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Entertainment April 2, 2020
There are lots of Skam remakes to choose from, but which ones are worth the watch?
The popular Norwegian teen drama that took the world by storm, got a LOT of remakes. The original Skam was innovative in the way that it broke down its episodes into pseudo-realtime clips. The show had such authentic characters. The authenticity didn’t just come from characters having their own Instagram accounts. The realness also came across in the way the drama was filmed.
Creator Julie Andem developed such relatable stories that never talked down to teens. The show simply existed as a soft, but fun look into the lives of teenagers finding their way in the world.
At a time where shows like outrageous teen dramas like Riverdale are dominating and gems like Skins and Degrassi are no longer around, Skam is a breath of fresh air. Although the original isn’t around anymore, the Skam remakes are alive and well and here is my ranking of them from best to worst:
Controversial opinion, I know. Skam Italia is one of the most popular remakes, but does it live up to the hype? Not really. I get why people love it; Rome is beautiful, the actors are beautiful and everything has a certain splash of raunchiness that other versions don’t. But that’s also exactly why it’s at the bottom of my list.
A big part of the charm of the original Skam was that the characters actually looked like teenagers. In Skam Italia, you can’t really say the same, so in that way, it loses what makes Skam great: authenticity.
There was such a softness to Skam that Skam Italia just doesn’t have. Especially in the first season where Eva is the main character. Eva is different in every remake, but for the most part, all Evas maintain a soft-spoken nature throughout the first season. Which is what makes it satisfying when you see her make new friends and break out of her shell a little bit. In Skam Italia Eva is feisty from the beginning, which is fine, but it makes one question why she doesn’t confront her problems head-on from the start and it takes away from her development.
Then there is the Sana problem. In Skam Italia Skam’s titular female Muslim “loser” is played by a non-muslim white woman. This also just makes the show lose its sense of realness. But Skam Italia isn’t all bad, it’s one of the only versions with a plus-sized Chris. Plus, its version of William seems less “problematic” than the original Skam’s.
To be fair some of the feistiness that Skam Italia has may just come with the culture. With its supermodel actors and more provocative energy, it doesn’t feel like Skam, but something that belongs on the CW.
Belgium’s version of Skam is definitely the most innocent remake. Maybe that’s just Jana’s (WtFOCK’s Eva) braces talking, but there’s just such a sweet energy that this remake gives off. I’ve seen fans call this remake something along the lines of “Skam’s little sister” and that description is so accurate.
The characters look even more like kids than in the original and I love the honest feel that gives. WtFOCK’s shortcoming is that it’s simply not as memorable as the other remakes. The remake is definitely cute and maintains Skam’s original vibe, but doesn’t do anything to push the envelope at all.
Druck used to be in my personal top three Skam remakes because it is by far the softest of all the remakes. This German version of Skam truly does capture tender quiet moments in a way that even the original didn’t. I love that their version of Isak (Matteo) is more of a sweet, but depressed stoner. Though it was sad to see that a lot of his more romantic scenes were cut out for angst. But in a way, I understand that Matteo’s story was more about friendship than it was about romance.
As for Druck’s version of Noora (Mia), she is such a badass, but purposely lying about being a lesbian (mad respect to her bisexuality) was somewhat offputting. And although Druck’s William (Alexander) had more of a backstory and had a goofier sense of humor it still didn’t make up for how he treated some of female characters beforehand.
Despite its small flaws, Druck really does have this mellow yet dorky vibe that makes it worth the watch. Not to mention its the only remake with some transgender representation.
Once upon a time, Skam France was at the bottom of my list. But its third and fourth seasons really changed the game. Skam France was the first-ever Skam remake and, man, was it bland. The first two seasons of this French remake were basically redoing the original word for word. Skam France felt like…bootleg Skam. But with the rise of other remakes, Skam France’s quality rose as well. I guess the writers of Skam France realized after having all of the other remakes come out that it was actually a good thing to mix things up.
And man did they mix things up. When season three came out it felt like a completely revitalized show. I found myself actually excited for new episodes. France’s version of Isak (Lucas) was so refreshing. The original Isak, while adorable and obviously struggling, seemed like he looked down on the women of the show (with the exception of Sana).
I know that this was due to him being afraid to come out and seem feminine. But it was still disappointing that he wasn’t close to any of the girls in the show. Skam France changed Isak for the better by really giving him that relationship with the “girl squad.” This relationship was so needed and actually helped him grow.
When it comes to season four of Skam France, it also changed up a lot from the original. Some of its changes were good, like the addition of dancing when it came to its versions of Sana (Imane), Yousef, (Sofiane) and Chris (Alexia). Other changes were not so good, like having their versions of Noora and Yousef date. But for the most part, it was exciting to watch Imane destroy the “angry black girl” narrative.
