TV Review: HBO’s Betty Skates In As An Electric Must- See
Seeing HBO’s Betty trailer was riveting. It was enamoring visuals of a bunch of colorful personalities skating through New York with an emoted energy of freedom, boldness, and coolness. Most importantly, they were all young women acting, in some ways, like boys. They appeared with no worry and limit in sight, and the vision was intoxicating. Add on that the trailer song, Sault’s “Up All Night,” is one of the best tracks of 2020, and I HAD to review this show just out of respect for its trailer.
Based off Crystelle Moselle’s Skate Kitchen, this HBO dramedy hypnotizes with its cast of strong, female characters whom are agile in body, mind, and soul. Following Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), Kirt (Nina Moran), Honey-Bear (Kabrina Adams), Indigo (Ajani Russell), and Janay (Ardelia Lovelace), I know this may sound corny, but their performances made me EXCITED for women’s futures. The storyline nosedives into the glamor and grit of being smart, young women un-folding and unfollowing social structures, not just as females, but as people. Each personality is a ripe blend of lax wildness, which is why they gravitate to each other, despite the lovers that come to woo them. Hence, Betty is really about sisterhood, and how the female friends you choose become the sisters that “skate” you through life’s trials. POWERFUL!
In both visuals and vernacular, Betty feels like Euphoria meets Broad City. The city back-drop and late teen drama allows the shows to have a more grounded light; making its characters have witty dialogue, a la Abbi and Ilana, but placing then in situations that steal anyone’s laugh, a la Euphoria. Yet, my comparison comes more from how both shows were so impactful to young viewers through their honest interpretations, killer soundtracks, surprising wisdom, and ability to set a trend. Similarly, Betty creates characters that are both relatable and revered. We see ourselves in them, but also wish we could be them. By the end of my first episode of Betty, I was READY to buy a skateboard and make the sport my post- quarantine goal. (Note: I rolled down a mountain on my literal, first attempt to ski, which is why me sloping through a street feels dangerous! I digress!)
Betty: Subway to Screen | The Story Behind Betty | HBO
Each actor performs with a rawness and casualness that makes me want to head to Washington Square Park as if they are actually there. That type of energy, of making characters feel so naturally powerful, you want take up their lives, is a rare gift and the key to memorability. Moselle’s writing and direction masters an audience’s desire to fall for characters that can, equally, be beside and above them. Such a feeling carries on as these five young gals confront sex, drugs, prejudice, dreams, love, traumas, and, of course, the music. After watching six episodes, I KNOW people are going to want to BINGE this show, but a new episode comes out every Friday, starting May 1, on HBO at 10PM.
