Æskan

***Æskan*** (English: *Youth*) is a Velkanian teen drama web series about the daily life of teenagers at Narísandur Academy, a prestigious junior college in Narísandur. It is produced by VNT3, part of the Velkanian national broadcaster Velkanian National Television (VNT).

*Æskan* follows a different main character each season. During the airing of the season, new clips of scenes or characters' in-universe social media posts are published in real-time to the VNT3 website on a daily basis, intending to imply that the season takes place in real-time and the characters are actual teenagers. Each season has focus on particular topics, ranging from relationship difficulties, personal identity, eating disorders, sexual assault, sexual orientation and gender identity, dysfunctional families, mental health issues, addiction, immigration and discrimination, religion, and forbidden love.

Despite receiving minimal promotion ahead of its 2012 debut, *Æskan* broke viewership records in the Velkanian Isles, with several of its premiere and finale episodes becoming the highest-rated programs broadcast in VNT3's history. During the airing of its second season, clips from the series began to go viral internationally, resulting in the establishment of a devoted international fanbase. Due to music licensing fees and contractual obligations, the series was not able to be aired internationally, but pirated versions subtitled by fans became widespread throughout the Internet.

Since its debut in 2012, *Æskan* has received widespread critical praise, receiving two Velkanian Television Awards and twelve nominations. Its success in the Velkanian Isles and abroad has inspired its own franchise, with international versions of the series being developed in six countries, in addition to a young adult book series based on the original version being released.

## Background and development

*Æskan* was first developed in 2010, after the teenage children of television and film writer Elín María Hreimardattir expressed to her their dissatisfaction in the television series marketed towards teenagers that already existed, citing a lack of authenticity in both plots and characters. Struck with an idea, Elín began writing *Æskan*, taking inspiration from stories told to her by her own children in addition to those from nieces and nephews, friends of her children, and interviews conducted with teenagers at her children's school.

After writing the pilot episode, Elín shopped the series to a number of networks in the Velkanian Isles, in addition to small networks in Framland and the Ditrovian Kingdom. Believing that it was unlikely any major network would pick the show up, she was surprised when Velkanian National Television (VNT) ordered a full series to air on their youth-oriented network VNT3. Elín believed that the series had a possibility of being picked up by a smaller network, but did not think it had any chance of being picked up by the national broadcaster of the Velkanian Isles.

Initial casting was done from January until April 2012 in Narísandur. Elín strongly urged executives to allow her to cast actual teenagers in the roles, and also did not want any of the actors to already be established or well-known names. She held auditions at the Narísandur College of the Performing Arts and the Royal Velkanian Academy of Arts, casting exclusively drama students at the schools who were around the same age as the characters they'd be portraying. Filming occurred throughout Narísandur in the spring and summer of 2012; as all the main actors were students, filming for the series only happened after school hours and on weekends until their summer vacation began, in order for them to prioritize their education.

Following the success of the series, Elín confirmed in 2015 that she would continue making new episodes of the series "as long as people wanted them," citing how there were an "infinite amount" of stories to tell, and that as the years went on the show would continue to adapt to the times in order to accurately represent the current generation.

### Central cast

Each of the seasons focuses on a different student at Narísandur Academy. While most of the series takes place within the same friend group, so that the cast is not entirely replaced every season, many characters come and go throughout the show, according to Elín "as they would in real life." Following the eighth season, the original cast graduated, and an entirely new cast of characters was introduced for the ninth season.

#### Generation one

Generation one aired from 2012 until the characters' graduation in 2016. Themes explored throughout the generation included mental health, dysfunctional families, sexuality, friendship, loss, addiction, sexual assault, and identity.

* Season one follows Unnur María Óðinnsdattir (Ólöf Jóhanna Hlérsdattir) as she adjusts to moving to Narísandur from Hersingborg in order to live with her father. After befriending her classmate Lóki, Unnur is introduced to his friend group and becomes truly immersed in the world of Velkanian upper secondary school. Unnur's season largely focuses on dysfunctional families, mental health, and isolation.
* Season two follows Lóki Erlingarson (Jóhann Pétarson) as he begins to consider coming out of the closet as gay. He soon is introduced to mysterious transfer student Rúrik, whom he becomes enamored with. Lóki's season largely focuses on sexuality, coming out, self-acceptance, and young love.
* Season three follows Kaja Sif Rafnarsdattir (Sigurbjörg Ísidórsdattir) as she deals with the divorce of her parents. Feeling conflict between her strong relationship with her father and her hardworking mother who provides for her, Kaja begins to feel torn apart amidst the chaos. Kaja's season largely focuses on dysfunctional families, family dynamics, and mental health.
* Season four follows Ingibjörg Guðmarsdattir (Jóhanna Guðrún Karlsdattir) as she deals with mental health issues following the death of her grandmother who raised her. In the midst of this, Ingibjörg also begins to discover who she truly is. Ingibjörg's season largely focuses on death and loss, abandonment, mental health, and sexuality.
* Season five follows Samúel Bjarki Magnússon (Vilmundur Ólaf Ölnirsson) as he is informed of his girlfriend's pregnancy, and is forced to make a decision between his friends and his burgeoning new family. Samúel's season largely focuses on teenage pregnancy and sexuality, friendship, and heartbreak.
* Season six follows Klara Bergmarsdattir (Stefanía María Jóhannsdattir) as her relationship with her boyfriend begins deteriorating, and she begins to question both her identity and her place in the world. Klara's season largely focuses on bisexuality, rebirth, self-identity, and friendship.
* Season seven follows Marselína Liljá Vilhjálmardattir (Hildur Gunný Eiríksdattir) as a sexual assault begins to lead her to alcoholism. Marselína's season largely focuses on sexual assault and harassment, slut shaming, addiction and alcoholism, mental health, and self-destruction.
* Season eight follows Pála Hvönn Kristgeirsdattir (Kristín Björk Ásgrímardattir) as she struggles with balancing the demands of her final year of upper secondary and figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Pála's season largely focuses on teenage stress, familial expectations, and saying goodbye. This is the last season of generation one, with all characters graduating in the finale episode.