I am a big fan of the series, despite its having a few minor faults. It varies quite a lot from the book, more so as the series progress. I find Sugar particularly to be a very believable character, and it is good to see a real, uncensored teenage character being shown on terrestrial television. She drinks, smokes, takes drugs, is foul-mouthed, promiscuous and completely non-PC, and in my opinion is a much more realistic representation of a teenager than is usually seen, particularly in these teen drama type shows. Kim too is a believable character, and I think many teenage girls could identify with what she goes through. However, I do think that the writers could have perhaps focused a bit more on her struggle to identify her sexuality - she goes from an innocent, virginal type character to a wild, sex-crazed lesbian with hardly any time to stop and ponder her sexual preferences. I find it hard to believe that any teenager could be so quick to identify as gay without the slightest bit of confusion or worry. Also, she never officially comes out to her parents, and we just assume that after Series 1 ends that they, ahem, 'figure it out'. I think they could have done much better to have shown a realistic parent-teenager 'coming out' conversation, as this would be something a lot of viewers could relate to. In Series 1 Sugar Rush gets a little more far-fetched, and Saint is a bit of a two-dimensional character, but it's still a brilliant show, and I can't wait for Series 3! (supposedly coming to Channel 4 in around March 2007, or so I've heard)
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JCdizzystar19 December 2006
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jboothmillard13 July 2005I admit when I first saw the advert I was interested in the lesbian storyline, but it turned out to be much more than that, it turned out to be one of the best British dramas I have seen in years. Basically attractive Kim (Olivia Hallinan) is a virgin obsessed with her best friend, the gorgeous Maria "Sugar" Sweet (Lenora Crichlow), and she knows she is a genuine lesbian by the end, when they do finally get each other. It is when Sugar gets arrested that Kim moves on and finds love with sex shop owner and DJ, Saint (Sarah-Jane Potts), and they really struggle to cope with all the distractions around them, and that includes Sugar. The sub-plot also sees Kim's parents, dad Nathan (Richard Lumsden) and mum Stella (Sara Stewart) first coping with an affair, and then becoming more interested in sex with other people, i.e. swinging. Oh, and you see Kim's brother Matt (Kurtis O'Brien) a couple of times too. It is serious, it is funny, and it is brilliantly written, a great adaptation of some popular books (by Julie Burchill). It was nominated the BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series "production team", and it won the International Emmy for Children and Young People UK. Very good!
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KiteVega5 August 2007Sugar Rush is a brilliant comedy drama who's strength lay in its ability to combine completely opposing views to dramatic affect. It keeps its moral tones (such as treat others as you'd like to be treated, the significance of parental responsibility and the importance of tolerance) pinned down under plenty of outrageously amoral antics to stop the show from ever becoming preachy, and places harsh reality beside blatantly idealistic situations to keep things ticking along in the lightest vein possible. The whole show is saturated with the bright colours, loud music and stop-start, jumpy energy that made Burchill's book so renowned, and, in my opinion, uses these elements to even greater effect. However I have to point out here that the 8 out of 10 stars is most definitely reserved for Series 1. The next (and, unfortunately now, final series of Sugar Rush) series that take place 18 months later has abandoned much of the drama and pathos that made its predecessor so compelling. Yes, Kim's 'Out and Proud' - as you'd expect - but a year and a half later she still seems to have an extremely limited circle of friends, a desperately dysfunctional couple of parents who now border caricature, a brother who has miraculously aged about 6 years and - here it comes - a love interest she conveniently meets a few weeks before Sugar's release from prison. In fact the only remote inkling we get of the supposed 18-month gap is the fact that Kim is now attending 'college' as opposed to rotting away in year 10 at slummy Ravendene Comp. In terms of character there is no real difference and the story carries straight on from the last episode, admittedly with a butt-load of cheap jokes at the lesbian community's expense and a couple of really, really daft episodes that left me scratching my head (episode 7, featuring a Russian gangster and an obvious tribute to BBC1's Hustle was a real mind-bender). Despite this fall in standards I am still gutted this programme was dropped, as I would've liked to have seen if it could've redeemed itself in the future.
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MagentaLady20 August 2005'Sugar Rush' is unlike anything I've ever seen on TV before. On the surface it's a teen drama but it's really incredibly adult, hence its late-night slot on Channel 4. Some bits are most definitely not suitable for children, although it's more what's said than what's shown, and there is a lot of clever innuendo which completely passed me by on the first viewing. It doesn't tiptoe around anything; Kim is in love with Sugar and it's cute, but she's also 'sexually obsessed' with her and the programme makes no secret of the fact that she'd love to get into her best friend's pants.
