Maël doesn’t want to sleep with his girlfriend. He’s not sure why. She worries he’s gay. His friends think he’s impotent. In truth he’s asexual, though he’s never heard the word. Asexual representation is still rare in media. It’s a joy to follow Maël on his journey of self-discovery.
Skam premiered on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in 2015. Each season focused on a different troubled teen. They struggled with issues like bullying, mental health, sexuality and faith. Clips were posted in “real time.” If the characters said they were going to meet after class, fans would crowd the NRK site that afternoon waiting for an update. The series ended after four seasons but inspired multiple adaptations. An American remake folded quickly. But the French remake, Skam France, ran 12 seasons, concluding in 2023.
Miguel Vander Linden plays a quieter Skam protagonist than most. Maël’s learned to keep his head down and let his rowdier friends dominate conversations. When they start mocking him for his virginity he ditches them to join a queer band. Trans musician Cleo resents adding a “cishet” member who bends to majority opinion like a “weather vane.” But the other artists give Maël the freedom to express himself. He begins to blossom.
Heartstopper and Sex Education both featured asexual characters in their ensemble. But their stories ended once they became aware of their sexuality. Maël’s journey continues as he copes with coming out, dating allosexual people and meeting others in the aroace community. He’s also allowed a life beyond his sexuality, coping with disapproving parents, bad friends and a high-pressure music audition.
Skam France, Season Twelve, keeps the stakes low. It never aims for the dramatic heights of the original series. But Maël grows into a delightful character. His struggles gave me a better understanding of the challenges the asexual community faces today. I highly recommend it to anyone searching a new perspective. You don’t need to have seen earlier seasons to follow the story. (Though fans of mlm romance should check out Season 3!) You can watch Skam France with English subtitles on FranceTV’s YouTube channel.
You can find The Wasp’s useful primer on aromanticism here. You can read more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.
Today marks my six-year anniversary of writing articles for the Avocado! Thank you all for reading!