I’m definitely excited for Skam France’s fifth season which will be the first-ever fifth season of Skam! Skam France has grown up to be a must-see!
In a lot of ways, the Netherland’s version of Skam is the best version of Skam. Though, there are two important factors that stop me from putting it at the top of my list. The first big factor, this version doesn’t have a foreseeable queer female lead. And while, yeah, the original doesn’t either, it just seems like something in the show is missing due to it.
When the original Skam was still on, a lot of queer girls in the fandom felt disappointed in the fact that the show did so much for queer men, but often treated queer women like a joke or spectacle. For example when Vilde assumed that Noora was a lesbian and everyone laughed. Or whenever girls would make out in the show but just as a show for boys.
A lot of the remakes have changed that part of Skam for the better by representing queer women (Mia in Druck, Alexia in Skam France, Shay in Skam Austin and Cris & Joana in Skam España). Skam NL does have Jana who appears to be bi or pansexual, but it doesn’t seem like she will be given the main “Isak” role. This doesn’t make Skam NL bad, it just puts it at a point where although it’s mastered the art of adaptation, it just can’t compete with versions who have a female “Isak.”
On to the next factor that holds Skam NL back; their version of Sana (Imaan) sort of disappears around the second half of season one. Apparently, the actress who played Imaan couldn’t continue to play the role. So, in season two instead of recasting Imaan, the writer’s decided to say that the character had simply left to take care of a sick relative. The writers then proceeded to introduce an entirely new female Muslim character that never existed in the original Skam.
This kind of throws the whole show off course since Sana is such a quintessential part of the “girl squad” and is supposed to be the center of season four. The new character is older and doesn’t go to school with the rest of the girls and it seems like it will be hard for the show to juggle the right dynamic given this turn of events.
As previously mentioned, Skam NL is still known to many as “the best remake” and for a lot of reasons. The cinematography is stunning and has these peculiar but fun dream sequences. Isa is by far the most likable and cute version of Eva. But by far what makes Skam NL one of the great Skam remakes is that it has the healthiest and most endearing version of Noora (Liv) and William (Noah), a couple that is originally infamous for being sort of problematic.
Okay, so I’m definitely biased when it comes to ranking this remake so high. Not only because I’m American, but also because I’m Hispanic and there is a lot of Latinx representation in this remake. Obviously, this being the American remake, I relate to Skam Austin in a way that I just can’t with the other remakes.
But I don’t think my love for Skam Austin is solely due to it being American. After all, Skins U.S. does exist and I know for a fact that show is complete garbage. I genuinely believe that Skam Austin is amazing and there are several reasons why. Reason number one being it’s without a doubt the funniest remake. I cannot count how many times Skam Austin’s version of Chris (Jo) has made me laugh. The video down below is the perfect example of Skam Austin’s comedic genius (otherwise known as Josefina Valencia).
Skam Austin is also great because it has my favorite version of Vilde (Kelsey). Like all of the Vildes she has her problematic moments, but Kelsey seems the most real and goofy. Her heart to heart with Grace (Skam Austin’s Noora) was the moment I always needed between Vilde and Noora.
Some fans believed season two moved slow but I loved that Skam Austin gave Grace’s sexual assault storyline the time and attention it deserved. A lot of fans also hate on Skam Austin’s version of Eva (Megan), but I love this more sad portrayal of Megan especially since her family situation is so different from the other Eva’s.
My absolute favorite part of Skam Austin is that it keeps me on my toes. Despite having watched the same storyline eight times now Skam Austin still manages to keep me questioning what is going to happen next. This is due to it having new storylines (the romance between Jo and Jo, the green nail polish mystery) and the introduction of new characters (Poonam, Tyler, and Hunter).
Two of the greatest parts of Skam Austin; having such a cool and beautiful female version of Isak (Shay) and a band in the show called Clout From Grandma’s Closet which you can watch down below.
Similar to Skam Austin, Skam España ranks highest because it completely keeps you guessing even though its a remake. The first season came with a lot of surprises. I won’t give away too much, but let’s just say the snake who tells on Eva’s little cheating scandal isn’t the character it usually is.
But that’s not the only way Skam España has flipped the script. Also similar to Skam Austin, Skam España also has a super funny and gorgeous female version of Isak (Cris). But the strange thing is Skam España’s Isak is also its Chris which surprisingly works super well and makes for an entirely unique version of Skam. What’s better than watching Isak’s adorable angst mixed with Chris’s lighthearted humor?
What really makes Skam España feel special isn’t just the fact that it changed aspects, but honestly, I think it has the best cast. There is something about their chemistry that works perfectly. The romances are some of the purest of all the remakes and the same goes for the friendships.
Skam España is equally as fun as it is heartfelt. This remake does all of the things adaptation should do, it takes risks but keeps the overall same feeling and heart of its original source material.