It sounds like a recipe for every man's lesbian fantasies and from the first couple of episodes it might look like that's how it's going to turn out, but this programme had me totally hooked by the 3rd or 4th instalment and once it passed the half way point, I would probably have done a serious injury to anyone who'd made me miss an episode. I was in floods of tears more than once, which wasn't something I'd expected from the quirky comedy-drama I'd seen advertised. Kim is such a compelling character, and I just wanted to reach out and give her a hug every time she got screwed over yet again. The sub-plot of her parents' marriage falling apart was probably what hit me the hardest, with Richard Lumsden giving an incredible, heart-breaking performance as Nathan the well-meaning house-husband. The whole thing was so well written that just a few words uttered by one of the characters could mean so much, and stir up unbelievable amounts of emotion in me. There's also a slightly surreal style to the way the whole series is shot, which makes it all that little bit more compelling. However, the music contributed a lot to the brilliance of the TV programme for me, which meant I wasn't too happy to find it had almost all been changed on the DVD for 'contractual reasons'.
Olivia Hallinan is a fantastic actress who is definitely going places. What makes her so brilliant and sets her apart from other young actresses is her ability to downplay the role and keep Kim introverted, saying so much with her face and her eyes while keeping her lines almost deadpan at times, so that when she does bring out the emotion in her voice you can really feel it pouring out of her. For me, Lenora Crichlow was the perfect counterpart to this, making me hate Sugar most of the time yet still letting me understand Kim's infatuation with her.
This programme is utterly compelling and while I would give anything for another series, part of me hopes there isn't one, because it was so beautifully crafted that it would be a shame to see it fall apart with any more added to it. -
this series is amazing!! It is truly one of the best shows i have ever seen. the characters are relateable and funny. sugar and Kim are both beautiful and not stereo typed at all. They both convey emotions realistically and are extremely talented in there own way. the shows main brilliance is the fact that is deals with English teen culture in a true(slightly OTT but it is television)way, as a teenager i found most of the story lines very realteable and saw many of the characters in my friends. The only episode i found unrealistic was the last episode... but it is also oddly my favourite. Although it is over the top is develops the characters and Lenora Crichlow is amazing as sugar in that episode. shocking, different, emotional, realistic, relateable, strong, sexual. all words i would use to describe sugar rush one of my favourite shows on T.V.
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I thought this drama was excellent. It covered a subject that had been skirted around previously and drew in a vary of audiences. The way there are numerous plot lines taking place really keeps the program exciting and makes you eager for the next installment a week later. I was hooked on it and thought both actresses played an extremely convincing role. A teenage virgin lesbian who is in love with her best friend is a simple, yet effective plot line which is open to all possibilities and twists. All the characters binded together to make this successful drama and kept audiences in awe. Was sad to see it has ended, hopefully there will be further dramas similar to this one that can keep audiences intrigued and curious.
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smallvilleaddict-213 November 2006I have to say, I've become addicted to Sugar Rush. It makes up for all those years I spent as a teenager where there was not a hint of lesbionic viewing was in site. Young lesbians of today should be pleased to have such a show. It's entertaining, funny and regularly shocking. Kim's life is messed up but you don't realize to what extent until she narrates it at the start of the next episode. Still, in Season 2 she's starts to pull it together when she meets Saint. At least she has the love sorted. Her family, are another matter. and of course there's the CC. Wicked! You find yourself wanting to be there or anywhere like it. Careful people, this one's addictive!
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libster2322 May 2006I love the series of sugar rush because I an relate to it so much, And I really feel as though I am feeling the the same feelings that Kim is, I have been there...But its aways nice to look back. I think that the series was good which is why now i have ordered the book off amazon, I am on my second chapter in it but the girls names seems to be saint and not sugar, The series I loved it though so i am not going to knock the book just yet because I am only 1 chapter into it! I wish there was more programmes like this, most of the time i find myself watching sugar rush over and over again, I hope there is a second series I cant wait, and the first series was well worth the money i paid for the DVD!
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neazy9 February 2018Garish, often frustratingly hammy, but well acted and very watchable. I can forgive a lot from writing that cares about its characters, which this evidently does - a show that has heart.
