As If
Encyclopedia
As If is a British comedy-drama
series broadcast on Channel 4
. There were 76 episodes across four series, the first broadcast on January 22, 2001 and the last on July 31, 2004.
television show. The show had a cult following and received critical acclaim. It was considered groundbreaking and was often referred to as a "cooler", more sophisticated version of another British serial drama Hollyoaks
.
Part of the show's identity was the style, such as surreal fly-on-the-wall style camera work, fast camera transitions, wacky sound effects added to some scenes and the distinctive theme music (the tune "Would you...?" by the band Touch and Go
). Episode four of the first series was awarded an RTS Television Award for Best Tape or Film Editing - Drama.
Several notable episodes were centred around parodies of other films or TV shows, including The Blair Witch Project
(episode 1x16); Moulin Rouge
(2x20); The Italian Job
(3x12) and 24
(4x04).
In the beginning, the gang was divided in two. We learn Sooz, Jamie and Alex are good friends. Jamie has a crush on Nikki, who he sees as a nice, innocent, delicate girl. Nikki was friends with Sasha, who was in a relationship with Rob. When Jamie invited Nikki to a fake party, the destinies of these six persons crossed and friendships were born. While Rob, Jamie and Alex became good friends, Nikki and Sasha didn't get along with Sooz, although they three had their moments together.
Writing credits : Amanda Coe, Tom Higgins, Jane English, Julian Jones, Leslie Stewart, Jess Walters, Patrick Wilde
Produced by : Sarah Baynes (2002), Nicki Gunning, Greg Boardman, Johnny Capps, Jonathan Collier, Brian Eastman, Brian Grant, Dean Hargrove, Dan Kaplow, Julian Murphy, Andi Peters
Chris (Freddie Annobil-Dodoo): Sasha's boyfriend in between Rob, who was with her just for sex. Alex once told the group Chris was gay because he saw him hugging another man in a bathroom, but it was a misunderstanding. Nikki later tried a move on Chris, just to be used for sex and dumped afterwards.
Gaby (Anna Wilson-Jones
): a married woman who Jamie met on the internet. She was mother to a little boy (Jackson). Gaby and Jamie spent a night together and Gaby broke up with him the next day. After a while, Jamie thought Gaby was carrying his baby, but it was really Philip's (Gaby's husband).
Dan Parker (Adam Sinclair
): a gay cop Alex met in a club and lied to about his age. When Dan learnt the truth, he broke up with Alex, although they eventually got to be friends. Dan always worried about Alex and his well-being.
Gary (Gerard Monaco): Louise's boyfriend who cheated on her with Nikki. It is not known if Louise ever knew about this or they just broke up, as Gary just stopped appearing in the show, but Louise seemed to stay friends with Nikki and the gang.
Anna (Georgina Raylance): a woman Jamie meets in a club.
Riggs (Ray Fearon): a musical producer who Nikki was interested in, but he hit on Sasha instead, which caused Nikki to get jealous and have constant arguments with Sasha. Sasha first rejected Riggs, although he invited her to work with him. Finally, she cheated on Rob with him. After that, Sasha and Rob broke up for good. The relationship didn't work.
Mark Wilde (Callum Blue
): Alex's bisexual boyfriend. Alex learned Mark was previously married, and broke up with him for lying about his bisexuality; they later got back together just to break up again. After that, Mark went into a relationship with Nikki.
Christian (Matthew Chambers): an estate agent Nikki dates to get a flat for her and Sasha. While Nikki thought she was using Christian to her advantage, the truth is he was using her as well.
Tyler (O.T. Fagbenle): an Art student with whom Sooz cheated on Jamie.
Amber (Angel Coulby): Rob's fiancee. They didn't get married because Rob broke up with her before the wedding.
Allen Rissbrook (James Kristian): also known as "Little Al", Allen is a gay student that approached Alex and threatened him into a relationship. Later, Alex set things clear and became friends with Allen, trying to introduce him to the gay world. When Alex finally realised his feelings towards Allen and tried to be with him, Allen rejected him.
Katie (Jemima Abey): a student friend of Allen who fell in love with Jamie. She was the one who told Jamie about Sooz cheating on him with Tyler.
Darna (Jessica Gerger): Sasha's co-worker at a fashion boutique.
Paul Sutton (Jesse Birdsall): Nikki's father who went to prison for tax evasion.
music was used quite extensively, especially music by Massive Attack
(and specifically songs from the album Mezzanine
) and Archive
.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
series broadcast on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. There were 76 episodes across four series, the first broadcast on January 22, 2001 and the last on July 31, 2004.
