The writer of Gwed is from the Wirral, as are a number of the cast. Its also mostly filmed on the Wirral. So the show starts off on the wrong foot from the get go since everyone from Merseyside knows Liverpool and Wirral are culturally chalk and cheese. Watched the first 3 episodes and all I see is glamorisation of poverty, mockery of scousers, and pathetic and out of touch attempts to reference/relate to scouse culture. The main character's mum embodies the scouse single mum chav stereotype who swears at her kids and works a dead-end job as a dinner lady. The kids all embody the scouse stereotypes and often say words and phrases which dont quite sound right coming out of a Liverpuddlians mouth, which again is explained by the writer being from the Wirral. Notable examples include the pork casserole mentioned by the main characters friend - pork casserole is not eaten in Liverpool, why the writer didnt replace it with 'scouse' stew I will never know. Overall the show is reminicsent of Fresh off The Boat or All American Girl in that it feigns representation of Liverpool's culture which is almost unheard of in mainstream british tv, but ultimately pushes the same tired stereotypes scousers have been hearing for years, and does nothing to show a better side to Liverpool, instead choosing to glamorise the impoverished and chavvy to appeal to teen viewers. Gwed tries to do to Liverpool what Top Boy did to London, but without half as much nuance or good writing as Top Boy. Terrible show, couldnt even hire a scouse cast to represent Liverpool. Should all be ashamed of themselves for selling out this great cities reputation for a shot at stardom.
Review of G'wed
