deku_link
Since: Aug, 2014
03/16/2015 07:52:57
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Series Actually pretty funny
I was surprised about how much I liked this show, as a lot of children's programming on Netflix is garbage. It was actually pretty funny though.
Take Goosebumps, extract all actual horror from it while keeping the monsters, toss it into a blender with some decent jokes and puppets and you get Strange Hill High. All in all, it's a pretty good show, but probably not my favorite. 4/5
Series Well done, CBBC
To me, CBBC hasn't really impressed me in the last few years, and only seem to be putting on live-action sitcoms that are clearly not for a teenager like me that likes shows like Xiaolin Showdown and Totally Spies!. But this show surprised me, because it's the first cartoon on the channel in ages that has made me laugh and want to watch more.
The humour is clever and the references to other media is precise. I was rather amazed at how much a show on a channel like this managed to grip my attention faster than anything else that's been on that channel recently. Then again, I'm not surprised at how in-joke the entire show is considering that one of the former writers of The Simpsons that were one of the writers during that show's early seasons.
I also love how precise the character stereotypes are. This being a British show set in a high school, you'll hardly expect the Obnoxious Jock stereotype that goes around bullying others and his Bitchy Cheerleader Girlfriend and her posse of vapid cheerleading teammates like most high school shows that are sometimes shown on CBBC. One may argue that some of these stereotypes are in every high school sitcom, but not really. I highly doubt most of those versions are in everyone's high schools, but I managed to identify people I knew in high school with every single teenage character in this show.
Also some of the plot-points were relatable to me too. The lost property cupboard that no one ever went to, the school library everyone avoided at lunchtime (mostly because there were no school computers), the messy playground that was never cleaned up are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head.
I love this series. I think it's the sort that wouldn't get tired of itself and could actually go on for a long time. It's never given enough recognition for how entertaining and clever and self-aware it is. I know it's extreme, but I think it needs to be awarded its success if it hasn't been already.