Age/Intended Audience: All ages (personal opinion)
Genre: Drama (A bit of romance π₯Ή)
Synopsis:
Hannah Bradford, a 12-year-old transgender girl, begins her first year of middle school while trying to live as her authentic self. (Google)
Review/Rant (Spoilers Below):
In depth spoilers will be marked.
Cw/tw: bullying, ignorance, transphobia
First day is one of the best children's show about a trans girl starting her first day of high school.
If you have a few hours and are ready to binge something to laugh, cry, and be hopeful for I recommend this show!
I've been looking for good teen shows to watch (I'm a future screenwriter so need to know what the kids are up to)
and I just genuinely enjoy a good story.
I happened to accidentally find First Day, a short miniseries from Australia (they're doing great outside the us fr) and let me tell you it's so amazing!
It stars an actual trans actress who is transferring schools and her journey in feeling at home with herself, her new school, and new friends (and finally wearing a girls uniform π₯Ή).
That statement may be a lil controversial but coming from a girl who now knows she's ace going to a queer gathering her first week in college (by accident π€£) but having the most wonderful time and being absolutely comfortable in the setting after living in a stereotypically homophobic country I can see the benefits of it.
It also deals with her romance in the second season (which friends to lovers supremacy) and learning about how important it can be to have safe spaces.
Safe space supremacy! (/hj)
In Depth Spoilers!!
Below
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The principal assures her that she's going to have all the support she needs as the teachers will be having a training of sorts about transgender students.
In season one,Β we meet Hannah Bradford, a 13 year old girl on her last day of school getting admitted to her new high school.
She's excited but unfortunately she is denied use of the girls toilets and is given permission to use the gender neutral sick bay bathroom. (Yuck!)
(For Americans this means the nurses bathroom/j)
This sends her into a bit of a spiral as she's terrified of the conclusions people will naturally make as curious teens.
Why doesn't she use it bathrooms? Or is always sick?
Then they will obviously try to find out why.
Now before I go any further I have to give props to Hannah's actress, Evie MacDonald who is an absolute gem!
Her emotional performance in season one is captivating and her hormonal angry teen portrayal in season 2 is also very well done (π€£ but seriously she does have a right to be in season 2).
But before she can be finally free to enjoy her summer her mom sends her back for one last day of pretending to be a boy. π
Despite this her mom (Joanne Hunt, who's an absolute gem and also gets a shout-out) helps her find excuses to give to nosy kids.
Honestly as a writer I admire the way that they give you small tidbits of information about her journey and what's normal for them.
For example, they talk about how she'd dress up as a kid in stores, how her mom would help her make excuses for situations, and rules established to keep her safe (only can go over to girls houses whose family knows she's trans).
Here we meet Isabella, her bully for the rest of the show who occasionally pops in and out.
She deadnames her (yuck π€’) and Hannah luckily escapes her.
Then the day ends and we begin to prepare for our first day!
We see her holiday, getting cute presents, get her uniform for this first time π₯Ή and then finally it's her first day!
She's very nervous about it because she thinks people can tell but she just looks like any other girl.
Here she's approached by Olivia (best girl!) who practically adopts her as a friend immediately.
Her and Olivia hit it off immediately and she introduces her to her friends she's had since middle school Natalie and Jasmine (also called Jazzie).
(pictured below in order Olivia, Hannah, Natalie, Jazzie)
These four become a fearsome group of besties hanging out and getting along.
Olivia is the late friend, who is bold and stands up for her friends.
Natalie has a bit of a loose cannon mouth being blunt, but its always never meant to be malicious she just states what she sees.
And Jazzie is the closest to her in terms of them both having the same homeroom. Jazzie is a known party girl.
As time goes by and Hannah settles in you get to see her come out of her shell and participate more in classes and get to be just Hannah and not the "trans kid".
Unfortunately this is based in real life and yes life can be happy but there's also gotta be balance.
Olivia her bully transfers to the school but seems to be getting counselling. She does stop calling Hannah by her deadname though (albeit threateningly progress?).
During all of this Jazzie is having a party and even better she's having a sleepover party.
But, unfortunately for Hannah who's gotten used to being one of the girls and not treated any differently (minus the sick bay bathroom) her mom is adamant about not letting her stay over at by herself.
This rule is in place for all families who dont know she's trans and honestly i understand and completely agree.
She says it's for her safety and honestly I'd do the same thing.
Imagine if someone found out during, some people can be transphobic and throw her out, berate her, make her feel less than. They can out her on display or even worse.
I understand the fear behind sleepovers in general so that added layer makes me even more terrified.
