#jade nln

[saecoyle]

Some days after the end of S11..

I have a full wrap of my opinions about the SKAM France seasons from season 5 to 12 coming soon... But I wanted to write about S11 in details, so I don't forget my current opinion after a daily watch - which will be very different from my opinion probs one year later, as I will hopefully get the rest of the gen or just rewatch that season.

Firstly first about the main; I adored Rym.

I have a file for that type of characters, the ones that can't process their grief or any situation that happened. And I enjoy how from Lola to Rym, with Bilal and Maya, grief is always a theme with difference nuances in it. For Rym it was the loss of the person she loved the most. Her grandma, but also her only parental figure as she ever remembered. We don't know a lot at first (hence why I think a rewatch will make me love the season harder, as you get more clues at the start, knowing everything), but we know one thing. Rym is angry. About her fate, about how life got so unfair since she found the firefighters outside of her house.

At the start of the season Rym also experiences denial for what she did. So not only the death of her grandma feels unfair to her but also her mother's choice of letting her to other people, as well as her only friend - and crush, to me - rejecting her for that. It is sure, as soon as we discover episode 4 that Rym has severe anger issues and seek destruction as well as escapism that can be filled by the adrenaline of stealing, putting things on fire and more...

And I love it. Because prior other seasons, that also treated and basically always treats of very gray characters. It is very hard for the public to see her as fully white, when you make it her whole theme.

This is something that annoyed me back then, not holding any mains accountable for what they've done in the past. Because to me, gray characters are way more interesting than all white ones, mostly when they're teens, when there is a possibility of evolution.

Moreover, I love that Rym is a teen, from start to end. When she goes throught her difficulties she's a teen. When she hurts people she's a teen, when she cries, when she falls in love. Even when she's unable to sleep because of the gravity of her acts, she doesn't feel like a 16 year old trying to be an adult. She feels like a 16 year old in a teenager situation, that can be has hard as an adult's one, but still belongs to her.

And that is important.

A thematic that belongs to her; And to the writer!

When I read the first articles I was a bit scared. SKAM France has it's backstory of poor writing considering main and secondary characters that aren't white. Or of any characters that has an identity they ignores or do not share, mostly (Something I'll talk in that next post, that will surely be a novel long atp).

Well, I still don't know if the writing team is finally as diverse as it should be (we barely know anything about the headwriters, that probably are too scared to experience the same thing as the previous writers did), and I don't think it is my role to argue if anything hit or missed considering Rym not being white (because I am very white and french and I don't think I know better than the actress, writers and people concerned themselves) - so if it's the case I let everyone speak abt it in the comments. I have though something to say about the theme, and it's how I love when writers actually knows and experienced their subjetcs.

It's something I already said for S7, season about maternity. It is awesome to have someone leading a season that they care about for that reason. And you see it, and you feel it. Because the characters never feels like the support of their theme, or the other around, but both of theme and main are merged so equally that it becomes one.

By Rym (and Zélie), we discover how juvenile delinquency can start (after a huge shock and changes, family dysfunctions, group effect, feeling of abbandonment, anger issue, self destructions habits). How it looks like (conflict, misbehavior, stealing, putting things on fire, putting yourself in danger or even harming someone). The consequences of it (nights in detention, criminal record, even more family conflicts and the possibility of being judged, by the court, the teachers and everyone around her). How it can go further, (to juvenile detention or, in Rym's case: running away, homelessness) and how it can be stopped, how can Rym herself turn the page of this part of her life. And discover a new one.

I wishh; We are gonna get more or her in the next season(s).

And particularly her friend group - the weirdos.

Look I love the cringe-ness of that name, and the fact it was given as a judgment? And they embraced it? Very cool of them, very edgy. Very me. From the one we know the most to the less I have some nuanced, opinions abt them.

For Cléo, we see him for the first time in the very second clip of the first episode. Cléo looks at Rym first, while she's being bothered already by Félix, the N°1 Shithead of Dorian High-School at the moment. He's the first one that includes Rym in the group, one part (to me) because he sees in her someone that he can trust about not liking that so called Clones group. One another part because it's obvious that Cléo had an immediate crush on her. He's the love-interest of the season and not really a major character in Rym's change, while still being a huge part of her support system. He also brings the non-binary representation that I deeply needed for at least 10 seasons of that show, and that was surely maybe needed to explain a bit more (and hope it will in S12) because I have seen for the past months a lot of confusion - if not blatant transphobia.

Since the first episode - second clip we are introduced to him and his PRONOUNS. They are not a question, they are not even french neutrals that are still in debate for some, along with the full inclusive langage. Cléo casually is non-binary and for us as for his other friend he always has identified as non-binary, compared to Max in S7 it is not even a thematic, as we never presents what it is to be trans and non gender comforming. That choice was made and honestly would have been even better if no one took his gender as a insult and decided to hate him more than any. other. characters. Including the bullies, including the foster parents with a huge (white for Sophie) savior complex.

