Story-telling unit review of a British television drama series

Review of a British television drama series- "Banana" Russell T Davis 2015 E4

"Banana" is an anthology series created by Russell T Davis with a different writer for each episode, it aired in 2015 on E4 with it's co-series' "Cucumber" on Channel 4 and "Tofu" on 4oD.

The series looks at LGBT youth specifically based in Manchester (it joins with the narrative of the "Cucumber" series, this series is self-contained and focuses on Henry who also features in "Banana"). Because it's an anthology series each episode follows a different plot all based around giving a mostly comedic yet at times heartfelt look at the LGBT community.

Ep4: The episode looks at Helen, a trans-woman and a restaurant manageress. Helen is stalked by her ex Eddie who still hangs onto the hope that they will go out again. Through an altercation with Eddie where Helen puts him in his place, a racy film of Helen is uploaded to social media the next day. This episode looks at who her friends and family truly are.

The lead character in episode 4 is Helen portrayed by transgender activist and comedian Bethany Black. Her comedy gigs cover a range of subjects that include gender reassignment surgery, however it was her work on 'Banana' and its sister show 'Cucumber' that marked the start of her acting career. She is also the first trans woman to play a trans woman in a leading role on British TV.

Due to her obvious personal experience in the LGBTQ+ community Black's portrayal as Helen is all the more believable. She is able to have an emotional connection with what her character is going through and because of this the audience will have no problems with accepting the character. 

The fact she is also the first trans woman to play a trans woman is a landmark for people in the LGBTQ+ community who are often represented in dramas and films by cisgendered people.

The character of Helen breaks stereotypical special expectations of trans people, she isn't denoted as 'butch' or to have any elements of masculinity which is something the general public might assume to be typical of trans people if they have no experience or interaction with the community. 

This works with the shows intent of denoting the lives of people in the LGBTQ+ community and highlighting that they are just like everybody else.

The most important thing in the scripting of this episode is pro-nouns. Pro-nouns are an important part of a trans person's transition  into their gender identity, for this episode the everyone is accepting of Helen and her identity shown primarily through the correct use of pronouns. However when Helen uses her authority over her employees their way of being defiant towards her is by using pronouns such as "Sir". This highlights the importance of using the correct pronouns as the incorrect ones have been associated with negativity and rebellion against what the person who is transitioning wishes.

One of the biggest denotations of Helen trying to blend in the binary of men and women is her lack of eccentric or out going costume for her. She primarily sticks to baggy monochrome clothes which don't draw attention to her. Connoting that she isn't fully comfortable in her own skin as many trans people who are about to transition feel. 

 

The most common editing device in this episode is graphics, the rising action of the story when Eddie's character has released the video the sudden influx of graphics that repeatedly get cut away from help to build the tension and suspense in the audience. 

They are connoting the anxiety of Helen this coupled with her fast paced breathing adds to the stress of the scene.