Premise & Facts
The series focused on six young adults (henceforth: the group) who lived in London. Each episode was presented from a different character's point of view, which up to that point in time had never done before in a comedy-dramaComedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
television show. The show had a cult following and received critical acclaim. It was considered groundbreaking and was often referred to as a "cooler", more sophisticated version of another British serial drama Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
.
Part of the show's identity was the style, such as surreal fly-on-the-wall style camera work, fast camera transitions, wacky sound effects added to some scenes and the distinctive theme music (the tune "Would you...?" by the band Touch and Go
Touch and Go (band)
Touch and Go is a British jazz-pop musical ensemble. Their most notable singles include "Would You...?", "Straight... to Number One", and "Tango in Harlem".-Career:...
). Episode four of the first series was awarded an RTS Television Award for Best Tape or Film Editing - Drama.
Several notable episodes were centred around parodies of other films or TV shows, including The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
(episode 1x16); Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is...
(2x20); The Italian Job
The Italian Job
The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
(3x12) and 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
(4x04).
In the beginning, the gang was divided in two. We learn Sooz, Jamie and Alex are good friends. Jamie has a crush on Nikki, who he sees as a nice, innocent, delicate girl. Nikki was friends with Sasha, who was in a relationship with Rob. When Jamie invited Nikki to a fake party, the destinies of these six persons crossed and friendships were born. While Rob, Jamie and Alex became good friends, Nikki and Sasha didn't get along with Sooz, although they three had their moments together.
Crew
Directed by : John Duthie, Ed Fraiman, Brian Grant, David Kerr, Barnaby Southcombe (2003)Writing credits : Amanda Coe, Tom Higgins, Jane English, Julian Jones, Leslie Stewart, Jess Walters, Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde is an English playwright and screenwriter for both television and film.-Early work:Most of Wilde's early work was centred around the classics. He played Hamlet, Mark Antony for ATC and Amnon in Tirso de Molina’s Rape of Tamar at the Lyric in London...
Produced by : Sarah Baynes (2002), Nicki Gunning, Greg Boardman, Johnny Capps, Jonathan Collier, Brian Eastman, Brian Grant, Dean Hargrove, Dan Kaplow, Julian Murphy, Andi Peters
Jamie Collier (Paul Chequer)
- The loveable joker of the group, he was a well-meaning pleasant guy, but had a tendency to get himself into trouble due to his rather naive attitude. He had an optimistic outlook and was content to play the role of the group's clown. Despite the foolish mistakes he sometimes made, he was well liked by the group as his heart seemed to be in the right place.
- During the first series, we follow Jamie as he enjoys the freedom of single life: he dates an older, married woman he met over the internet; idealizes Nicki, courts her and fails miserably; and eventually ends up kissing Sooz in the last episode. The second series follows the Jamie-Sooz relationship turmoil: from the problematic beginning, to the outing and eventually end of the relationship as Sooz ends it. Jamie ends up with Nicki for a one night standOne Night StandOne Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
. The third series follows Jamie's undying love and sacrifice for Sooz, his coping with her coma, and eventually the distance torn between them due to her suicide attempt. The fourth series focuses primarily on Jamie's academic career or the lack of such: he fakes his leaving to InvernessUHI Millennium InstituteThe University of the Highlands and Islands is a federation of 13 colleges and research institutions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland delivering higher education. Its executive office is in Inverness.-History:...
; attempts to retake the qualifying tests and eventually is accepted to study psychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. Sooz and Jamie are together throughout most of the fourth series, but end up breaking up after Sooz is unfaithful. The series ends in an optimistic note as the last scene where Sooz and Jamie appear in shows them talking to each other on the phone, but saying nothing: Sooz eventually asks "Are you still there?" and Jamie answers: "Of course I am". They both smile, and that's all we'll ever hear of them.
- Jamie was a big fan of Michael CaineMichael CaineSir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
, especially in the original The Italian JobThe Italian JobThe Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
. He enjoyed playing a PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, had a robotic pet dogAIBOAIBO was one of several types of robotic pets designed and manufactured by Sony...
called Sparky and was a general gadget freak.
Suzanne 'Sooz' Lee (Emily Corrie)
- A sarcastic young woman who tended to be blunt and was something of a lonerLonelinessLoneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person feels a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships. However, it is a subjective experience...
. She was rebellious, and did not agree with social conventions, preferring to live by her own rules.
- Sooz had a brief crush on Rob, which started when he was in a break up with Sasha. When they both got together, Sooz had to get over it.
