High Times

High Times is a provocative and captivating Scottish television series that originally aired from 2004 through 2008. Far from conventional TV fare, the show presents an authentic, unvarnished look at the lives of its flawed, tough and likable characters.

Set in the Council Flats of Stonemouth, a fictional suburb of Glasgow, High Times shifts between drama and comedy. It centers on an eclectic group of residents who cope with the harsh realities and human struggles of day-to-day life in a harsh urban landscape. The series does not shy away from depicting the startling underbelly of urban life, showing viewers a world punctuated by poverty, crime, and drug use without romanticizing or sensationalizing any of it.

The ensemble cast of High Times includes a variety of compelling characters. Rab and Frank, two middle-aged lifelong stoners, serve as the heart and soul of the series, their enduring friendship debunks the negative stereotypes associated with marijuana users. Similarly, drop-out and unemployed Jake exudes a certain charm with his philosophical insight that contrasts sharply with his unfortunate circumstances. Elderly couple Maggie and Wullie and supermarket employees Sparky and Janet provide additional perspectives and depth to the diverse social tapestry of Stonemouth.

It's the empathetic character portrayals that make High Times a standout series. Despite their flaws and the burdens they carry, there's a profound humanity that makes viewers grow attached to the residents of Stonemouth. Episodes focus not only on their struggles but also on their rare moments of joy, victories and camaraderie, painting a complex picture of life in economically disadvantaged areas, without judgment or pity. The characters may live on society's edge, but they still laugh, cry, dream, love, and display a resilience that often makes them engaging and inspiring.

High Times offers a frank, gritty realism style, making it noteworthy within Scottish television. It exhaustively captures the zeitgeist of a certain socio-economic period in Glasgow, mirroring the stark reality faced by a sizable segment of the urban population. However, it's not relentlessly bleak or pessimistic; instead, it employs raw humor as a natural coping mechanism, which reflects the indomitable spirit of the characters and the resilience they master to survive.

The show won Best Drama Series at the 2004 BAFTA Scotland awards, confirming the impact of its gritty, no-holds-barred storytelling, underscored by brilliant acting performances that brought the characters to life. While it's at times brutally honest and uncompromising, High Times never loses touch with the humanity of its characters.

The dialogue is also a standout, delivered in Glaswegian dialect and filled with local idiom and wit, adding an additional layer of authenticity. This can make the show a little challenging to follow for viewers unfamiliar with Scottish slang, but it significantly solidifies the socio-cultural ambiance of the show and rewards those who stick with it.

The series was developed by John Rooney for Scottish Television (STV), and it had two seasons, each filled with episodic stories that reflect the characters' lives. While every episode maintains an individual storyline, there's an underlying narrative arc that connects them all. Each story offers a valuable insight into the condition of humanity in tough socio-economic conditions, revealing their grit, spirit, and an unwavering will to survive.

In essence, High Times is a darkly comic and poignant exploration of life in the less affluent areas of Scotland. However, it's also a universally relatable journey of friendship, resilience, failure, and triumph, seen through the eyes of flawed yet incredibly strong and persevering characters. It unequivocally highlighted the power of Scottish television to deliver hard-hitting domestic drama, and although featuring themes that might seem bleak, it's tempered by humorous dialogue, warmth, and deep compassion. Through High Times, viewers are exposed to a different view of urban Scotland, laced with pathos, humor, and undeniable human spirit.