the ways that Isak could have learned that Even was bipolar, there’s not much that could have been worse.

Plus it’s cold enough that they’re wearing scarves and coats. I mean, this did air in early December in Norway. And Even’s also potentially got wet hair from the shower. Very much not optimal conditions for nudity.

This is also apparently not a great part of Oslo? Or it’s an area that makes Isak concerned for Even in itself, he’s concerned that Even will get beat up in this part of town.

Kudos to Henrik for doing this scene, though, because it’s about the most un-sexy nude scene you could do. Also props to Julie for keeping the moment short rather than making it exploitative, like we’re not here to gawk at the mentally ill person’s nude antics. We’re concerned that Even is in trouble. (I remember after this scene, the fandom’s reaction to the sex or Even’s bare ass was tiny compared to everyone having a collective meltdown over Isak and Even’s well-being.)

I think the fact that the glimpse of him walking out is so short adds to the effect, too. Did we just see what we thought we saw? Did Isak see what he thinks he did? Like you just see him lift his head and stare at the empty doorway in confusion. I’ve seen YouTube reactions to this part where the reactor is clearly like, “Wait, what??”

This scene is brilliant in putting you in Isak’s shoes. The fact that we don’t see Even actually leave the room naked, that there’s a pause as we wait for the slam of the door and then we realize exactly what happened, that this is really happening … that’s what it’s like for Isak. And the way Isak runs to the door, wrapped in the covers, looking out after Even and then taking a moment to process it all. Isak doesn’t know why Even just did that, he just know that everything has flipped upside down with the slam of a door.

Let’s appreciate that in all his confusion, though, that Isak has the foresight to grab Even’s clothes before he runs out looking for him.

Tarjei’s so good in this scene. Isak presses both buttons for the elevator and then again when they don’t come fast enough, because he’s panicking and every second that goes by means Even gets farther away. When the elevator is arriving, he gets RIGHT up to the door and stands there and waits for it, like the extra second he would have wasted standing farther back is too precious to lose.

One of the moments that makes my stomach churn is when Isak gets out in the lobby and he asks the receptionist where he (Even) went. There’s no need for Isak to explain what’s happening. No need to describe who he’s looking for. They know exactly who he means, meaning that yeah, this situation is real and it is bad. The hotel staff are gathered around, worried. They’re probably in shock. IDK, I imagine you see a lot of shit go down when you work in a hotel, but guests going naked through the lobby out into the cold is probably rare enough that it gets your attention. Who knows exactly what Even said or did when he was leaving, too?

But Isak just runs out, not wasting any time. You do have to hand it to this kid for handling this crisis in the moment probably as best as he could. He has one objective and that’s to find Even and keep him safe.

I’ve often thought, from an AU perspective, what would have happened if Isak caught up to Even on the street or found him on his own. I think it might have been better for both of them even if the police arrived, since Isak would at least get to see Even again, and maybe not hear what Sonja says later. But maybe not? Maybe the situation would have been too much for Isak to handle and things would have been ever worse. It’s an interesting what-if scenario.

Isak knows it’s time to call Sonja. From Sonja’s perspective, she’s probably thinking that of course this is what happens when she’s not there to take control. That Isak is in way over his head and not equipped to deal with this. Even though she and Even are broken up, this has to be one of her worst fears, Even in danger. And that’s part of why it’s so easy to take out her feelings on Isak.

The fact that the streets are so empty as we follow Isak on his futile search makes it even bleaker. Especially that final image of Isak at a distance, small, looking around. The people passing by looking at him, noticing this kid carrying a bundle and looking distressed. If the streets are so empty, it should be easier to find Even since he’ll stand out, and be safe from any crowds, but that Even isn’t there makes you wonder where the hell he could be.

Poor Isak. Look at his huge sigh of relief when Sonja tells him that the police have Even so he’s safe. That was his only concern, making sure Even was okay. Questions can come afterwards.

Sonja, however, looks pissed, like she’s sizing up Isak and wondering how he can let this happen.