- She had to deal with multiple mental health problemsMental illnessA mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
. She favoured nu-metalNu metalNu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
/gothGothic fashionGothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernails. Styles are...
/moshMoshMoshing is a dance in which participants push or slam into each other. They also flail their limbs to breakdowns of hardcore punk and its sub-genres. It is most associated with aggressive music genres, such as hardcore punk and heavy metal...
er/grungyGrungeGrunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
style clothing, had a number of tattoos and facial piercings, and was known for her trademarkTrademarkA trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
multicoloured dreadlocksDreadlocksDreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
(which were reduced to bright red for the final season). She was a talented artist. She had a tough exterior but inside was very insecure.
- Sooz's dreadlocks inspired the 2004 McFly hit Five Colours In Her Hair.
- The only member of the UK cast to transfer to the US version of the show, after two years in Los Angeles Corrie joined the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Nicki Sutton (Jemima Rooper)
- A girl who was initially considered to be a 'slutSlutSlut or slattern is a pejorative term applied to an individual who is considered to have loose sexual morals or who is sexually promiscuous...
' in that she slept around and stole other people's boyfriends. Nicki is a man-eater and spoiled, but inside is a nice girl and a good friend. She suffered a lot after her father was sent to prison and because her mother didn't pay her enough attention. The last episode of the series was from Nicki's point of view, in which she chose between staying with Rob or going on an around the world trip, a present her mother made her.
Alexander "Alex" Stanton (Orlando Wells)
- A gayGayGay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
character, who did not fit any particular gay stereotype. He was in fact a fairly ordinary person, a fan of Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and Dead Poets' Society, and liked football; he also hated Hollywood musicals, modern art, and thought shopping isn't better than sex. Alex was in many couples during the series, including police officer Dan and Mark. When he served as auxiliary teacher at a school, he met one of the students, Allen (who called himself "Little Al" after Alex, who was also known as Al). Allen forced him into a relationship after feeling threatened at first, Alex put things clear to Allen. Alex then tried to insert Allen to the gay world, and they became friends. In the last episode, Alex realized he was in love with Allen (or either he was afraid to end up alone), but Allen rejected him. Alex's birthday is on May 6.
Sasha Williams (Caroline Chikezie)
- The "bitch" of the group. She was very classy and loved fashionFashionFashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
. She also didn't suffer fools gladly, but was often derided for shallowness. In the first seasons, Sasha was romantically involved with Rob, but they eventually broke up after Sasha was unfaithful. She later tried to get Rob back, but without success.
Robert "Rob" Conway (Benjamin Waters)
- Rob was someone who cared a lot for the others and always seemed sensitive to their problems. Sooz had a crush on him in the first season, but because Rob was with Sasha, Sooz knew that she and him would never be a couple. After Rob finds out Sasha was cheating on him, Rob starts a new relationship with Nicky. In the last episode, they went separate ways, with Nicky having to decide between him and a trip around the world. He receives a few letters Nicky had sent way before leaving, and he realizes she went to Spain. He finds her and she asks him to tell her he went there for her and he says he did.
Recurring characters
Louise (Jaki Walker): a friend of Nikki and, later, the whole gang, although they all found her annoying and try to avoid her most of the time. Nikki hung out with her every time Sasha neglected her for Rob. Louise was always looking for a lost cause to fight for, and the gang made fun of her for it.Chris (Freddie Annobil-Dodoo): Sasha's boyfriend in between Rob, who was with her just for sex. Alex once told the group Chris was gay because he saw him hugging another man in a bathroom, but it was a misunderstanding. Nikki later tried a move on Chris, just to be used for sex and dumped afterwards.
Gaby (Anna Wilson-Jones
Anna Wilson-Jones
Anna Wilson-Jones is a British actress. She is probably best known for her role as Juliet Miller in Hotel Babylon.-Background:...
): a married woman who Jamie met on the internet. She was mother to a little boy (Jackson). Gaby and Jamie spent a night together and Gaby broke up with him the next day. After a while, Jamie thought Gaby was carrying his baby, but it was really Philip's (Gaby's husband).
Dan Parker (Adam Sinclair
Adam Sinclair (actor)
Adam Sinclair is a Scottish film and television actor. Sinclair is originally from East Kilbride but now lives near Venice Beach, California with his disc jockey wife Michelle Kath, and son Hamish.- Filmography :*Boyz Unlimited as Jason Jackson...
): a gay cop Alex met in a club and lied to about his age. When Dan learnt the truth, he broke up with Alex, although they eventually got to be friends. Dan always worried about Alex and his well-being.
