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Series 2 Episode Reviews
Episode 1
I felt episode 1 was missing something that gave series 1 its spark - probably the relationship between Kim and Sugar. Because Sugar was in a YOI (would she have been in there 18 months IRL?!?!), she was not as close to Kim, and Kim's new love life failed to make up for that - Kim going from one girl to another lost the continuity that series one had.
I can't really see where Stella and Nathan are going to go now, they will probably be used mostly for comedy lines, as we started to see on Thursday! The transformation of Matt must surely be the funniest - from a mensturating kid with a goldfish bowl on his head to a goth!!
Hopefully we will see more of the new characters, as they showed potential to be good - a confrontation with Sugar would be funny! Finally, it seems like Tom won't be in series two. He was a funny character, but probably past his sell-by date, however it seems like Kim has a new person with an obsession over her!
Anyway, hoping episode two will be better, and hopefully Sugar will be out soon!
Episode 2
Two words could describe yesterday's episode - much better. I think that the series improved as we got deeper into the plot, and saw more of the characters (maybe because I watched episode 1 about an hour before Channel 4 showed episode 2!) As I said last week, Stella and Nathan were used as a source of light relief, 'Mr. Perky's back' undoubtbly one of the quotes of the series! I don't think Matt said a word, but they have probably stretched that character as much as they could in the first series! I also hope Sugar will be released soon (I don't always read spoiler postings on forums!), as her reaction to Kim's new life should be interesting, to say the least.
Episode 3
Series two - it's getting better isn't it! Before Thursday's programme started, I looked at the episode guides for episodes 3 and 4, and I knew ep 3 would be good, leading to an even better ep 4. I am one of those people who goes at C4 pace, so I very much doubt I'm going to be proved wrong next week! Sugar's reaction to Kim not getting her from the YOI, let alone the probable friction between her and Saint, will be funny, but probably not as funny as the plots involving Matt, Stella and Nathan!
Episode 4
It seems like episode 4 left more questions asked than answered. Kim, although Sugar lied about Saint, has proved that three can be a very annoying crowd, Kim still showed resounding faith to her friend, and still did not want her to leave. Another uncertainty will be Sugar's reaction - will she want to stay, or has she finally had enough?
Another stumbling block in Kim and Saint's relationship is the issue of trust. When Kim believed Sugar, Saint was clearly wondering why she was involved with Kim, and who can blame her? It seems as if Kim and Sugar will always be, at the very least, good friends.
And a point about Stella and Nathan - if Nathan is prepared to start 'swinging' to spice up his marriage, what else would he be prepared to do?!!
Episode 5
A cliffhanger ending that will give predictable results. It's likely that Saint and Kim will get back together, although while Kim had her suspicions, Saint must never thought Kim would have done what she did. I also think the truth Saint calling the ambulance will come clean, and they'll both have a heart to heart! It's mid-way through the series, about time Kim gets involved with drugs!
Watching Stella and Nathan 'swing' was great - I have to say that Richard Lumsden plays Nathan really well, and that Nathan's nerves were nothing sort of what should be expected! It was also nice to see a bit more of Matt!
Prediction: Kim and Saint to get back together, and for a lot of suspicion to cloud the relationship.
Episode 6
Well, the truth finally came out about Kim's series-ly drug-related mishap. Sugar and Saint's relationship worsened again, while Kim and Sugar's strangely became stronger.
Saint was obviously angered by Sugar's deceit, but who could blame her? Obviously not Kim, who admitted that she couldn't live without her; something the entire relationship couldn't function without, and what seemed to be missing from episodes when Sugar was in prison.
Meanwhile, Kim opened her heart to a therapist, not mentioning her drug mishap once. Stella and Nathan left it to Matt to provide the comedy, with another series-ly event occuring, Matt being a woman, although this time he wasn't menstruating!
Although the front cover of the DVD may give away the ending, it will still be interesting to see how the series ends.
