Let's Talk SKAM ... and the Elephant in the Room

I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of SKAM, an incredibly popular web-drama set in Norway and created by the mastermind, Julie Andem.

But on the off-chance you do, you know that the show eventually became so popular over the internet, the headlining couple of Sesong 3 (Season Three) won E! Online’s Top TV Couple Poll in 2017. It became so popular, fans all the way from China and South America traveled to Oslo, Norway to visit the school where the show was filmed and ask for pictures from Tarjei Sandvik Moe and his friends. Incredibly invasive, wouldn’t you think? But also SO POPULAR that Prince William and Duchess Kate visited the cast of SKAM in Norway!

Tarjei Sandvik Moe (Isak Valtersen, SKAM 2015-2017) meeting with the Duchess of Cambridge!

It even became so popular that it spawned seven remakes — all in international formats. Currently, in my television class, I’m learning about how globalization affects TV and on my exam yesterday, I explored the concept of SKAM becoming a secret international phenomenon. SKAM has become adapted in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and the U.S.A. If you haven’t watched the original, make sure to start that one before starting any of the remakes.

Of course, that’s only my personal opinion. Even though only a couple of the remakes have managed to really impress me, I genuinely believe nothing could ever capture the magic, the intensity, and the overall artistic genius of the original SKAM. Here’s an article to explore why the show captured the hearts of so many, in its unique real-time format.

Because right now, I want to explore some of the controversies that have affected my opinions of certain remakes. Let’s start with Italy — a beautiful country I have never been to, but wished I could have traveled to while I was abroad.

SKAM Italia

Cast of SKAM Italia.

I did not get a chance to watch Season One, that featured Eva. It premiered during a busy time in the semester for me, and I fell behind trying to keep up. But I did try and watch Season Two when it premiered because it featured my favorite OG character — Isak Valtersen, better known as Martino Rametta for Italian fans.

From the start, the chemistry between him and Nico Fares was missing for me. I tried to look past that, I really did. But what I couldn't look past was the choice of a white woman playing a POC Muslim character and Nico in episode 3, a white Italian boy, saying the N word while rapping an Earl Sweatshirt song.

And then the outrage that came from Italian fans, saying well you Americans created this word, why are you surprised when people say it? It doesn’t have the same meaning in Italy that it does in America. This show is for Italians, not Americans. You’re all getting worked up over nothing.

But as a Black-American, that is something. And I understand that I am not the intended demographic of SKAM Italia, but does that mean I can’t watch the show then? These same arguments arose in Season Four of the OG Skam, where many felt that Sana’s (a Norwegian Muslim) season was being white-washed. The argument fell along the lines of well, you guys aren’t from Norway, so it’s not for you.

I am neither Muslim nor am I from Norway. And I know people are going to call me hypocritical, but I genuinely feel like a Muslim teenager trying to fit in with her predominantly white friends is a universal struggle that I can understand. I went to school in the suburbs. I was called an Oreo by my family — black on the outside, white on the inside. It was incredibly difficult for me growing up to have to act a certain way around my family but then differently around my peers — and knowing that neither world would collide.

But to hear a white Italian say the N word, that didn’t sit right with me. I stopped watching SKAM Italia after that, mainly because of the fan reaction. I’m curious to know what other people think — without it resorting to ugly attacks on each other.

Speaking of resorting to ugly attacks on each other … let’s move onto the next adaptation.

SKAM ESPAÑA

The Girl Squad of SKAM España.

I was so, so excited to start watching SKAM España when I realized they were introducing a w/w love story. It was the kind of representation I'd hoped we'd get in the original version, but didn't. From the clips I had seen on Tumblr, the screencaps on Twitter, and the overall buzz on Instagram from the SKAM Spain account — I was excited to see Cris and Joanna on their journey to finding love.

Until this morning, SKAM twitter exploded over learning that Irene Ferreiro and Alejandro Reina believe pansexuality is biphobic and transphobic. As someone who does not speak Spanish, and has not kept up with the cast of actors, it's hard to explain the complete discourse happening. Apparently, in Spain, it's hard to have conversations about sexuality in general. I believe that. But for two actors to completely disregard pansexuality — when Even from OG — is confirmed to be pansexual ... that made it harder for me to be excited about SKAM España as a show.

What I loved about the OG version is that we could separate the actors from their characters. The actors were protected from the media. Lisa Teige may be just like Eva Mohn but we would never know because she kept her life so private from the public eye and the fandom.

It's hard for me to separate what Irene Ferreiro has said and Cris Soto, especially watching people brutally attack each other on Twitter about this. Pansexuality is just as valid as bisexuality — people are allowed to label themselves how they choose to. Yet, today I watched as a friend of mine felt torn to shreds by people defending panphobia. Regardless of what you believe, since when did it become the norm to resort to calling each other awful names and being overall vicious instead of having a civil conversation?

I would love to talk to someone about this stuff. I would love to debate on and on about SKAM remakes and what makes them problematic vs. what makes them good. Even more controversial stuff including if the N word can still be said in Europe or if pansexuality and bisexuality do invalidate each other. But I would rather engage in dialogue where both sides of the party are respectful and open-minded.

This is mainly what I needed to get off my chest today. I hope if anyone has strong opinions, they'd be willing to share them down below. What SKAM remakes are you guys into or want to start watching? Or, what's on your mind today overall?