There are some shows that are just better to watch with friends. And ABC Family’s “Huge” is one of them.
As I had mentioned in my blog last week -having screened the first few episodes, I had the advantage of knowing where some of the character arcs seemed to be heading but what I couldn’t possibly know was how my Actionist Network® or other members of the Confidence Community™ would react to the show.
There has been a lot of build up and skepticism about whether or not this show would demean plus size teens (any more than they already are demeaned in the media) or whether this show would glorify the complex issue of obesity that we face in this country. Some were hopeful that this show could finally claim normalcy for those who rarely see themselves represented in the TV shows they religiously watch.
But I never could have predicted how much I would have enjoyed watching the series premiere of “Huge” along with hundreds and thousands of twitter followers and facebook fans. And I am typically quite adverse to the community viewing events because it is hard to focus on my own experience when I am so surrounded by other people’s opinions (which is why I almost ALWAYS watch awards shows by myself!) However, a show like “Huge” actually invites you on some level to watch it with a community because it addresses issues so deeply buried by mainstream teen programming and so deeply emotional for many of the viewers, that watching solo may not be as satisfying.
For instance, when Will (played by Nikki Blonsky) says “I’m kinda down with my fat, we are like BFF’s”, you could almost hear the collective clicking of keyboards begin their tweeting (and re tweeting!) The character of Will, I know stirred up some anger in my fellow community of viewers because Will herself is a polarizing figure with a defiant (and almost painful to watch) confidence about her body size. At first, she is determined not to succumb to the pressure of Camp Victory and lose weight as she declares quite bluntly “I don’t want to change myself. Why should I?”
I wasn’t thrilled (or surprised) when Will steps in the way of her own progress or others by dealing ding dongs out of the bathroom stall (the food/fat stereotype in full swing) but when she gets caught in the Diner trying to escape (and ordering fries and a shake to stuff down her feelings) we can feel her facade busting with cracks of real emotion and vulnerability (and we get to see the softer side of Camp Leader Rand, too).
Will represents the voice of the outside world. Not just for overweight people but for anyone who has felt societal pressure to conform, conceal, or change an aspect of who they truly are. The character of Will is flawed (sometimes annoying) and very much the conflicted heart of this show. But it’s because we are all Will to some degree. Struggling with the real desire to become healthier in our lifestyle but on our own terms. Developing a personality that copes with the pressure by being in your face and replacing authentic confidence with bravado that evaporates as soon as there is a chance to be fully heard. Will in many ways is a “Very Hungry Girl“, same as I was as teen – hungry to fill up on life, hungry to be seen as the meaningful person she is, and hungry to belong, to really belong to a group who gets her.
You know a show is striking a chord when during the first episode viewers begin picking sides between the leads. It wasn’t long before my twitter friends began a “Team Amber” or “Team Will” debate. I felt a collective sigh of relief from our community that these characters were also revealed to be incredibly likable with their initial struggles with group pecking order, cliques, and butterfly inducing crushes — exactly the real-life dramas that other teens experience (regardless of body size).
But beyond the everyday trials of being a teen in America, this show began to unravel for many young viewers some important questions and fodder for conversation that can actually jump from the category of entertainment to valuable personal insights. A lot of teens posted about relating to the “dieting since she was 10 years old” Amber, sharing about the already long and painful history with hating their bodies that dieting had already produced! When the more serious storyline of Caitlin’s eating disorder is revealed, the wall posts were filled with questions about how to help a friend and a real desire to better understand how eating disorders are treated (many also hoped the network would offer more info on this topic). For more info on how to help a friend with an ED click here
My fellow Actionist® Melissa Atkins Wardy AKA @pigtailpals from Wisconsin, held a viewing party with seven teens in her life (The “Girl Gang”) and they used the conversation starter I put together for the show. Below is a series of her tweets post “Huge”:
@pigtailpals: Girl Gang & I covered your excellent Conversation Starter. They gave excellent answers. What I learned the most was girls (16-19yo) were so happy to see diversity & to get a break from the cultural beauty myth that is omnipresent. Kudos on premier. My Girl Gang of 7 teens talked for HOURS. They’re coming back next wk for round 2!
And I can’t ignore the amazing (and silly) experience that one of my favorite teen Actionists®, Emily-Ann Rigal (or @schmiddlebopper) had watching “Huge” with her mother. Check out the hilarity here:
And in the end, that is all this passionate and realistic Actionist® can ask for in an entertainment program. That it hold the potential to engage layers beneath the stereotyped surface. As I have mentioned before, I can stomach some initial stereotype so that we can eventually move beyond it and allow viewers to acclimate and support the stunning vision and voices of those that are usually marginalized in mainstream media.
You better believe I’ll be tuning in next week and look forward to watching (and talking about ) it with you!
I recently told a boy that I liked him, and now I’m scared to talk to him. What should I do?