Gary (Gerard Monaco): Louise's boyfriend who cheated on her with Nikki. It is not known if Louise ever knew about this or they just broke up, as Gary just stopped appearing in the show, but Louise seemed to stay friends with Nikki and the gang.
Anna (Georgina Raylance): a woman Jamie meets in a club.
Riggs (Ray Fearon): a musical producer who Nikki was interested in, but he hit on Sasha instead, which caused Nikki to get jealous and have constant arguments with Sasha. Sasha first rejected Riggs, although he invited her to work with him. Finally, she cheated on Rob with him. After that, Sasha and Rob broke up for good. The relationship didn't work.
Mark Wilde (Callum Blue
Callum Blue
Daniel James Callum Blue , better known as Callum Blue, is an English film and television actor, best known for his roles on the Showtime series The Tudors and Dead Like Me as well as for his role as Zod in the American television series Smallville and British...
): Alex's bisexual boyfriend. Alex learned Mark was previously married, and broke up with him for lying about his bisexuality; they later got back together just to break up again. After that, Mark went into a relationship with Nikki.
Christian (Matthew Chambers): an estate agent Nikki dates to get a flat for her and Sasha. While Nikki thought she was using Christian to her advantage, the truth is he was using her as well.
Tyler (O.T. Fagbenle): an Art student with whom Sooz cheated on Jamie.
Amber (Angel Coulby): Rob's fiancee. They didn't get married because Rob broke up with her before the wedding.
Allen Rissbrook (James Kristian): also known as "Little Al", Allen is a gay student that approached Alex and threatened him into a relationship. Later, Alex set things clear and became friends with Allen, trying to introduce him to the gay world. When Alex finally realised his feelings towards Allen and tried to be with him, Allen rejected him.
Katie (Jemima Abey): a student friend of Allen who fell in love with Jamie. She was the one who told Jamie about Sooz cheating on him with Tyler.
Darna (Jessica Gerger): Sasha's co-worker at a fashion boutique.
Paul Sutton (Jesse Birdsall): Nikki's father who went to prison for tax evasion.
Soundtrack
Apart from its well known theme music, As If also used many popular songs in its 76 episodes. Trip hopTrip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
music was used quite extensively, especially music by Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
(and specifically songs from the album Mezzanine
Mezzanine (album)
Mezzanine is the third studio album by English trip hop group Massive Attack, released on 20 April 1998. It was produced by Neil Davidge along with the group. The album was released on Virgin Records....
) and Archive
Archive (band)
Archive is a musical group based in London, England, whose music spans electronic, trip-hop, avant-garde, post-rock and progressive rock. Over their sixteen-year history, the band has released eight studio albums and enjoyed established success throughout Europe, while remaining little-known in...
.
International broadcast
| Country | TV Network(s) | Date of Premiere |
|---|---|---|
| Fox 8 FOX8 Fox8 is an Australian cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television's subscription platforms... |
2002–? | |
| 2002–? | ||
| VIVA | 2006–? | |
| HOT3 | ||
| TV6 TV6 (Lithuania) TV6 is a Lithuanian terrestrial, satellite and cable television channel owned by the Nordic television company Viasat. It was launched on March 31, 2002. In September 2008, it changed its name from Tango TV to TV6.... |
2009 | |
| Sony Entertainment Sony Entertainment Television (Latin America) Sony Entertainment Television, commonly shortened to Canal Sony , is a general entertainment channel co-based in Perú, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil and Miami, Florida, United States. It airs in 26 countries in Latin America, and is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment... |
2002–2005 | |
| 2003–? | ||
| TV3 (Sweden) TV3 (Sweden) TV3 is a television channel targeted at a Swedish language audience owned by Viasat . It was founded on 31 December 1987 by entrepreneur Jan Stenbeck as joint Scandinavian channel, but Denmark and Norway soon got their own versions of TV3... ZTV ZTV -History:The channel started in Sweden as a daily afternoon show in TV3 and TV4 in February 1991. The channel got its name as it was a simulcast version of the radio station Z Radio. There was also a Z magazine available for some time.... |
2002–? | |
| VIVA Schweiz | 2006–? | |
| Novyi Kanal Novyi Kanal Novyi Kanal is a Ukrainian television channel.- History :The channel was launched on August 15, 1998. At first, it was broadcast only in Kiev, but since 1999, it has extended its range to six other regions of Ukraine, and from 2000, is received in more than 17 major cities... |
2008 |