And I don't say Cléo is perfect. Cléo is at Daphnée and or Jo's image a very complex character since the start. We see him get a lot bullied by his ex-bestfriend's friends (and he probably also participated in it). We see him shifting in class, which (to me) is a bit concerning for his own sanity to be honest. In general, from Rym's point of view, she always seem to catch Cléo in situations that can make him almost crack his self confidence shell. As Daphnée, as Jo or even as Basile, Cléo has some tendencies to be very hyper and focused on apparances, during the season he has issue with trusting Rym as she has her own secrets. And it is obvious this is absolutly not about Rym, but especially about himself, linked to his past demons.

We also learn from Jade that she only knows him from september. Meaning he was probably all alone for a long moment. I am sorry but I can't not feel empathy for a such character, and I know he has much more to offer in the next season(s), mostly with Maël's right now.

For Yanis, he probably is the fan-favorite right now. And he kindaa deserves it. I don't know if it's N'Landu Lubansu chemistry with everyone on screen, or Yanis very refreshing writing but I kinda adore his character. We see him for the first time as Rym mocks his style along with Zélie, and I kinda love the way he was presented as a random guy who likes hicking, gaming and axolotls like many teenage boys. But as we discovers him, we see a much more interesting character.

Yanis lives alone with his mother, that is not only a bit strict but also the new Headmaster of Dorian High-School. As it is - he completly lives inside the school and knows everything about everyone new. That's how he learns about Rym's past and how he is way more understanding about her lying, as he starts to gets her both sharing abandonment issues. More like characters like Redouane and others Yanis is very outside of toxic masculinity. His bestfriends doesn't share his interest, as well as he doesn't feel ashamed or see any issues about wearing his mom's clothes or make-up. He doesn't play either in the - sex comptetition or stuff like that, compared to Pablo and Félix as we're starting to see in the current season.

He also adds the mlm representation to the generation. Yeah you heard me, more than 1 representation, a mlm rep that isn't white. It's almost as if they actually listened to their public this year. I would personally say (or headcanon) that he is pansexual. As it was never said it is very implied that Yanis corresponds under the bi umbrella, and that he actually doesnt care about how his partner presents. He falls in love with another gamer- which brings up e-relationships to the table, as risky as it can be, as cool as it can be. At the end of the season we learns that the so called Piranha is a boy, called Cyril. I really love how this generation portrays teenage relationships and it's nuances, it's diversity and everything. How nice it is to see relationship that will not end in misery, or that are as serious as it can be when you're sixteen, and as unserious as it can be. Also, If my headcanon is right I feel like it's a very very neat upgrade on how the show writes queer people and mostly people under the bi umbrellas (Elliot, Alexia, Lola) as the first gen really enjoyed cheating tropes and bi and panphobic partners for them (even tho I kinda liked seeing Maya get a bit toxic-dumb untrusting because of her breakup. love her). Yanis doesn't need to sleep with both women and men to justify who he is, as well as Rym doesn't need many experiences to know she's gay.

Anyway, he's a character I really want to see more. But as my misfortune made all my faves NOT have a season, for each gens ever I am not gonna wish that for him. Please let him shine. He's way too cool 4 school. :(

For Jade, welll we don't know that much about her. We met her at the same time as Cléo, and not only she is very focused in her own world. She's a very unique type of character that we haven't really seen in the show, but we could (?) see some ressemblances among both Elliot, Noé and Alexia. Jade is a very exentric character by her way of dressing herself, her family - being part Irish but also having a grandparent (Pamie) almost written by Wes Anderson - and her own universe. She says what she wants, does what she wants, is a part of a circus classes and doesn't really care about what people say or not understanding some of the social cues.

Of course a lot of people (me in it) pointed that Jade had many many hints for her to be neurodivergent. And honestly I do hope it is the point because as much as I relate to her, I also feel that she could educate a lot of people on the fact that autistic people doesn't especially mean a man, nor a genius, nor someone that can't mask.

I don't know yet what will be about her character, tho it seems obvious that her character will be important in the current season. Her mom Poppy seeming to appear in it, as well as circus friend Idriss and she already has started to show up (some minutes ago,, lmfao). I'm very curious, since she obviously has a crush on Maël for a while now. There is a possibility her story gets to be told, honestly I'm hyped because I love dearly all the members of the weirdos group.

They all give me comfort and an happy feeling that Lamif also made me feel for a while. A family that Rym deserves and that I hope, Maël will feel the need to join too!

I am almost finished with that novel-lenght review; I have to talk about the other characters.

There is many other interesting things to say about this season. How grief is handled, how abandonment is depicted - not only by her mother but also by her bestfriend Zélie. Her bond from her grandmother, to her own mother. Reuniting after both have lost someone. I particularly love that - at the end of the season they do bond over their traditions and religion, that they both shared with the same person back then. Mostly because since S4 badly written season, only Redouane's and Jo's family had some hints to be muslim and jewish, but as well as Redouane himself, that got ignored in the last two seasons. In general I have some critics to make probably around the lack of clips in some manners - like with her foster family or else. But I feel like in general, there is always a season in the year - duo that lacks more clips than the other, more ofter because they can't provide as much or they are told to cut it from the full show. It is sad, but as I am peaceful about it being the first season ever of the gen, it also shows that not everything is done for Rym.

She still has a lot more time to evolve fully. And I will hopefully be there to see that.

[odi-et-amo85]

Well let me think about it. When I have formed an opinion I’ll let you know! ✌️

i know they’re trying to portray jade as autistic but it’s not working