User Reviews

One must consider, when watching this show, the target audience. While many may say that the acting is terrible, the songs overly cheesy and the story lines predictable and simple, this is not what the children that it is aimed at will be thinking. And I believe, when considering the 8 - 12 year old target range, the show really does hit the mark. I loved it when I was 12! It is bright, simple, and it makes you feel good. The songs are catchy and wholesome, presenting much better messages to youth today then anything that plays on the radio.

Coming from a more mature perspective, I know it is terribly cheesy, but I like it anyway. While I believe it can be mutually agreed that S Club 8's acting leaves a lot to be desired, the other 5 bring great emotional depth to their characters. In particular, Rachel Hyde-Harvey as Amy, who not only sells her flawed but lovable character, but also has arguably the best voice on the show (and even better than those from High School Musical or Glee!). Her antagonistic relationship with Felix (Matt Di Angelo, eye candy all the way!) is what kept me watching the show, if nothing else.

It's a shame that this was the little show that couldn't, because I believe that marketed correctly, could have become the next (or rather, first) High School Musical.

"I Dream"

(Season 1)

The dreams of thirteen lucky teenagers (Matt Di Angelo, Rachel Hyde-Harvey, Helen Kurup, Lorna Want, George Wood and S Club 8's Jay Asforis, Daisy Evans, Calvin Goldspink, Stacey McClean, Aaron Renfree, Hannah Richings and Francesca Sandford) are about to come true, when Professor Toone (Christopher Lloyd), the eccentric head-teacher of Avalon Heights, a prestigious performing arts school (located in an impossibly sunny region of the English countryside, and whose list of past pupils reads like a who's who of today's most successful music stars), invites them to study there over the summer. The youths jump at the chance, and, before you can say "Fame!", they are at the school, and beginning to settle in to their temporary home. Under the tutelage of their experienced teachers (Rachel Hale and Adam Morris), the group slowly realise their various individual talents, and find that inspiration can come from the most unlikely of places.

The name S Club 8 should sound familiar to those who have heard of the pop group S Club 7 (and if you're in the UK, chances are you probably have). A relatively short-lived manufactured band (backed by music magnate Simon Fuller) of yesteryear whose members have since split up, they were nonetheless successful enough to act in four television shows, and a mildly successful feature film. The seven members' fifteen minutes of fame also inspired a spin-off band, S Club 8 (originally christened S Club Juniors), who have piggybacked on the S Club brand name to moderate success on the UK music charts. Possibly spurred on by the highly publicised failure of 'From Justin to Kelly' (which starred "American Idol" finalists Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini), Simon Fuller looks towards the next generation of pre-packaged pop stars to fulfil his latest project designed to cross them over from their birthplace in the music industry to the world of acting.

The Simon Fuller formula has never been airtight, but "I Dream" never even tries to sway an inch away from it. The first episode also swiftly kicks off the action with an impressive fervour, and shows an admirable intent for the writers to get down to business. However, all too soon, Dornan (a veteran of several Fuller productions) just falls back on third-hand plot devices that have worked for others in his profession before, but with him, they are simply used as life rafts when he gets out of his depth (basically any attempt at character development). How many times do we really need to see a "disapproving parents" storyline (seen in #12: "Families")? The level of clichés in this television series is almost downright offensive.

I can't really criticise S Club 8's singing, as I haven't been given a taste of that (heavily tinkered with studio recordings of their singing voices kicks in as soon as the musical numbers start), but there's certainly nothing special about these kids in the acting department. How incongruous, since over half of them are essentially playing less famous versions of themselves. Ironically, the only two members of the cast to actually convince in their roles are people who have had little to no experience in acting – or singing - on the small screen. Helen Kurup is a joy to watch as the nervous and befuddled Khush, while Rachel Hyde-Harvey brings to the table with her a welcomed emotional depth for a character that is written almost too simplistically to deserve such treatment. If anybody in this lazy 'Fame' knockoff deserve long lasting singing and acting careers, it's those two.

It's saddening to see this cookie cutter tripe continue to fly with the public, as it is to see Christopher Lloyd and "Footballers' Wives" star Laila Rouass (who makes an appearance as a scheming gold digger) ham their merry way across the screen as if this flotsam is actually worth their time. "I Dream" is just another means to an end for Simon Fuller, a platform for S Club 8's rise to fame which seems destined to explode in Fuller's face (the official "I Dream" album and single barely made a dent in the charts). If, by any chance, this mess is given the go ahead for a second season (and that's a big "if"), don't count on me watching any of it.

~ 4/10 ~

"I Dream" has to have been one of the cheesiest shows ever made...but I never missed an episode. Set at the fictional Avalon Heights, a summer school for students interested in singing, dancing and acting, we follow the lives of some of its students. A concept we have seen before, but on this show the characters will suddenly burst into song and dance at any moment.

The story lines aren't new or inventive and the dialogue is often terrible. The continuity is frequently off. That being said, the cast play it genuinely.

The characters and acting leave a lot to be desired for but are not all bad. Amy, Felix, Ollie, Natalie and Khush are well acted, though Khush can be a bit annoying. Jay, Stacey and Calvin are charming enough, even though they are playing themselves. Frankie wins as the most annoying character; her acting is terrible. Of the other members of SC 8, we don't really see them enough to pass judgment.

I continue to wonder why Christopher Lloyd agreed to play Professor Toone. He can not sing and everything he says sounds like it came from a rejected self-help book. His advice is lame for want of a better word.

The songs range from lame to cheesy to actually-quite-good-bubblegum-pop. The best singers are Rachel Hyde-Harvey, who plays Amy, and Matt Di Angelo, who plays Felix. Their relationship is quite believable and their last duet is definitely the best song on the show. Lorna Want also gets snaps for being a funny dumb blonde with a bit of depth. And Calvin's gravity defying hair is ridiculous/funny.

This show is certainly not the greatest but if you like singing and dancing and lots and lots of cheese, then it isn't a bad way to spend half an hour.

When i first saw this show i couldn't believe my eyes. No, not in the good way, the bad way. The plot is very simple. A bunch of young teenagers get a scholarship to a prestigious talent school where they learn to sing. The characters acting is terrible and it is all very materialistic. This should have been made by Disney. The main characters are all overly relaxed and always look like they have stepped out of a magazine article about lazy people. The "professor toone" is a terrible creation half between a rollerskating teenager with wrinkles and a demented music teacher. All in all i give this 3/10. However, to be fair, i would suggest the show to an audience with a liking for weird music, strange fashion and bad acting.