To be honest, TBH is NOT just a gay web series. While it has a strong gay subplot, the show primarily focuses on the lives of teenagers in a high school and the aftermath of a shooting incident in Brno. The narrative highlights the bullying culture perpetuated by a floor hockey team and their followers, a girl gang known as the Bitchez. In ten episodes, Czech Television's first original streaming series explores the search for boundaries in the painful teenage experience, particularly in an age dominated by manipulative social media. Each episode runs between 11 to 15 and a half minutes.
The story kicks off when a stranger enters the school and opens fire on students. Maja, an activist, live-streams her fight for survival, leading to unexpected internet fame. Unfortunately, she also captures some awkward moments between the popular Nessa and her boyfriend, Luky, who plays floorball. The chaos escalates when Nessa’s brother, Tonda, the shooter, is revealed to have been bullied, and it turns out he was wielding a fake gun. Over the next ten episodes, flashbacks unfold the individual stories of these characters, detailing how that fateful day transpired and its aftermath. Tonda's floorball teammates show no remorse, and sadly, even his sister struggles to understand his perspective. However, as Maja befriends Nessa, she begins to see beyond her previous role as a high school mean girl.
The gay subplot revolves around Luky and his best friend Pavel, who has always been more flamboyant. Luky grapples with his sexuality, especially after Pavel publicly comes out as gay. While Luky feels he might be bisexual, this revelation creates tension between the two friends. Nevertheless, with encouragement from his friends, Luky is determined not to give up on his feelings for Pavel.
I absolutely loved this show. It beautifully captures the struggle to find stability not only after a traumatic event but also during the tumultuous teenage years under the relentless gaze of social media. TBH delves into themes of bullying, relationships, love, identity, and mental health during a time of vulnerability and self-discovery. Why was Tonda, played by a strikingly handsome actor, bullied in the name of fun? What impact did this have on him? The chilling moment when he admits he would have gone through with the shooting if he had a real gun is haunting.
The show reminds me of one of my favorites, Skam, in several ways. Being a teenager is tough; you're figuring out who you are while navigating societal expectations. The series brilliantly portrays the complexities of right and wrong, emphasizing that life is often more nuanced than black and white. I found myself particularly invested in Pavel and Luky's love story, which evolves beautifully from friendship to romance and acceptance, evoking warm, cozy feelings. The couple’s chemistry is fantastic, and their support for each other is heartwarming.
Regardless of the gay subplot, I highly recommend watching this show. There’s something valuable for everyone to learn from it.
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