Confession: now I have to say, this scene with Sonja really surprised me the first time I saw it. Because I know there were a lot of people hating on her beforehand and suspecting the worst - she’s abusing Even, she’s stealing his medication, she’s a witch - but I figured she was probably just worried about him and trying her best. I thought she had good intentions, and that some of Even’s complaints about her were exaggerated, because from his perspective, she was the enemy. He was biased. And Sonja does have good intentions. But from this scene, it is clear that her POV of Even’s mental illness is very flawed, and that he is not wrong about her.

I say this as a mentally ill person myself - I realized I had given too much credit to Sonja’s POV and not enough to Even’s. I had somewhat downplayed his complaints against her in my mind, because she had “good intentions.” Frankly, it was ableist of me, and as someone who’s gone through mental health issues, it was sobering. Especially because I loved Even’s character from the start and guessed that he was mentally ill early on - I felt like I should have known better, if that makes sense? Not downplayed his perspective. And I felt ashamed because I would hate for people to apply that perspective to me, were someone minimizing my complaints about a person because of my mental illness. It’s a lesson I’m glad I learned.

When Isak asks what happened, it’s like Sonja lets out all her anger. Theresa shows that moment really well. For this kid not know what the hell he’s doing, so Even got into trouble. For Isak ignoring her messages until it was too late, when she probably would have explained her perspective in a more measured way. For having to clean up this mess. For being cheated on and having her four-year relationship end because of this boy.

I can sing Tarjei’s praises endlessly. When Sonja is tearing into Isak, he’s just stunned, he’s even nodding a little as if of course what she’s saying must be true.

This part where she says Even is not in love with Isak, it’s just a sick idea in his head, though? That’s fucked up and it’s hard to justify it as just anger. Because on some level, Sonja actually believes in this, that Even’s feelings are not real. And like, I can understand why she would think this more in light of S4, when we learn about the Mikael situation, and it’s possible to see why she assumes this is another repeat of that - that Even is manic and deciding he has feelings for a boy again. With Mikael he obviously made a move on him, but was rebuffed and got back with Sonja, so why can’t it be the same this time? Sure, she might be mostly in denial over their relationship ending, and this is a grasp to rationalize things will be okay in the end, but even if that’s the case ... she still said this. The idea went through her mind.

Also, I don’t want to demonize Sonja, but I do wonder if she would have reacted this way if Even had left her for another woman. I think she would have been angry, of course, and justifiably upset, but would she have called it a “sick idea in his head”? Would she have been so quick to assume he was manic and his feelings weren’t real if Isak were a girl, or did him being a boy make it more likely for her to think that - because of the similarities to the Mikael incident, or because she wasn’t sure Even wasn’t straight, or what? To be clear, I’m not saying Sonja is a raging homophobe who thinks men being together is gross. I mean, I like the idea of her knowing Even was pansexual and being supportive, and maybe she was! But it’s also possible she lumped Even’s attraction to men in with “manic things” rather than Even just not being straight.

The flip side of that is that Even’s suicide attempt was connected to his feelings toward liking guys, and I would hope she would take that seriously. (This is why I want to know so much more about the Even/Sonja relationship, it’s incredibly interesting to me.) Whatever the case, Sonja definitely accepts Even’s feelings for Isak were real not long after this, so she reconsidered her opinion.��

The fact that she lumps in Even’s feelings for Isak with him memorizing the Quran in Arabic because at the time he thought that was a good idea … yikes. That’s really dismissive. And not a great glimpse into how she views Even as a person. (Although we now know that Even was memorizing the Quran because he felt shame over the Mikael incident, so double yikes. It feels low to bring in Even’s romantic relationship with a boy and compare it to an incident where he tried to cure himself of liking boys, as if they’re equally ludicrous.)

She’s also implying that Isak is making Even’s condition worse because they’ve been smoking, which is not fair. That’s Even’s fault if he’s smoking, it’s not Isak’s responsibility to keep him from doing so (especially when he doesn’t even know Even isn’t supposed to smoke).

