DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
'Ackley Bridge' is a High School Drama That Offers More
February 26, 2018  | By David Hinckley  | 24 comments
 

One of the most fascinating aspects of Ackley Bridge, a British drama about a school that merges previously separated white and Muslim student populations, is that the resulting tension is presented as a fair fight.

In Ackley Bridge, which aired in Britain last summer and becomes available Monday on the streaming service Acorn, the predominantly Asian Muslim students are not portrayed as a minority forced to defend their presence.

Yes, some of the predominantly white non-Muslim students would like to see it that way – that this is “our country and you don’t belong here.” That just isn’t the reality.

While the cultural divide is clearly illustrated by, for instance, the fact that many of the female Muslim students wear headscarves, it’s even clearer that both groups belong.

Everyone speaks the same language, studies the same courses, shares the same social media and perhaps most important, is a part of the larger British culture.

The issue in Ackley Bridge, which viewers may feel free to extrapolate into the wider world, is not whether one group can drive another group out. It’s whether both groups will do what’s necessary to work together for common goals.

That’s asking a lot of high school students, of course, since their world tends to revolve around their own dramas.

Ackley Bridge
does check all the requisite high school boxes: mean girls, shameful secrets, entitled jocks, the troubled kid crying for help and so on.

The adults, who get equal screen time, tend to be understanding, with a genuine desire to help make this difficult transition work. They’ve got their own issues, though. The first person ambushed by an embarrassing picture on social media here is not a student.

The head of this merged school, Mandy Carter (Jo Joyner, left), wants everybody to just get along. Her assistant, Steve Bell (Paul Nicholls, left), is from the school that says you try to reason with troublesome students. This approach is immediately tested by Jordan Wilson (Sam Bottomley), who hangs a racist poster in the middle of the main school walkway and in effect dares Mr. Bell or Ms. Carter to do anything about it.

The students themselves naturally take sides, both over specific incidents like the poster and in general. Whether it’s the pickup teams in gym or lunchroom seating, there isn’t a lot of crossover.

The upfront exception seems to be Missy Booth (Poppy Lee Friar, top) and Nasreen Paracha (Amy-Leigh Hickman, top), who were already besties. Under the new order, that friendship soon gets tested.

We’re also reminded that not every issue is religious or cultural when teacher Emma Keane (Liz White) gets distracted by her restless daughter Chloe (Fern Deacon). Chloe is having a hard time handling her mother's split from her father, Nik (Stuart Manning) and the consequences ripple out into the school.

All this is leavened by a regular sprinkling of humor, which helps separate Ackley Bridge from standard teen soap operas. Instead, it tackles the much tougher question of how teens, with their inevitable and volatile mixture of insecurity and overconfidence, deal with the cultural divide issue at which so many of their elders have failed.

It’s not neat, and it’s not clean, and that’s a big part of the reason to tune it in. This first season runs six episodes, and it has been renewed for a second season of 12.
 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
KJYYA
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 2  | Go to page: 
24 Comments
 
 
https://mypaperwriter.com/term-paper-help.htm
Balancing multiple courses with their term paper requirements can be really challenging. Seeking help from MyPaperWriter.com eased some of that burden. The service provided a well-structured and researched term paper that covered all the necessary points. However, I found it beneficial to review and add my own insights to ensure the paper fully aligned with my voice and met my course's specific requirements. This support has been helpful in managing my workload and ensuring I stay on track with my assignments.
Jul 13, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
You'll have a great time playing this game with your friends
Jul 1, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
The Desert Gold Diggers website is a treasure trove of information for anyone passionate about gold prospecting and mining. With a wealth of resources, from articles and guides to equipment reviews and event listings, this site is a gold mine of knowledge for enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a seasoned prospector looking to expand your skills or a beginner eager to learn the ropes, Desert Gold Diggers has something for everyone. Explore the rich history of gold mining, discover tips and tricks for successful prospecting, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals who share your love for the thrill of the hunt. Join the Desert Gold Diggers today and embark on your own golden adventure!
Jun 25, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
You can be wearing an artsy looking products for a small fraction of the original price. Order one through this site, and you can rest assured that the fak carbide inserts you will be getting is of remarkable quality - just like the real thing.If you are tired of seeking for a reliable designer best, we believe you will be satisfied with our product best carbide inserts.
May 31, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Because the inserts avoid defects caused by high temperatures in welding and sharpening, the geometric parameters of the tool are completely guaranteed by the insert and the insert holder, which makes the cutting performance stable, thereby increasing the tool life., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Mar 7, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Our machining insert can be used in the machining of high-alloy steel, cast materials, aluminum alloys, titanium, and superalloys. It is also applied to different sectors like aerospace and energy technology, automotive and heavy-duty machining sectors., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Mar 1, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Estool Cutting Tools Co. Ltd specializes in developing and manufacturing high-quality machining inserts. We have a full capacity machining insert sales, research, and production. We also produce cemented carbide cutting inserts, grooving inserts, customized inserts, and cermet inserts., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Jan 29, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Writing a book report can be daunting, especially with the pressure to perform well in top universities. That's why I turned to https://mycustomessay.com/custom-book-report.html for help. Their custom book report service provided me with an insightful and thoroughly researched paper that met all my professor's expectations. Their commitment to delivering high-quality, plagiarism-free work is truly commendable. If you're seeking expert assistance with your book reports, this is the service to go for.
Nov 26, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
I think this is the most sensible perspective for doing it if all else fails. Shocking minutes drive forward perseveringly, love until the days are old.
Nov 20, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Shocking minutes drive forward perseveringly, love until the days are old. Appreciation for your brief and reasonable information. I'm truly getting a charge out of investigating your painstakingly made articles.
Nov 20, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
This is such a phenomenal resource that you are giving and you offer it for no good reason. I think this is the most sensible perspective for doing it if all else fails.
Nov 20, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
I will clearly be returning in the future to your weblog for the most part talking around more soon. It seems like you consume a great deal of energy.
Nov 9, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
asd
asdasd
Sep 27, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
I often read what you write because I find it both interesting and helpful
Jul 17, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Appreciation for sharing. Communicating with a particularly overpowering post utilizes a ton of our assets.
Jul 3, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Show your body what true performance means! Open the doors to the world of oral pentadecapeptide with the blog https://valhallavitality.com/blog/efficacy-of-oral-pentadecapeptide-bpc-157 Favorites. Discover how this product can improve your physical endurance, speed up recovery after workouts and help you reach new heights!
 
 
I participate in your site's strong and significant information. Appreciation for sharing.
May 29, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
iew our site, and we will catch up with you. It is associated with an incredibly lovely post with a lot of our resources. I participated here.
May 29, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
The best information I received today, I appreciate your contribution to the forum and community, hope you will continue to post other useful information.
Mar 10, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
That is one of the best essay author serive what I recognize. The first-rate of written paper is brilliant and impressed me. I got A grade however earlier than I ought to only dream approximately it. My professor had no remarks regarding the writing fashion and the reference. Now i am a huge fan of help with writing paper provider.
Dec 26, 2022   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 2  | Go to page: