The Carley Chronicles - 10 Things I Hate About You Review

Like many people last night I tuned in to watch the series premier of 10 Things I Hate About You. I have to admit that for an ABC Family Channel series it was what was to be expected. It wasn’t anything great for my age group, but for teens it will be great. I think I went into it expecting too much. I remember the movie vividly, even though I have one of the first copies of it ever put onto VHS. Yes I said first copy on VHS, I didn’t want to date myself in here, but I did do deal with it. I remember Cat Stratford and how she dated Joey Donner before he turned into a total ass male model with regional ads for tube sock, and the reason why she chose to fall from popularity. I remember when Bianca Stratford was forced to wear a pregnancy belly around the house before her dad would let her leave for a party. I remember the rule “no dating until you graduate” that was quickly changed to “you can date, when she does”. Meaning Bianca could date when her “socially awkward” sister Cat decided she wanted to. I remember when Cameron insulted Michael by saying “they usual send one of those AV nerds” to show him around school, which in fact, Michael was. He tried to hide it well in his quest for coolness by association. Do you remember when Cameron saw Bianca for the first time? I do. He instantly fell in love with her and would do anything for. That sent him on a quest to find someone for her sister to date, hell, he even learned French for her. FRENCH!

The series started out with Cat and Bianca riding to school in Cat’s old dinosaur car, which wasn’t nearly as cool as the car from the movie, nor is the actress as pretty or as talented as Julia Stiles. Call me biased, but I love the original movie and not the show. Apparently Cat and Bianca are new at school, implanting themselves from Ohio. Ohio? What is in Ohio? Then what is up with Patrick? I suppose his look gives him that dark brooding quality that the actor is trying to bring a crossed, but he is no Heath Ledger. I miss him; I want more Heath Ledger in my movie diet. And what was with Bianca trying too hard to befriend Chastity? Or how about Mandella? I’m pretty sure that in the 10 year gap between when the movie had come out and when the series was created that she could have had a major personality change, but Mandella also gained some serious weight. It also appears that she has become quite the artist with her wall graffiti instead of the Shakespeare buff from the movie.

In spite of not being entirely thrilled with the way the series has opened, I’d like to think that I’ll give it a chance to see how it will evolve throughout its run.

10 Things I Hate About You, ABC, ABC Family, Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Cat Stratford, Bianca Stratford