THis first series, “Float,” a young, small-town love story between two female lifeguards, won several awards and a loyal audience. Written by acclaimed playwright Steph Smith, this “microdrama” with six 10-minute episodes follows Jade (Hannah Jarrett-Scott), a seemingly straight colleague, Colette (Jessica -Hardwick), it becomes clear that it is also a romance. And the bigger mystery is why Jade tends to be so depressed and withdrawn. And what caused her to suddenly drop out of university in Glasgow and return home? It ended with a striking ambiguity, not daring to resolve everything cleanly, leaving it unresolved with a nod to realism rather than wish fulfillment.
Eighteen months later, he returns for a second series. The leisure center where Jade and Colette worked is demolished, and the pair find themselves back at home after a long period of separation. Colette currently lives in Edinburgh where she is training to become a nurse. She is caring for her sick father and her cold and distant mother. Meanwhile, Jade returns to Glasgow to face her music after attacking a homophobe in a bar, where she lives with his mother and undergoes court-mandated anger management therapy. “It’s been a while, stranger,” Jade said, and they were finally reunited.
Without the pool, the title becomes more symbolic. They live in a coastal town, and their touching moments of romance on the water moved to the ocean instead. Unrelated to the story, I wince when I see someone bowing in open water, away from meaningful glances checking the Surfers Against Sewage app for recent spills. I appreciate the obvious lack of poetry. This setting often makes Float look very nice in practice. TV tends to ignore small towns and emphasize the hustle and bustle of the city, but this film captures the palpable and eerie feeling of growing up in a place resolutely free of hustle and bustle. I am. It has a dream-like quality at times, and the scenes in which a group of friends bring potato chips and booze to a roaring seaside fire are very nostalgic.
Now that the mysteries of Jade’s recent past have been solved, there are big questions as to where she will go next. The concept of home and what it means to different people looms large, and the series explores how Jade and Colette relate to their parents, how Colette comes out, and what it means to come out. Should I move to a small town? Mothers not ready to hear that. In addition to the beach, the local pub also serves as a stand-in for the leisure centre, drawing a cast of characters to this location, some loose-lipped to the point of oversharing, while others are important, EastEnders style. You can listen and eavesdrop on information.
Since this is a short drama, time and space are limited. Float episodes are short and have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time. It is so well made that you can see that lace cannot be made with traditional structure and form alone. It must find a broader meaning in stand-alone scenes, moments that imply more than is directly indicated. In most cases it is successful. Although Jade and Colette’s initial relationship is over, the question remains: will they do it again or not? Their chemistry is strong and their awkwardness is incredible. But while Float tries to force his characters to grow and learn, he often relies on his teenage-like angst to move the story forward. This means Jade is as moody and self-centered as ever, which can test the patience of older viewers.
I tend to choose broad brushstrokes over fine details. Perhaps this is one of the running time limitations, or maybe it’s part of the YA vibe. It is aimed at viewers who are used to watching video content on their phones rather than their living room TVs, and represents a serious attempt to reach younger viewers. The first series dealt with homophobia, abortion, and depression. This time we have an illness, treatment, and coming out. Some ambiguities have been further corrected. There is also a romantic comedy-style production where you chase a departing bus. Still, Float is a valuable work in many ways as a story about life in a small town, especially for those who feel like they don’t fit in for whatever reason.
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