Sonja asks him to stay away. I think that, despite Even’s warnings about Sonja’s POV, Isak takes her very seriously. After all, she’s the one who showed up and handled this awful situation. She’s the one who had the answers. She’s the one who has known Even for much longer than Isak has - she has a whole history with Even that Isak doesn’t know. So yeah, as Magnus points out, it is silly to listen to your boyfriend’s ex, but I completely get why Isak does.

The sirens in the background may or may not have to do with the police picking up Even, but they sure do contribute to the stress of the scene and represent Isak’s state of distress.

I wondered for a while why Sonja appears to knock into Isak, because even if she’s angry that seems a little harsh, lmao, but I realized that she’s probably grabbing Even’s clothes out of his arms.

After she leaves, Isak looks like he’s shedding a single tear but Tarjei is managing more than one, his face is just in shadow. Goddamn. I feel so bad for Isak. This amazing night ended in disaster, he’s been told that his wonderful new relationship that makes him happy and free is all fake.

I have so many questions about what happened after this from Even’s POV. Did his parents come and get him? How did he interact with Sonja?

Also, I’ve wondered what happened with the hotel, like Isak had to go back and get his things since he had his backpack there … and Sonja or someone must have gone to pick up Even’s things. (Imagine how awkward it would be to walk into the suite where your boyfriend was just sleeping with the guy he dumped you for. Though I guess she had more urgent things to worry about.)

I forgot exactly what happened but lmao other members of the production team getting angry at Julie for this scene. The fandom was distraught, I enjoy knowing that even the people making the damn show were upset.

WHO WANTS THAT PERFECT LOVE STORY ANYWAY, CLICHE, CLICHE, CLICHE

May I just say that this is the perfect song for the closing credits to just like, really twist the knife in your gut? I was already traumatized watching the clip; watching the full episode with the credits and THIS DAMN SONG OVER THEM broke me. NOT A FUCKING EXAGGERATION. Julie is a monster for using Beyoncé for evil like that.

For real, just murdering us because we were head over heels for this “perfect love story” but of fucking course something had to come and take it away! Fuck off!!!!

Isak thought he was in a perfect love story and then lost it and was told it was never real! I mean, that’s fine! Who wants that!

who wants that hero love that saves the day ... anyway ... anyway

sob

Social Media and General Comments:

This episode is the game-changer for this season, the one where we finally get answers to all those offhand comments or moments, and where certain events finally make sense. It’s a roller coaster, with the euphoria, the anticipation, the swoop in your stomach as you drop. I love it.

And this was one of the BEST weeks for social media in Skam, that I experienced, anyway. It was an example of how this format can contribute so much to the storyline and string along audience emotions.

Eskild sent some texts to Isak after the end of episode 7, noting that Even’s shoes were in the flat. Isak must have been awake since Eskild notes that he leaves him on read, but understandably does not reply.

There was a gap from the kitchen scene to the next update, which was an IG pic of Even playing FIFA in Isak’s room around 9 Friday night. I remember everyone was freaking out Saturday and Sunday waiting for the next update - did Even spend the weekend with Isak? What happened next???? And well, it was smart to keep us hanging. I mean Isak and Even were clearly busy and it was like they had their own private weekend away from us nosy fans. Julie and Mari must have been laughing at our thirst for more details.

Also Even is wearing Isak’s shirt in the pic. That’s not quite a coming out statement, unless you’re overly acquainted with Isak’s wardrobe, but it’s a sign of Isak being ever slightly more comfortable with people thinking he’s dating a guy. He’s not hiding Even. In fact, if you take into account all the rumors flying at Nissen about him and Even, Isak’s really not a giving a fuck about them anymore. Anyone can see he associates with Even by looking at his Instagram. (He’s banging Even. Who gives a shit about anything else?)

The famous shower text was this week on Monday, in which Even says he can’t concentrate in class because he’s thinking about what Isak did in the shower that morning and he has a boner. And Isak says he’ll do that shower thing again after school. They arrange to meet at KB after classes end at 15:35 and if you were in the fandom, you know all our asses were on the Skam website hitting refresh at 15:35. Alas, no clip. Mari was fucking with us. But honestly, it’s the kind of gentle trolling I can appreciate.