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jennabrown61 September 2006OK i Loooovvveee Sugar rush and have recently bought the book and series one and town on DVD!!! I had been watching the series on TV for a while and was quite shocked when the book was completely different to the series main similarity was the names!!!! but still i enjoyed it!! The performances but all r outstanding and have made me cry and laugh and relate the show works on so many levels for son many people!!! Only thing is that the songs on the DVD r not the ones on the TV so i was wondering if anyone would send me a full list of songs from TV for series one and two and a full song list of songs from DVD series one and two i would be forever grateful!!! my email address is jennabrown6@yahoo.co.uk or even if u could send me a site to go to that would give me that information!!! any help would be grateful!! Thanx xxxx
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MovieB9923 January 2007The has to be one of the best TV shows I have seen with a lesbian main character. Nothing in the US comes close to comparing with this show. It is not about her coming out, it is about her relationships and odd family dynamic. I loved this show from go till the very end of season 2. I am sad that there are not shows as amazing as this one on in the US. I am blow away by the candor and honesty of the show. Can't wait to see season three and recommend the show to anyone and everyone. Sarah-Jane Potts is to die for in season 2, Sugar is the epitome of a love hate relationship, and Kim is stunning as the lead in the show. Even Kim's parents and brother are extremely enjoyable. Make sure you check this show out.
This show deserves 10 stars hands down. -
It was back when LGBTQ whatever series, didn't have to be antagonistic to appeal to « most ». There were no preachiness or hidden agendas, because it was a show that never shied away from its true intentions, and ended up exactly where it intended to. Season one had the perfect balance of after school special and wacky storylines. But season two didn't, and I started to lose interest near the end of the series. British series have this way of entertaining you with relatable characters and situations. Sugar Rush had a great premise. Who never went through this? Wether you identify with Kim or Sugar, you can watch the series and recall your own secret crush, or the person you suspected had one for you. Apart from the show straying from its promising premise, another thing I didn't like about season 2, was how the Sugar character becomes too larger than life, and her over the top adventures and unrealistic storylines, made her storylines less believable. As colorful as Kim's family was (to say the least) her own were more grounded in reality and day to day events. It's a bold series, and is far more appealing and relevant than all of today's woke nonsense, so it is worth checking (online mostly).
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I think it deals with the issues very well, and it does it in a comedic way without causing offence. i definitely recommend it even if u are not going through what Kim is. I definitely can relate to Kim in some of the issues and it has made me see the funny side of it. I think the actors who play Kim and Sugar are very talented. I hope it will be released on DVD as i think it is well worth getting it. The music used in the series is also very good. I give this programme 10/10 and highly recommend it to any teenager dealing with the issues or not. I also think the brother from another planet is very well used as most people with brothers feel they come from another planet but the brothers don't if you get me.
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bluboi1 June 2006hey. I'm in sugar rush 2 (as Matt) and trust me, Sugar Rush 2 is going 2 be great. Every1 should have something 2 look forward 2. Weird things happen like changes in the family and more hilarious moments 2 enjoy. I can't tell u much more about the show but i can guarantee lots of laughs and tears. If u would like n e give-aways then feel free to e-mail me at bluboi@hotmail.co.uk and yes i did get this name from being blue in the first series!!!!!!! loads of people started calling me it so i made it!!!!!!! Hope u like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry about all of the exclamation marks but i needed 2 take up space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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jackcleere9 August 2023My god this series was ahead of its time... it has that skins/shameless kind of allure two it and sugar is the perfect object of interest with her effy stonem persona, a true British icon. Kim is a complex protagonist who is extremely difficult to get behind however, I think she embodies the angst and untamed frustration of many queer teens. Even though I didn't want to to relate to her I ultimately did. Together the two girls are a match made in hell.. the perfect gruesome twosome to carry such a fiesty/unrelenting show. The family are brilliantly performed and balance them well. Cancelling this was a big mistake by channel 4 and a definite indication of the times. I don't blame the lead actresses for condemning the decision so hard. A true tragedy.
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scowl8 May 2007Not many Americans have seen this show (and with only twenty episodes, that's not likely to change) so I thought I throw a word in. I bought the first season because I buy lots of DVDs in PAL format since they have higher resolution and cost just a few dollars more to ship overseas. I stumbled upon this show which sounded like a lesbian My So-Called Life, one of the most celebrated shows about teenage life that barely survived one season on ABC.
The first few episodes are not all that good. Kim is manipulative and kind of despicable but at least is honest to herself about it (thanks to the voice overs, another thing that made My So-Called Life wonderful). It's easy to root for her because she's pretty and surrounded by awful people. Sugar and her mom are sluts, her father is clueless and spineless, and her younger brother is suffering from mental problems so severe I can't believe I'm supposed to laugh at them. Kim apparently had a lot of friends recently (look at the numbers on her cell phone) but dropped them once Sugar arrived and getting her seems to be the only focus of her life. She has no interest in checking out the gay clubs in Brighton where even a closeted minor can socialize and find friends.