You may not have heard of this case but a black woman went to one and never came back alive and the killer who was there still hasn't been convicted. Sadly there's many cases like this.
But Hannah is a kid. And kid's dont think that far. I didn't either as a kid. I was like fun!
So she tries to pull one over the day of with her mom but she's like ha. Either you go or you don't.
Upset she goes to just the party and tells her friends. They're all sad but understanding and tell her they'll just enjoy the party together.
Here Olivia reveals to Hannah her fears about sleeping in an unfamiliar place (which valid) and Hannah is comforted then they go party.
I personally think this is where Hannah finds her to be a safe space and person to tell.
Throughout the episodes it's alluded that Billy, a boy in their class has a crush on her and he's the most adorable awkard mess ever at this party.
Hannah is kind of indifferent and friendly but he's trying so hard and he's like this for 2 seasons -
(dis tew cuteeee)
So eventually after the party she decided to tell Olivia who asks some ignorantly hurtful questions but once she understands then she's like okay. Wanna check out this video?
And I love the normalcy of it. Like it shows how much this world can be a safer place for everyone to be included.
Billy is also shown as this and his friend group still teases him about his crush on her and continues to push him to talk to her. (which gives me hope for the kids π₯Ή) It also subtlety shows how his friends are also respectful of her identity and funny treat her any different.
As a black person from a colonized country I wish for the day where there's an understanding of the importance of education of diversity and integration of many different lifestyles outside of the "norm".
If they not hurting anybody leave them babies alone!!
Back to the recap/review, Olivia loudly asks about sick bay toilets and it seems like someone overhears.
Then a post is sent out.
Now who did it you may ask?
Her bully who's transferred, Olivia who loudly talked, and the bully who overheard?
Well you gotta watch to find out π.
In season 2 the group looks like this so you can probably infer what happened.
Season 2 is the first time Hannah has gone back to school as a girl, not pretending and sure of her self. She's just Hannah.
She has friends, a school community that cares about her and access to the girls toilets! Yayyy!
This seaon deals with gender, safe spaces/clubs for queer teens, and dating.
We also get a bit of understanding of struggles that each group can face such as Olivia being Asian and Hannah being trans.
I also love how they handled friendships and how its a relationship that's to be cared for as well.
Hannah accidentally isolates her friends as she believes they won't understand her struggles and seeks others like her (LGBTQIA+) but doesn't even give them the option to listen.
This seaon I think is so well done and they styling is amazing!
Hannah also grows as she gets over her fear of speaking up for herself literally as she was afraid if speaking in front.
This season also talks about how trans as a label can be used as being "special" in terms of rights.
Like saying oh cause she's trans she gets -( insert absurd assumption and minus her everyday struggle).
We also have male trans rep with Josh, who hadn't fully transitioned in the first season so he was with the girls and also trans solidarity. π₯Ή
Hannah fights for her and other people's rights this season and to this I give her an honarary dap of respect.
Also this scene was hilarious and I never noticed but the girl in front pointing at the bully took me out when I realized why she got caught.
(All the phobes call em out! ππΎπ΅)
But Season 2 was a delight to watch and much happier.
But this post took a while as I had to rewatch the show and format it.
Also if you want more there's a whole Internet archive of cool behind the scenes stuff and the original short film it was based on! I'd check it out!
I hope you enjoy this show as much as i do and spread the joy and give me your thoughts about it!
Thank you and I appreciate you being on earth as you're lovely and worthy of being here.
HI! I'm going to be gushing about a 3 episode mini-series from the UK called My Left Nut.
Now I know the name is a bit concerning but let me tell you this it is one of the best small dramas I've seen in a while.
I loved how they handled the sensitive issue at the doctor's speech at the end and that's what made me watch it.
So this show is about a normal boy who's told by one of his mates to try a little anal play (wild right????) cause a girl did it for him.
And you know what I support that king trying new things.
So he was about to when something strange alerts him.
There's something wrong with his left nut.
spoilers below so watch out!
Trigger Warning: SA is mentioned for a short paragraph skip if you're uncomfortable!
So this show deals with teen antics, friendship, romance, grief, and family ties in just three 30-minute episodes.
It is a bit hard to find if you're not in the UK but I promise you it'll be there. Also if you need subs I personally had to raw dog it this time so I'm not sure if there are subs on the BBC player but you can understand the accents for the most part.
This stoy begins with an adorably inappropriate converstaion between three 15 year old boys.
And it goes as it normally would the (Highly) inappropriate and crude one suggesting anal play (which good for you king exploring your options early) due to the fact that a girl he'd made out with did it for him.
