Are shows about students accurate?

Everyone loves TV shows but the ones that can truly have the most impact on you are usually the shows that feel relatable in some way. Truth can be found in these wacky shows we all love whether that’s in accent, humour or social issues. However, they are almost always exaggerated and dramatized for storytelling purposes. An example of this can be from depictions of teen angst, but we all come from diverse backgrounds and have our own troubles which may not directly mirror that of TV shows depicting life as constantly complex. Every journey is unique for each person so when a show manages to capture it, viewers our age may be more inclined to watch.

Looking into one of the more humorous TV shows, one that instantly captured the hearts of its viewership would be The Inbetweeners (2008). Here we witnessed a group of teenage boys navigate new stages of their lives with entertaining and often rude themes. Personally, I found this show truly represented many aspects of growing up in Britain, especially with its relatability in the struggles with making friends: “Ooh Friend!”. Looking at the cauldron of university, everyone is in this same boat and it can often be tricky to socialise consistently enough to bond with others. But once you do there can be more banter and friendships between all sorts of people.

All over the media, there can be instances where Uni life is completely glamorised, where in all accuracy it can be a dramatic and daunting change for many people to suddenly leave home and be forced into new environments alongside complete strangers. Although, one show that comes to mind that combats this idea would be Fresh Meat (2011) with the legendary Jack Whitehall and the all too familiar Joe Thomas who practically continues playing Simon. What struck me with this show though is how familiar it can relate to the struggles with university friendships, work and housing while of course being accompanied with the usual comedy.

Similarly, within the popular romance show Normal People (2020) in which Connell also faces his own struggles with fitting in. This is something that, no matter your background, everyone has felt in some way and with these types of shows, you can find comfort in knowing you are not alone.