There are some good attempts at light humor as Kim manipulates her mom and Sugar or have events unexpectedly go her way (in the clever "crabs" episode for example) but a lot of jokes go flat (like the "date rape" episode). At that point it's not much more than a funny soap opera and I'm wondering if this show is ever going to take itself seriously. If the DVD set hadn't traveled thousands of miles to me, I probably would have lost interest in it.
Then, in a swirling scene, one of Kim's clever tricks pays off big time! The light humorous tone disappears and the show suddenly and completely comes alive. Finally, the drama I've been waiting for arrives and it's intense and believable. Kim's relationship with Sugar becomes dramatically real and we see just how much she's put her heart on the line for her. The motivations behind her mother's cheating come out and a real mother-daughter relationship develops. Her father becomes a stronger, more sympathetic character and less of a running joke. Even the humor improves. I've never seen a show take off like this.
Also, I'm glad to see a series that shows that color EXISTS in Britain. We Americans see so many drab-looking British shows, we all think every day must be gray and cloudy there (well, every day I've been there was). Nearly every scene is full of blazingly saturated colors (much like our Veronica Mars) and the outdoor scenes on the Brighton Pier are wonderfully colorful and beautiful. -
xena4gab23 July 2006I disagree with Simon. I assume he's a straight man that has no idea of what it's like growing up and realising your gay with no-one to turn to.
Admittedly the novel wasn't particularly easy to read but I think the television adaptation is excellent. The cast are all fantastic actors and I love the humour. As I've been through the whole 'unrequited love for a friend' experience myself I can fully identify with Kizza's emotions and I'm sure most people, whatever their sexual orientation can identify with the whole dating experience.
It's about time we had more programmes like this in the mainstream, then perhaps it would be easier for teenagers to come out, without facing the fear of ignorant backlash from uninformed heterosexuals. -
andrewslamb13 April 2007I caught the first series of Sugar Rush on Channel 4 when it was screened but missed the second series. I bought them both last week and what a great time I have had catching up and getting to know what happened in the second series. Basically Sugar Rush is a coming of age drama, Kim Daniels(wonderfully played by the deliciously cute Olivia Hallinan)starts out as a closet lesbian who is love with her best friend Maria "Sugar" Sweet,(again a great performance from Lenora Crichlow who plays Sugar as a selfish but reliable friend to Kim) as the first series goes on we see how the girls friendship grows and lasts through various challenges such as Kim coming out to her friend. The second series builds on the first and introduces the character of Saint(Sarah) as played by Sarah Jane Potts,played wonderfully.In Season 2 there are trials and tribulations before she and Kim get together in the final episode. The final scene with the three girls all together is moving and funny. Kim has all she ever wanted a girl to love and her best friend staying with her. A big call goes out to the supporting cast the wonderful cast with Sara Stewart playing the wonderfully immature Stella and Richard Lumsden as the pinny wearing father, Nathan. A final call goes to Kurtis O'Brian who plays Kim's young brother who goes from believing he is from another planet to being a transvestite in season 2.
Al in all a great piece of drama, well written, well performed and it makes one think about growing up, friendship love and the struggles therein. One major disappointment is that Channel 4 haven't vouched for a third season. Ah well maybe one day!! -
Hashimuri16 January 2007A quick sum-up: This show has no depth and no subtlety. The editing and cinematography make you feel like you're watching MTV. It's a bit insulting to assume young adult viewers lack attention spans and need to be bombarded by fast cuts, loud music, over-the-top humour and non-realistic dialogue. Considering the premise for the show holds infinite potential, there is no excuse for doing such a lousy job!
To expand: Too many people defend this show simply for addressing the issue of a teenage girl's homosexual feelings, finally bringing such a "taboo" theme to mainstream TV. Well, that's hardly a feat when, as another reviewer posted, the show makes a mockery of sexuality. Okay, I'll give it 2 stars for not having a moralistic spin, but the way it portrays sexuality and just life itself, is hardly realistic or even intelligent (I mean, genres like satire or comedy can definitely be deep and captivating without being realistic, so long as they're intelligent!). This show treats the process of coming to terms with sexuality in such a facetious way - there is no development. I think it can be portrayed positively and yet with depth. I'm not saying that just because Kim is gay she has to agonise over it, or get depressed - it's great that she's embracing of it and just really, really wants to get laid. Great! You'd think the stage would be set for a witty, fun, no-frills drama. WRONG. Not even "fun" is handled well in this show - all the situations are so contrived, just aiming to "shock" viewers. Plus too much time is spent on Kim's parents and their sex life, which doesn't advance the storyline that people actually care about, so it's a bit WTF?! all around.