In true teen fashion our main charcter decides to try it out for himself until something goes horribly wrong.
Something's a bit bigger.
And it's concerning.
We find out that he has an older sister who's dating a bit of a douche, a younger sibling who's just observing honestly, and a mom who's had to raise these three on their own since the death of his father.
This key factor: his father's death, kind of launches him into a spiral in a way because he's afraid to worry his mom while simultaneously feeling like he can end up like his dad, healthy one day and deathly sick the next.
So he tries to (hilariously and a bit painfully) to reduce (irritate really) the swelling.
He tries to tell his friends about his concerns but he started talking about his attempt at anal play so like normal teenage boys they latch onto that and tease him into silence.
So he begins to worry about his declining sensitive health in silence,
He becomes increasingly irritated with family and friends because they just don't understand.
What's even worse is he went on his first date with a girl he really likes, but the size seemed to grow a bit out of control. He tried to hide it but she accidentally touched it and unfortunately, a rumor spreads like wildfire.
The girl is teased for giving him a blow job and he is Christened with the nickname "Big Dick Mick".
TRIGGER WARNING : sexual assault
begins
Unfortunately, when he goes to the restroom two awful boys begin to take pictures of him.
I was also upset by how this action wasn't taken seriously by any characters on how damaging it is.
If this happens alert someone. This was a sexual and a cyber crime.
ends
So after this traumatiizng event he goes home and takes it out on his mom for buying an electric razor.
What I loved abotu thsi series was that it used a simple item/routine as a catalyst for guilt an dgrief and what it mean to the character.
Whenever someone mentions shaving, or his father he clams up. But for shaving specifically he snaps at the person as though they've said a heinous insult.
We later learn during his confession to his mother about shouting at his dad (that she thought he'd never do) was actually about shaving.
I loved the vulnerability at that moment and it was just touching and moving how they attached something so insignificant to so many people and showed how guilty he felt when he grew up about why his dad used an electric razor when he yelled at him for it.
it was just perfect storytelling!
Later on, he's invited to a small party hosted by his friends that goes absolutely sideways as he churns over his mom's avoidance of telling him the problem he has (not knowing that she has no idea and is just as scared) so he goes absolutely reckless.
He drinks an insane amount and goes to kiss a girl (the same one who had the rumor with him) and possibly do more.
His insecurity surrounding his "situation" stops them from moving further and he pushes her away confusing her even more.
Then his words become knives and he lashes out at her and her friends and eventually, the alcohol catches up with him outside.
In a whirlwind, he loudly announces that he had cancer before running inside.
The whole party mellows out at that excuse and I could sense the phones being put away as videos are deleted.
So finally he and his mates have a touching scene about him announcing his maybe illness to them.
I loved the vulnerability and acting in this. Just one of my favorites.
I would describe more but if you want to find out I suggest you go seeking for My Left Nut and find out whether he is sick or not!
I fell in love with DMD couples and shows (Netjj 4 lyfeee) but I was thinking about #porteetee now officially #teeteepor (i think I'm pretty sure it was announced).
Marketing wise and industry wise to satify both of them and introduce a new concept I think I would've tried to have both names honestly and market them formally as a versatile couple.
The benefits below (and yes the capitalism is heavy in this cause ofc it is they need moneyyyy):
First thing I honestly thought of was the fact that they both said they're okay with either name.
Now that TeeTee is taller (I'm pretty sure he grew taller) he now fits the "stereotype" of the naming and role assignments of BL couples.
Now in BL we can argue against a genre that's been her since the 90s and how the stereotype of smaller receiver, bigger giver (i don't wanna use the terms cause they're okay in book form for me personally but when it comes to addressing real people ina ship it's a little weird because they're not fictional).
Many couples in the industry have said they're content in their assigned roles. Some tease about it and a few speak up about the stereotypes.
The first couple I think of speaking up about reversible names in a similar fashion is YinWar/WarYin who did Jack & Joker (11/10 despite the fact that I'm half done with it ik it wont disappoint).
Even in the show they imply that (like many real life gay people) they take turns. Why this I think is important to be normalized or just introduced in BL in a massive way in shows is the fact that it can represent gay culture in the fictional idealized gay romances of BL.
Also sex wise if we're being frank between gay men (or even queer people honestly) it doesn't fall into the pseudo heteronormative rules of smaller equals woman equals reciever.
I'm a pan cis woman so I can't compare my experience or feelings of gay men, but I do listen to what gay people talk about and their praises and criticisms of the genre.
