When this DVD arrived in my letterbox, one quick episode before I mark those essays turned into a up 'til two o'clock in the morning, balling my eyes out type scenario.
The series is about 16 year old (and 16 stone) Rae Earl, played by the wonderful Sharon Rooney, whose just been released from a stay at a mental institution for self-harm and attempted suicide (her friends think she just spent some time in France). Set in Stamford, Lincolnshire (where my mum grew up!), Rae lives with her eccentric mother and reconnects with her childhood bestie Chloe, thrusting her into a new group of friends. Rae still has weekly visits with her therapist who insists she keep a diary, hence the title.
We are let entirely into Rae's head. She is the narrator and various film techniques are used to enhance our understanding of her, including illustrations over the camera shots, fantasies and flashbacks.
The show is set in the 90s, so be prepared for the musical genius of Oasis, Blur and The Cure to feature heavily (no complaints here).
I love British comedy in general, and I'd say this show is a cross between The Inbetweeners and Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, so if you liked the humour in those, you'll enjoy this show. Rae thinks about sex A LOT and none of that is censored or held back (it is her diary, after all). But unlike The Inbetweeners, there's a good dose of heart and honesty to go with the crude comedy.
I suppose we're getting to the part of the review where I write that I loved it because I connected and related to Rae Earl because I was a fat teenager once, too. As true as that might be, I really think anyone can watch and love this show. I believe teenagers, any kind of teenager, would be totally blown away by this, especially since it isn't patronizing to the teenage experience.
It's such a delight to see how Rae becomes a part of this group of friends. As they fall in love with her, so do we. Despite her problems, we are won over by her great taste in music, sense of humour and quirkiness. As the audience, we don't pity Rae; we root for her.
Although Rae has a tonne of problems, the "normality" of her thoughts is refreshing. She fantasizes about being thin (a poignant part of the series is when she imagines herself unzipping her skin and removing a fat suit to reveal a thin person inside). She's horny and she fancies cute boys and just wants to fit in. But her thoughts are also hilarious. Of her gorgeous docter, "he's the expert moistener of lady gardens". When she first meets Archie, "I'd shag him until there was nothing left", and the follow up in her diary: "I've decided. There are three ways Archie is going to go out with me. One: If he's secretly got a thing for big women like Lenny Henry has for Dawn French. Two: Apocalyptic catastrophe takes out all the other women on the earth and therefore my humps become a precious commodity. Three: I feed him biscuits until he's fat too."
Rae deals with her fair share of humiliation, some of which are things all fat girls will relate to, like being invited to your best friend's pool party and wondering what the hell you're going to wear in the pool. Being constantly harassed and called "Jabba" by the local bullies, coming out of the toilet cubicle at a restaurant and realising you have a "jam stain" on you skirt. And then other common struggles for fat girls (or any girl): living in the shadow of a pretty and thin best friend, growing up in a single parent home, falling in love with boys that you perceive to be "out of your league" because of your size.
Despite these struggles, Rae has some pretty awesome experiences too, and the final episode doesn't disappoint as it heads towards one of the most beautiful and genuine love scenes I've ever seen. You'll need a tissue handy, and I'd be surprised if you didn't rewind it to watch it again, and then dig out your Oasis albums and listen to Champagne Supernova on repeat for the next two hours.
I kid you not - this show will be in my heart forever.