Episode 7
So, Kim did go to prison for the punch. Last week's episode didn't make it completely clear whether that punch was a 'dream' sequence, but at least Kim didn't have to stay inside. It was Saint who ensured Kim's release, and the relationship between the two blossomed - it was as if Kim was taking on the 'Sugar' role of dominating the relationship, while Saint, like Kim in series one, wanted to take it slow.
Surprisingly, Sugar's actual running of Saint's shop seemed to be going okay, as in she didn't actually lose business. Inevitably though, something was bound to go wrong, in the form of Dmitri getting the money from the cash register. This led to Kim and Saint surprisingly working together rather well, to Kim's obvious horror, and who could blame her - the very prospect of her girlfriend, her best friend and Dmitri - almost as bad as what she sees in the next episode!
Anyway, that whole section was well shot - the different squares on screen, and the overall manner resembled a much slicker style, like that of the BBC's Hustle. Overall they pulled it off, with Kim making a lucky escape.
Episode 8
Despite Nathan's attempts to get the family to spend quality time together, this episode was still top-notch! Nathan has really moved out of his shell in the second series, he even wore a pink top! Thinking about him in series one, it seems really hard to believe it?s the same character swinging in public (in lederhosen)! However, while trying to give Stella what she wants, they lowered Kim's opinion of her parents even further.
Could Sugar have finally found happiness? It was remarkable that she even got to the stage where she could tell Mark about her conviction, and it was nice for her to have met someone who wanted to help. Sugar seemed to be more important in this episode than many before, she was sorely missed while she was in prison. Although the life of Saint and Kim is interesting enough, there's just something about Sugar getting in the middle that makes it better to watch!
Finally, I doubt that most other families would get back to normal as quick as Kim's did following the swinging incident; however it's not really hard when you have people like Matt!
Episode 9
So, Sugar blew it! She's finally in a good, steady relationship that lasts for more than one night, and she blows it by dumping Mark! She had a good guy, who didn't care about her conviction, or what his parents thought, and she just let him go. She'll do well to find anyone else like him.
Saint and Kim's relationship, unlike that of Kim and Sugar in the first series, may not be as crucial to the series finale. While there is a lot to be discussed, most of the relationship has been already mentioned. However, things like the anniversary of Saint's mum's death, can always crop up, and put cloud over a relationship.
Episode 10
Decisions, decisions. The writers again chose to end a series of Sugar Rush on a cliffhanger. Although they were taking the safe route of leaving the options open on whether to make a third series, this ending does seem a lot more straightforward than the first; it is likely that any third series would start with Kim and Saint living together, with a variety of scenarios of the relationship between Kim and Sugar; kissing one minute, causing a fire the next.
Back to the episode, did Kim really need to take half the episode to tell Saint the truth? She could have just said at the time that she was unsure, however knowing Saint, it wouldn't have gone down too well. It's hard not to feel sorry for Kim, one minute she can't wait to leave home after waking her brother from his coffin, the next she feels morally bound to stay after hearing how Stella wants to be a good parent to all of her children. Although it's hard to see Stella's 'new responsible era' ever getting off the ground, would Kim really want to leave?
Let's be honest, it would be hilarious to see Sugar at a 'proper' college - that's probably why it's not happening! At least she's making a career for herself! As for Matt, it would be nice for him to have a half-proper storyline!
The end of the series also led to the use of two pieces of music synonymous with series one. 'In a Manner of Speaking', by Nouvelle Vague, was used, again, at poignant moment in the plot (it was used at the very end of the first series), also, The Faders' 'No Sleep Tonight', connected with the first scene of the first episode (Kim fantasising) was used again at the end of the second series.
Although Lenora Crichlow is in a low-profile film, none of the cast are heavily involved in any other projects. There has already been talk of a third series, and I personally think that 2007 will see a third series of Sugar Rush!
Agree or disagree? Have your say on the messageboard.
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