This shower text is likely making up for the fact that we did not get the actual shower scene between Isak and Even that was written in the script.

Kevin McHale, who played Artie on Glee, is a big Skam fan and giant Evak shipper, was once asked what he thought Isak did in the shower, only to reply with a series of salad emojis. I just think people should be aware of this. 🥗🥗🥗

Also, Isak uses a red heart emoji in this text? What a sap. And he’s so flirty and confident about his sexuality! He’s probably thrilled and happy to make plans to continue shower activities!

Eskild snapped a pic of Isak and Even looking cute and sends it to the Kollektivet group chat. Linn seems oblivious and asks if Isak is gay now. I like to imagine that Isak and Even have been making out on every surface the last few days, well within her view, and she just hasn’t been paying attention. However, she and Noora agree that the boys look good.

Isak has a line here asking Eskild not to post it anywhere, because they’re not official or anything. Makes you think how damn great it would have been for him to hear Even introduce him as his boyfriend to the hotel receptionist. But also, lmao, Isak, you know Even is like 10 minutes away from putting a ring on it, right? Not official my ass.

It’s completely understandable that he doesn’t want it posted publicly, that is a pretty big step and we know he’s not comfortable with PDA. A pic of Even playing FIFA is one thing, a cuddle pic? Very big move. (But also, makes you wonder if Isak can’t help but be a little insecure and wonder if Even is going to bail on him again. I hope not! They seem very settled throughout this week. They can even joke about breaking up over Even’s musical taste and not have it be weird.)

The picture Eskild shares is from that string of cuddle pics that Mari gave up and posted during the last episode, so Eskild was like, having a whole-ass photo shoot.

On Wednesday, Even says he doesn’t like his own bed because he’s used to Isak’s, so he’s probably been sleeping at Isak’s since Friday night.

Isak is behind on studying, HMMM I WONDER WHY

Isak is confident enough to drop a link to the Mikael video, but also insecure enough to do it? Like there’s definitely an inquiry there in “Who is Mikael” that’s not casual, you know Isak wants to know if Mikael was Even’s ex or something. And Mikael is also no longer in the picture, even as a friend, so Isak has nothing to go on. Even kinda dodges the question by making a joke about how he’s the previous man of his life, then saying Isak is the only one. Swoooooon. Even, you charming fucker.

Except after S4, this seems way more like a dodge and Even’s occasional tendency to skirt hard questions with jokes or answers that aren’t really answers. But yeah, Mikael was not someone who wanted Even back. Isak is the only one, and the person who makes Even feel something he’s never felt before.

Even “casually” exits this potentially difficult conversation by saying he’s going to shower, and those are the magic words, these kids sure love getting clean! Isak doesn’t need anything else to tell Even to come back to him. SWOOOON. That Isak just gives up and tells Even he wants him? Goddamn.

The texts from Thursday are EXCELLENT in establishing tension. Especially because “This is Even” dropped first, and we were already on edge from his weird comments in that clip about Sonja and whatever was happening there with his odd reactions.

Even suddenly decides, after yesterday’s complaints that he no longer likes his own bed, that he will sleep in his own bed tonight. Why? He says it’s so Isak can study, but does it have to do with what happened earlier with Sonja and wanting to avoid the topic? Or does it has to do with his increasing mania and lack of need for sleep? Because when he says “sleep in his own bed” we know that little sleep will be happening.

He’s also saying that Isak should get a surprise if he does well on his test, so he was also planning to book the suite that night. He sends Isak lyrics from “Bliss” by John Legend ft. Teyana Taylor, which are about jet-setting away and being surprised with luxurious gifts, so a big hint about what he has in mind for Isak’s surprise.

I recommend listening to “Bliss,” by the way, it’ll give you Evak feels.

Pure bliss Like you've got the key to my heart Simple as a touch and a kiss Never knew a feeling like this Pure bliss, pure bliss Nobody can tear us apart Baby it's as good as it gets (Kiss kiss kiss kiss) Loving you will never be hard This is pure bliss

This is how Even feels about Isak! He’s never felt this way before!

Let's run away Let's run away Our friends, say we're crazy But we can't listen baby They've never had it like this They don't know what it is

And it’s all about getting away! Even’s surprise for Isak is specifically so they can get away from everyone else, say, meddling ex-girlfriends who might want to share some sensitive information. Like does Even want to just get away from it all, or is there a part of him that thinks it’s coming to an end, and he wants to make their time together as memorable as possible?

I also think he’s trying to prove his love to Isak, trying to overcompensate, so if Sonja says something like Even’s feelings aren’t real, he can convince him otherwise. The lyrics say that Isak shouldn’t listen to Sonja, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

But Even’s mind is already racing. He texts Isak a little while later, asking if Isak liked the song, and when Isak is confused, he says that Isak’s not following. It’s as if in his mind Isak was definitely going to register his comment about jet-setting away and gifts from Tiffany as song lyrics and go look it up, or recognize them immediately. It’s not a totally absurd expectation, but it is like he’s already beginning to leave Isak behind, just like in the suite when Isak doesn’t know the Pretty Woman reference and Even expects him to know it.

Still! Isak “breaks up” with Even for joking that he doesn’t like hip-hop. THIS IS SO CUTE. IT ENDS WITH MUTUAL HEART EMOJIS. I can’t help but imagine Isak seeing that red heart and clutching his phone to his chest like in episode 5, unable to stop grinning.

Even sends yet another text at 1 am, with a Seinfeld meme. It’s surprisingly unsettling - it’s late at night, it’s very random, Even initially means to send something else but clicks it away which to me means that he’s distracted, there’s another heart emoji … if you suspect Even is manic by this point, this is a big sign. This is what I mean by using social media effectively in this episode. Like this should be a weird but innocuous text and instead it made people uneasy, because of the timing and the random content.

Let’s appreciate Even’s use of emojis when he’s meeting Isak at KB. An eggplant is pretty clear, but what does a dolphin mean? I guess I’m not emoji-savvy enough to understand?

With the hotel scene, Isak had some IG stories before the clip appeared, including a view from the suite window and a selfie of him and Even. If you were in the fandom then, you might remember that the fans managed to figure out they were going to a hotel (and which hotel) before the clip even dropped. (Also, Isak and Even are bundled up in their coats and hats and everything in the selfie, so they did not just immediately tear off their clothes when they entered the suite, lol.) This was one of the coolest things about watching in real time, the fandom’s detective prowess.

Isak’s text to Eskild after the hotel scene is one of my FAVORITE texts on the show. I would include it in my favorite moments of Skam, period. Isak reaches out to Eskild, wanting to know if he’s home, and he doesn’t say in detail what happened, just that everything has gone to hell. And Eskild IMMEDIATELY drops what he’s doing to come home for Isak. This is so touching and beautiful, it’s the heart of Isak and Eskild’s relationship right there. There are no questions from Eskild about what happened, all Isak has to say is that something went wrong and Eskild just goes to him. And Isak reached out to Eskild - I mean, I guess he could be asking “Are you home?” because he wanted to know if Eskild had a guy over or something, but I think he just needed someone at that moment. Isak has been increasingly asking Eskild for his advice, he values Eskild’s input and presence.

And it’s telling that he thought of Eskild, like, Eskild is really family to him. I mean, Isak could have written to Joans, and I’m sure Jonas would have been amazing, but I think Isak needed kind of like .... more of an adult’s help, if you get me? You know how sometimes when something goes wrong, you want a hug from a parent, specifically? I think Isak needed that kind of reassurance. I don’t know exactly what happened between them prior to the opening scene in episode 9, but this act alone says it all about the closeness of that relationship. It is one of my favorite relationships in all of Skam. (Really, Isak has so many incredible relationships in this season, doesn’t he? Even, Eskild, Jonas and the boy squad, Sana...)

Thank you all for reading my rambles on Skam! I love hearing from you all, and I so appreciate the kind comments I’ve gotten. You guys are so sweet ❤️❤️❤️

#skam season 3 #skam reactions #skam #isak valtersen #evak #long post #long as FUCK post

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