P.S.: And has nobody else actually noticed that Kim and Sugar have NO CHEMISTRY? It's hard to build a lesbian-themed show around two characters when their on screen interaction is so hollow and unconvincing. I won't blame the actresses, I'll blame the script and the show's creators. -
bandwagonesque_9122 September 2005First thing's first. Perhaps at the grand ole' age of 21 I'm too old to have a valid opinion on teenage fiction but the book the TV show is based on is, as 15 year-olds round my way like to say, a pile of crud. The fact that Channel 4 even considered adapting such a waste of trees for prime-time TV amazes me. What amazes me even more, however, is what a great job they made of it throughout this 10-part series. Although the fast-paced narration and eye-assaulting camera-work give it a "yoof drama" feel that belies the 18-cert sex and swearing, the acting is of a consistently high standard (Olivia Hallinan could well be the next Charlotte Coleman) and the script pleasingly sharp. Some of the characters are impressively well-drawn. Go down to any shopping centre in the country on a Saturday afternoon and you'll find ten versions of the central character Sugar. Nathan the houseproud father and Dale the dim handyman are also convincing even though Stella and Matt are far-fetched. My only real gripe with the show is the characterisation of 15 year-old Kim. As someone whose life was made miserable by largely internalised sexuality issues a couple of years later than that, I felt that at times her wry, breezy narration of her adversity was not entirely realistic for somebody of that age (even someone of her supposed intelligence and maturity) in that big a situation. Then again, fiction is fiction and some of the lighter moments made me laugh out loud. I am very glad they released it on DVD, as it is something fit to be enjoyed again and again.
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fairytree-17 July 2005The TV adaptation of Sugar Rush is at all nothing like the book. The characters are different, there are some missing, some added and the story lines hardly the same. However i find that its much more interesting than the book as some of the things are hardly realistic. I have mixed feelings about the adaptation, if i was Julie Burchill i would be extremely angry about the way the book has been handled. However the TV adaptation is much more appealing than the book. Sugar Rush really appeals to teenagers who can perhaps relate to Kim in dealing with the issues of being attracted to your best friend. Or any girl for that matter.
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HMForster29 June 2005Hmm. I'm intrigued, blissfully happy, and yet undoubtedly worried about this programme. I'd love it if Kim and Sugar had an intimate moment, which started a journey of discovery; Sugar gets freaked, then confused, then realises she feels something for Kim too, and they build on these feelings (new to Sugar, old to Kim) cautiously and lovingly. I doubt this will happen. I think Sugar will 'try it out', and ultimately not care about Kim in that way, which will be devastating to Kim in the end.
Awesome soundtrack, awesome acting from Olivia and Lenora...but I think the outcome will bug me. -
TheArgentWolf10 June 2005From not reading the book, I'm not too sure what I was going to make of the series. But the series seemed to jump too quickly into the story. Sugar is a quite annoying character, and I don't know if that is because of the character, or because Lenora Crichlow can't act. I think the only person that seems to save this series is Olivia Hallinan, because she's an excellent character.
A positive thing to say is that I can relate to Kim when it comes to the sexual feelings for girls, though I don't feel her desperation to have sex.
At the moment, the storyline doesn't seem much to me, which is why I plan on reading the book before next week. A good try, but let's hope it gets better. -
When there are so many scripts every year that don't get made and plenty of much better books that don't get televised, why was this chosen? Its rather depressing isn't it, especially when all Birchill was wanting to do was stir up Middle England. Excuse me, they don't care! The only programmes that really get people wound up (Men Only, Brimstone and Treacle, whatever) are good ones: that's why Mary Whitehouse used to attack The Sweeney and not The A Team. If its hollow it won't be taken seriously enough to bother moralists.
And isn't it nice to know that Birchill considers a teenage discovering she's bi-sexual makes "a perverted little work"? This is the usual roller-coaster-directed Channel 4 insular media view of the world, a middle-class attempt to shock. Teenagers probably like to claim its accurate because that way it makes them seem hard. -
lil_pink_lady17084 June 2006Am i the only bisexual/lesbian girl who feels completely let down by Sugar Rush? I think the whole series has been made into a lesbian love fest and is more about sex than it is about Kim coming to terms with her sexuality. It doesn't play much on how she actually copes with becoming a lesbian, she basically mocks it. I know from experience that it is extremely difficult knowing that you're something and having everyone else thinking you are someone different!I think the way it has been handled is completely immature. Especially when Kim's mum had an affair with the builder...I mean come on, do people honestly have mothers like that? I wish they'd have actually got some input from lesbian/bisexual girls. i now it was based on a novel but the way they portrayed the sexuality was like it was some sort of joke for people to laugh at.