Summer Heights High » Reviews

Episode Two
The Age

Creator Chris Lilley's observations are razor sharp and his characterisations painfully funny.

Summer Heights High's drama teacher, the pastel-clad Mr G, can't believe his luck when his boss, Mrs Cotton, has to deal with a family emergency, leaving him as acting head of drama - or Director of Performing Arts, as he prefers.

Ja'mie is in alien territory on her first day at public school - "Oh, you have wheelchair people," she squeals - before she ditches the boring group to join the popular girls.

Meanwhile Jonah continues making trouble, although he doesn't see it that way: "That's not disruptive, that's entertainment."

Creator Chris Lilley's observations are razor sharp and his characterisations painfully funny, although the cruelty is more pronounced in this series than in its predecessor, We Can Be Heroes, and some viewers will no doubt think he's going too far. But Lilley is only reflecting what goes on in the big wide world, albeit by magnifying the behaviour, and you get the sense that if you stick with it, there will be a happy ending of sorts.

- Clare Morgan