A new BBC Three drama set at a prestigious private school is set to surprise viewers.
New show Boarders, which aired last night, follows the lives of five black London scholarship students attending St Gilbert’s, portrayed as a glitzy school full of outdated traditions.
Jaheim, Leah, Omar, Femi and Toby are forced to endure microaggressions, stereotypes and strange initiation ceremonies typically associated with elite institutions as part of the school’s public relations move to appear more progressive, after a group of students caused a scandal when they filmed themselves serving champagne. about a sleeping wanderer.
And the first episode alone is filled with wild scenes, including a baffling initiation called “the ball run,” rumors of a secret society that worships a satirical cartoonist, and swathes of people asking the main characters if they sell drugs.
The show also doesn’t just use scathing dialogue to exemplify how archaic and cliché St Gilbert’s is.
A new BBC Three drama set at a prestigious private school is set to surprise viewers. In the photo: Students at the show preparing for an initiation ceremony to run naked.
On the way to school, charismatic class clown Toby, played by Sekou Diaby, jokingly declares, “You haven’t had the full private school experience if you don’t come back with an STD and a cocaine habit.”
Elsewhere in the show’s opening minutes, antagonist and bully Rupert (Harry Gilby), who was behind the horrible hobo video, dismissively greets the group as “the scholarships.”
The episode also sees the teens in conflict with the principal over a racist painting of the school’s founder, which he is unwilling to remove.
In another story, ignorant students ask new black students at school if they sell drugs and ask for a “gram” of “creps,” which they mistake for narcotics, rather than being London slang for shoes.
Femi, played by Aruna Jalloh, is also encouraged to join the ‘Rah’scals’ and take part in an initiation ceremony in which he and other boys run naked through the halls.
Elsewhere, talented artist Omar (Myles Kamwendo) scavenges in an attempt to join a secret society dedicated to a satirical cartoonist.
Jaheim, played by Josh Tedeku, is also attacked by Rupert at one point, while another student films the bully kicking him and then urinating in his face.
In his review of the series, James Jackson, for The timeswrote: “The Bullingdon Club has nothing to do with St Gilbert’s, a place which, when not abysmally toxic, comes off as a bit ridiculous with its arcane traditions… and its contrived ‘diversity days’.”
Elsewhere in the show’s opening minutes, antagonist and bully Rupert (Harry Gilby), who was behind the horrific video of the homeless man (portrayed in the show), dismissively greets the group as “the scholarships.”
Elsewhere, talented artist Omar (Myles Kamwendo) scavenges in an attempt to join a secret society dedicated to a satirical cartoonist.
In another story, ignorant students ask new black students at school if they sell drugs and ask for a “gram” of “creps,” which they mistake for narcotics, rather than being London slang for shoes.
Jaheim, played by Josh Tedeku, is also attacked by Rupert at one point, while another student films the bully kicking him and then urinating in his face.
The show also doesn’t skimp on biting dialogue to exemplify how archaic and cliché St Gilbert’s is.
It also references other parts of the show, including a scene in episode two where, in order to go to a party instead of studying, Femi’s roommate encourages him to buy an essay online, written by “brains from the other side of the world who are trying to feed their families. Bless.’
The show’s writer, Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who is also behind the BAFTA-nominated Timewasters, told the bbc that his description of St Gilbert’s was inspired by conversations he had with friends who had attended private schools.
“It was the kind of thing you imagine, the kind of microaggressions and incidents, but the main one was code-switching and learning to survive in that environment,” he told the outlet.
Jaheim, Leah, Omar, Femi, and Toby are forced to endure microaggressions, stereotypes, and strange initiation ceremonies typically associated with elite institutions. Pictured from left to right: Aruna Jalloh as Femi, Jodie Campbell as Leah, Myles Kamwendo as Omar and Sekou Diaby as Toby.
Daniel, who also plays Gus, the teens’ mentor, said they “never shy away” from the show’s difficult moments. Omar and Toby photographed in class.
“I think the show will have universal appeal because we all have to code-switch in some way to survive in life.”
He also revealed that the narrative of the series was partly shaped by his own time as a student at Royal Holloway, University of London, which was “predominantly white, predominantly middle class and it was like a real culture shock”.
Daniel, who also plays Gus, the teenagers’ mentor, said they “never shy away” from the show’s difficult moments, especially when describing how places like St Gilbert’s can be as academically rewarding as they are socially challenging.
Daniel also revealed that the series’ narrative was partly shaped by his own time as a student at Royal Holloway, University of London. Femi photographed in his room
The show’s writer, Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who is also behind the BAFTA-nominated Timewasters, told the BBC that his description of St Gilbert’s was inspired by conversations he had with friends who had attended private schools. Pictured: Josh Tedeku as Jaheim.
The public has already been impressed with the series and is already demanding more on social media.
Jodie Campbell, who plays Leah, the only woman in the scholarship group, told the radio times which he considers to be “an important watch”.
“Showing the education system where institutionalized racism really is, showing it to people who haven’t experienced it in a way that’s not too ‘direct,’ it’s not like I’m preaching, it’s more acceptable,” he explained. .
‘But he is still taking the issues very seriously.
‘I feel like Boarders is a piece of art that can raise awareness among people so that they can hopefully make these institutions change in the future. Visibility is very important.”
The public has already been impressed with the series and is already demanding more.
‘Ok, I need more people to access #Boarders on BBC3/iplayer, please and thank you. “I need a second season like next month.”
“#Boarders on the BBC is pretty good,” another added. “Toby is my favorite and exceptional performance.”
A third wrote: “I watched #Boarders on the BBC last night and it highlights the pretense of elite schools and training people to be future leaders during a childhood removed from real life and responsibility.”
Some viewers have even admitted that it is “triggering” to see a “visceral” portrait of their own experiences in academic institutions.