"10 Things I Hate About You" (2009) TV series 2009-????

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 July 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Kat and Bianca Straford may be sisters but all comparisons end there. Kat is an outspoken, independent feminist...

Plot Keywords:

Digit In Title | Based On Film | Number In Title

Cast

Lindsey Shaw	...	Kat Stratford (10 episodes, 2009)
Meaghan Jette Martin	...	Bianca Stratford (10 episodes, 2009)
Ethan Peck	...	Patrick Verona (10 episodes, 2009)
Nicholas Braun	...	Cameron James / ... (10 episodes, 2009)
Dana Davis	...	Chastity Church (10 episodes, 2009)
Larry Miller	...	Walter / ... (10 episodes, 2009)
Kyle Kaplan	...	Michael Bernstein (8 episodes, 2009)
Ally Maki	...	Dawn (8 episodes, 2009)
Chris Zylka	...	Joey Donner (7 episodes, 2009)
Jolene Purdy	...	Mandella (7 episodes, 2009)
Allie Gonino	...	Michelle (5 episodes, 2009)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

Pilot filmed at Verdugo Hills High in Tujunga, California.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Very, very good....surprisingly

OK, like most people when I heard the things I hate about you was being turned into a TV series, I like many had doubts. How do you attempt to recreate a movie that set the standard really high inn terms of actual interesting teen movies what with its likable and interesting characters witty dialogue etc. Well, with some heavy reservations I sat down to watch the first episode...and strangely enough I found it rather enjoyable. Obviously it in't exactly like the movie but oddly enough thats one of things that made it interesting for me, the fact that its not a carbon copy of its successful movie predecessor. Its a feel good family entertainment thats got a little something for everyone, with the characters getting into odd situation with uncanny but funnily enough understandable realistic outcomes/solutions. The dialogue especially from the likes of Kat and her father is sharp and often amusing (wow a TV comedy that is actually funny). When I see this show I see something fresh and inventive think 8 Simple Rules before the father's tragic passing. I think if the writers keep on churning out decent episodes like the previous ones I've seen 10 things could maybe run for 10 seasons (ok more likely 5-8 but you get my point).

But of course the script is only half of the story, the other part is the casting. Now of course when I like many was anxious to hear who had been cast in the roles of Kat and Patrick. When I heard Lindsey Shaw of Ned's DeClassified fame was taking on the role of the 'tempestous' Kat made famous by Julia Stiles I had mixed emotions. I knew from her character on Ned's DeClassified that she could play a strong sassy woman but I wasn't sure if she would look the part or indeed be convincing enough to make me not sit there the whole time and scream 'JULIA DID IT BETTER' at the screen. Well let me just say Shaw is outstanding and thoroughly likable as Kat. Portraying the vulnerability of the character in some ways better than Stiles herself did. This Kat is tough but not tough enough to kick off a guys balls, which in some ways makes her more relatable.

Then you have deep throated Ethan Peck playing bad boy Patrick Verona made famous by the late Heath Ledger. Peck's version of Verona is interesting as he's gone for playing Patrick with a lot more subtly and mysteriousness I don't think you'll see his version of Patrick Verona dancing on the bleachers singing 'I love you baby' to win Kat back. I think to be honest I'd be more intimidated by Peck's Verona than Ledger's. I mean his stare alnoe could throw people off. Yet Ledgers has more charm, which made you root for him more. Its a tough comparison thus far but I will say Peck lays the role well and the chemistry between him and Shaw is great, there's a lot of underlying sexual tension even more so than in the film I believe.

Now onto the supporting cast Meaghan Jette Martin as Bianca is cute and likable. Even if you do want to hit her over the head a few times. I like the fact that they are slowly bringing Bianca out of her shell a bit more, (and by slowly I mean almost at a snail's pace). She's realising that popularity isn't the bed of roses she thought it'd be. I'm looking forward to seeing Martin's incarnation of Bianca develop over the series.

Then we have Nicholas Braun as Cameron. Well what can I say? Except that whenever Kat and Patrick aren't blazing up the screen with witty banter and intense staring, Braun lights up the screen as goofy yet lovable nerd Cameron. His Cameron is so cute and adorable almost like a puppy. The night in shining plaid/wool jumpers who would do anything to get the girl. We've all been there and/or seen it. Watching Cameron try and fail miserably each episode to win Bianca over as anything more than a friend is heart warming and you just want to reach into the screen and give him a hug.

Making a welcome return is Larry Miller as Kat and Bianca's father. He still has the dry humour and crazy moments but his relationship with the daughters is a lot more tender than in the film. Ypu really get a sense of family when you see these three together. In fact some of the best scenes in the 1st and 2nd episode are the ones where the Dad plays the role of comfortor/adisor to his daughters (they also have the dead mum angle which increases the tenderness of these moments).

Rouding off the cast is Dana Davies as the bitchy Chasity (Gabrielle Union's character in the film). She plays the bubblegum popping, self involved, bratty, whiney little princess role to perfection. I really like how cunning and manipulative they have made her character she's like the Regina George from mean girls of the school mixed with Reese's Witherspoon's Tracie Flick from Election. She's the one girl you'd love to hate and hate to love.

There's also some really good side performances including Joelene Purdy as Kat's friend Mandella (the one with the love of Shakesphere in the movie) and Kyle Kalan as a considerably shorter Michael (the popularity hungry AV geek who's Cameron friend).

Overall Ten Things is witty, clever and charming and may just be the teen comedy that gets everyone talking. For me its good just as good as the film and in some aspects better.