And the bigger one must be the giver because he's a man (? Its a bit confusing as the reader/writer knows they're both men but usually the reciever is regarded with more traditionally femine traits assigned to them).
I will say that PoohPavel is a great example of throwing the trope on its head as the one who would most likely be stereotypically categorized as feminine (not just for his build in comparison but also how he's deemed a nerd in the series. Wattpad bad boy &me stories amirite?) as the giver. And it's not uncommon to see the names switched depending on the content or preferences of the viewer.
So this rule from Yaoi transferred over to all the different Y series that subsequently followed. Which isn't true in real life.
Appearances doesn't dictate preferences.
I just think that it would be cool to have an official couple who adopts two names and use them both when it's needed and also normalize it amongst the fanbase so that there isn't any averse reactions. This can also work easily in press conferences and harass because it's literally the same thing and can boost engagement. (Which has been told to is what gets actors deals and rules in shows).
This also would normalize and hopefully minimize the invasive questions brought up sometimes by fans (which makes mmy skin turn inside out by saying who's the top pr bottom) or reporters at in person events.
It's like if a cis atraight woman was just approached and asked which place below she prefers insertion in (I'm censoring myself so hard).
The questions of the preferred role in bed is invasive and icky for anyone regardless of sexuality.
Most like the woman would be offended and averse to an invasive question like that.
So in this case I think it would've been refreshing to have them break the mold and create a new standard. It also helps because if fans can have two hashtags that are approved as official so even if they argue it doesn't matter.
ππΎ (please don't be that person)
The only exception is if the actors themselves bring it up, it's related to the work needed, or you're friends and close enough and know if sex is a topic they're comfortable speaking about.
This also gives actors the freedom from being trapped in certain roles given to them.
I'm the case of YinWar in Jack and Joker, it wasn't very obvious based on their roles. They were essentially treated and acted as equals. As the industry developed many other shows do this and expand on gender roles and interests in the heart couple, but they usually do fall into the smaller one needs protection larger one is the protector.
PoohPavel was also a shock to some when it was revealed. I'm pretty sure I was confused when I saw it (cause he was labeled alpha I didn't even know about the name I was like this isn't the Omegaverse I'm used to)
But if they established and acknowledge it and switched it up for series it might've bring in a new wave of couples and series actually experimenting with relationship dynamics and characters especially in a sexual sense so that it reflects real people.
This also can lead into capitalism.
Double the names, double the merch. π€·πΎββοΈ
We all know the companies don't do it for the love of the game (even if they do it's worth 30% of the stocks they gotta eat somehow) and this is where capitalism comes in.
One way is to test it by having a presale or preorder system (can apply to other couples as well so win win no water supplies) to have a confirmation by selling things and seeing which combination sells the larger amount of merch and plan to sell accordingly.
Also if the slow has a specific role assignment for it that they want to use they can just make the merch in one name and maybe have a few limited edition switch versions for mega fans to get.
This sounds like I'm a villain after money but it does make the world go around and keeps the production companies lights on so π€·πΎββοΈ MARKETING!
Introducing and having a permanent switch couple could open doors and be good representation for vers couples in tv shows.
It also can add variety and dimension to characters.
Secret Crush On You (I'm pretty sure had a storyline like this and it was really well done in discovering what you like and don't like). Giving and showing the preference rather than having characters in a permanent designated role can help so many of the younger queer or gay people who engage in these shows as a kind of safe lgbt things (where the gays live until the end).
So in my head I'll call them both (I do it with a lot of my other couples based on the vibes I get but that's less t/b assignment but d/s assignment to me depending on my mood) but put the official name first.
I just finished ep 2 and it's kind of funny (he legit had tears in his eyes he knows he's a lover boy ughhh men) and will be even more messy.
I appreciate the fact that Chian was upfront about it. Sucks that he did it in the first place but he's actually a good communicator.
He's very honest (if confronted* that's very important) and asks consent and clarification. For that ππΎππΎππΎ.
My baby, Fou4mod, gelboy please for the love of god don't be a something boy if you want a lover boy. You won't make it. He was literally about to cry and it was only a couple kisses ππ.
He's also a crashout so I'm interested in seeing the looming anger that's definitely there.
Also Chian I know you're interested but you're so hung up on a relationship that could be you don't even see one that's waiting for you.
Alas I pushed through my anxiety (because this show gives me major maybe second hand embarrassment vibes so I have to hype myself to watch it).
It's too teensy I feel the awkwardness in communication and lack of development.
It reminds me of my 16 year old self. It haunts me.
Currently panicking after sending a director a thank you letter for his show... He replied but it was a really long letter so i sent like 3 more messages ππ
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