I first discovered "Skam" while on Tumblr, when I saw a picture of a group of girls fiercely walking side by side on my dashboard. They were normal-looking girls, but I was automatically intrigued. One girl was wearing a hijab, another wasn't as skinny as the others, some had short hair and others had longer hair. The "squad" looked like a realistic friend group of teenage girls that I could see myself hanging out with. When I read the caption, I realized it was a screencap from a television show called, "Skam." It was finals week and, as a college student, I knew I should not start a new television series. So, I made a mental note to watch it later when I wasn't so busy.

Fast forward a couple of weeks to when I was finally done with all of my assignments and back at home for the holidays with plenty of time to spare. One of my best friends wouldn't shut up about "Skam," which reminded me that I had intended to watch it. So I did what we all do these days, I binge watched the three seasons of "Skam" that have been released so far.

Since the show is from Norway, if you don't speak Norwegian, you must read subtitles as you watch the episodes. As an American, I was not used to this and didn't know how I would adapt to watching something that wasn't in English. We are so used to everything being catered to our needs and easy for us to access. I've heard people say that they're sure they would like the show, but reading subtitles would be too much work for them. Americans binge-watch television shows in their leisure time, meaning they don't want to put in any effort to do something as simple as reading subtitles. We don't think about non-English speakers all over the world who are forced to do this all the time in order to watch American television shows. In the end, having to read the subtitles made me pay attention to the plotline more than I ever have while watching TV. It's part of the reason I fell so in love with the characters and their teenage world in Oslo, Norway.

Besides the language barrier that serves as a subtle wake-up call to lazy Americans, "Skam" is a television show that portrays realistic teenagers. Growing up, I would watch movies such as High School Musical and shows such as Gossip Girl that had actors in their twenties playing high-schoolers. They had perfect skin and looked like adults. They did not look like actual high-schoolers. The actors in "Skam" are still in school, act as characters that match their actual age, and aren't treated as celebrities in their real lives. One of the main characters works at a coffee shop in Oslo while another works as a telemarketer. The show also never hides their acne. All of these factors contribute to making this show authentic and something I wish I had to watch when I was picturing what high schoolers would be like.

The most important reason "Skam" is getting so much attention, to the point where everyone enjoys it no matter where they're from or what language they speak, are the issues that the show addresses. And best of all, they do it subtly which makes doesn't make addressing social issues the main plotline. While watching, you will subliminally be taught important lessons, sometimes without even realizing it's happening. In the first season, there's a strong emphasis on girls supporting other girls, instead of constantly tearing them down. Other themes showed are accepting other religions, addressing stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community, and living with mental illness. The way the show portrays these subjects enhances the storyline and helps teenagers cope with actual relevant issues that viewers all over the world encounter every day.

All of these insights should be reason enough for you to bite the bullet, learn some Norwegian, and join the "Skam" bandwagon. If you're looking for a television show that's funny, charming, emotional, and meaningful, look no further. I promise it provides alluring characters and a lively storyline worth the effort of stepping out of our American entertainment bubble.