I have no faith in an American remake. The subject matter is way too taboo for American TV. The last American show targeted at teens I remember being even remotely close to MMFD in subject matter and seriousness (please keep in mind that I don't watch much TV anymore) is My So-Called Life. Even My So-Called Life, while focusing on serious subjects like addiction, bullying, cheating, sexuality, (had there been a second season) teen pregnancy, etc., it still focused more on a girl worrying more about her social standing with a group of people rather than something as serious as suicide and depression.
Americans don't like depth and seriousness. We want to be happy and laugh, even if the smiles are fake. Reality is too much for us if it isn't full of glitz and glamor (hello, 16 and Pregnant.) Should they actually go on with an American remake, there are two possibilities:
1. It will be as serious as the original (with the occasional humor) and it will get such bad ratings that it'll be canceled after a couple episodes are air and will be shunned and forgotten about for the rest of time.
Or
2. Most of the seriousness will be written out, Rea will be a size 12 "funny" schizo, Danny and Tix will be giggling all the time, no one will ever use swear words ever, sex will never be mentioned, Kester will run an after school prayer/Bible study meeting rather than being a therapist, everything will take place in modern times (and don't get me started with the music,) Rea won't lose her virginity to anyone and Rea's mom won't marry a Muslim man (because, you know, it's 'Murica. White Muricans can't possibly fall in love with a Muslim person.) And, on top of that, it'll be a number one television hit winning numerous awards, produce spinoffs, books, a Broadway musical and will be endourced by Focus on the Family.
Let's just have a third series, please.
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VforVixen
10 years ago
@OoohDeath, as funny as your post is, and I agree with some of your points (to a degree), I have a little more faith in the overall concept. I love this show so much, this is the first time in a long while, I've greeted remake news with a smile. I will take it anywhere I can get it. Having said that...
Although, I feel American television is THE place a show like this needs to be, I wish they would not remake something already well-made and instead, build upon the concept. There's plenty of source material out here they can use to tell this type of story from an American teen's perspective. What makes MMFD so special is not only the subject matter, and characters but that the peripheral and context is geared toward a specific place at a specific time. Not to say that depression and eating disorders aren't universal, because obviously they are, but the way this story approaches those topics is not. It's very British in it's translation (duh, it's set in England), as is the teen (and teens) who the story revolves around.
I know that many young Americans have written about these same issues through, blogs, screenplays, novels and etc. It would be great if a series could be developed from one of their perspectives for an American audience. I think MMFD should be left as it is for what it is.
Hope I've gotten my point across well. Been a long day and I can barely type. lol
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