The TV show As If is a British comedy-drama that originally aired on E4 and later on Channel 4 from January 22, 2001, to July 31, 2004. It consists of 76 episodes across four series, each about 22 to 30 minutes long

Premise and Format

As If follows the lives of six young adults living in London: Jamie, Sooz, Alex, Nikki, Rob, and Sasha. Each episode is uniquely presented from the perspective of a different character, a storytelling approach that was innovative for a comedy-drama at the time

. The show explores their friendships, relationships, and personal challenges, often using surreal camera work, fast transitions, and distinctive music to enhance its style

Characters

• Jamie: cocky and helpful
• Sooz: confident, tough, but secretly romantic
• Alex: openly gay and comfortable with himself
• Nikki: naive and fashion-focused
• Rob: caring, with a difficult home life
• Sasha: often caught in complicated relationships

Style and Reception

The series was praised for its fresh, realistic portrayal of young people's lives and its innovative narrative style. It included episodes parodying popular films and shows like The Blair Witch Project and 24. It gained a cult following and critical acclaim, winning an RTS Television Award for editing

Adaptations

An American version of As If aired briefly on UPN in 2002 but was short- lived, with only two episodes broadcast and five unaired. It adapted the British format to a Los Angeles setting but did not achieve the same success

. In summary, As If is a groundbreaking British teen comedy-drama known for its character-driven episodes and stylistic innovation, focusing on the lives of six friends navigating young adulthood in London