Within the British teen dramedy Boarders, 5 Black college students of nice intelligence, however modest means, are given scholarships to the elite non-public college St. Gilbert’s. Their presence has little to do with altruism, and loads to do with the varsity’s PR drawback, after a wealthy white scholar posts a video of himself and his buddies harassing an unhoused man. Gus (performed by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who additionally created the sequence) runs the charity that helped choose the 5 fortunate youngsters, and whereas all of them are conscious of the true purpose they’re getting this chance, he encourages them to take full benefit of it. “Don’t be who they count on you to be,” he insists on the drive from South London to the palatial St. Gilbert’s campus.
The children — charismatic Jaheim (Josh Tedeku), political activist Leah (Jodie Campbell), aspiring artist Omar (Myles Kamwendo), intelligent hustler Tobi (Sekou Diaby), and uptight Femi (Aruna Jalloh) — succeed at following Gus’ recommendation to various levels. Defying expectations with this explicit type of present, although, is difficult, as a result of there are solely so many variations doable inside a highschool setting. Irrespective of the nation, period, or cultures concerned, there’ll at all times be conflicts relating to intercourse, class, and age. Daniel Lawrence Taylor isn’t stripping the style all the way down to its essence to start out over, even when he’s chosen a really particular fish-out-of-water state of affairs for his 5 heroes.
There’s nothing flawed with familiarity, nonetheless, if it’s achieved nicely. Boarders (which premiered on BBC Three final month and is now streaming on Tubi) is kind of what you count on it to be, however an excellent instance of that. And it could scratch the itch for anybody already lacking Netflix’s Intercourse Training after it mentioned goodbye again within the fall.
Although the scholarship youngsters are launched to St. Gilbert’s as a unit, Taylor and his collaborators shortly set up them as distinct and fascinating people. The Nigerian-born Femi, as an illustration, does his finest to disassociate himself from the opposite 4, satisfied that Leah’s outspokenness and Tobi’s shenanigans will journey him up en path to a life filled with wealthy and influential buddies. The present additionally retains their educational items at prime of thoughts, typically as a way to handle battle elsewhere, like how Tobi can get away with being a smartass at school as a result of he’s smarter than many of the adults who would possibly in any other case attempt to punish him.
Some tales overlap, and a few largely stand alone. Abby (Assa Kanoute) is cautious each of being buddies with Leah and courting Tobi, partially as a result of she’s slot in so seamlessly with the favored white lady clique that she appears afraid of reminding them that she’s biracial. Omar retains lacking varied adventures organized by Jaheim or Tobi as a result of he’s obsessive about becoming a member of a secret cartooning society which will or might not really exist. And almost all of them run afoul in the course of Rupert (Harry Gilby), the merciless bully whose viral video obtained the newcomers admitted to St. Gilbert’s within the first place.
You’ve seen variations on all of this earlier than, even when Boarders pins a few of them to this explicit second in house and time. Omar is homosexual, however the one one who finds this worthy of a comment is Rupert, after which solely so he can higher calibrate his verbal abuse. And Leah is cautious of the friendship of Mabel (Georgina Sadler) as a result of her new classmate is so palpably determined to be seen as an ally. However the rivalry between Jaheim and Rupert, or Leah’s makes an attempt to problem the authority of Headmaster Bernard (Derek Riddell), might match into many locales and eras with minimal adjustments. There’s some self-awareness — when Jaheim begins flirting with Rupert’s girlfriend Florence (Rosie Graham) to get again at his tormenter, Florence instantly acknowledges and feedback on his motivations — however not a lot that Boarders ever dangers collapsing in on itself. And when it desires to be honest — as with an uncomfortable second again in Jaheim’s dwelling neighborhood the place he, maybe unfairly, accuses the luxury Beatrix (Tallulah Grieve) of performing like a vacationer — the feelings ring true.
The younger actors are all wonderful, particularly as soon as the tone will get a bit extra lighthearted after a incessantly tense opening episode. That type of leisure is one other hallmark of the style. Not all of this works: The present can’t appear to determine whether or not Rupert is an unforgivable sociopath, or simply the misunderstood sufferer of a domineering mom(*). And given the sequence is just six episodes, even at an hour apiece, it feels too tight to suit all of the tales Boarders is making an attempt to inform. However the willingness to stability the teenager angst with goofier ensemble moments may be very welcome, and really efficient.
(*) Rupert’s mother, performed by Niky Wardley, makes use of her place as head of the varsity board to always attempt to browbeat Bernard into following her each whim, notably every time it comes to those 5 interlopers who’ve entered her son’s orbit. She’s additionally a part of a rising TV development of characters who’re apparent Karens, however who’re as a substitute named Carol, in hopes the viewers received’t really feel like they’re being hit too onerous over the top with the purpose.
Halfway by way of the season, a longtime St. Gilbert’s scholar tries persuading Bernard to be extra open-minded about one in every of Leah’s causes. Bernard insists that the scholarship college students want to suit into the varsity, not match the varsity round them. It’s an ongoing wrestle for each the headmaster and the youngsters, and solely typically can everybody meet within the center. Boarders, although, constantly manages to each match into the previous tropes and reinvent the clichés to suit round these characters. It’s an actual charmer.
The primary season of Boarders is now streaming on Tubi. I’ve seen all six episodes.
