Netflix enters the teenage high school dramedy genre with a special series that will resound with people from all walks of life. There is nothing boring about this show.
Before high speed data. Before household touch screen technology. Before super compressed audio files. Before cell phones in everyone's pockets, there was a thing called interaction. Everything Sucks enters the way back machine and spins out a reminder of how things used to be. And it's oh so good.
Mixing comedy, drama, and an excellent soundtrack that plays like the perfect mid-'90s playlist, a little chunk of my youth feels restored. Instead of going for cheap laughs or cliched antics, their Everything Sucks launch season is a well played bit of heaven that pulls at the heartstrings while its cast offers believable performances that are totally in tune with the characters they're playing. As a person that has a hard time getting into television shows, the ten episode arc of Everything Sucks pulled me in and didn't let me go until I had completed everything. Much like the first season of Stranger Things, the kids are each a perfect fit for their assigned roles, making the show an engaging hit that should definitely be a success with a broad audience.
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| Dude, this is 56k modem speed. AOL kicks so much ass. Let's go into a chat room. |
What feels like it might initially stray into Saved By the Bell territory with its socially awkward principal and a small group of diverse teens, ends up being more so a dramatic tale that is only highlighted by little bits of comedy and fun. Centered on a freshman that's adjusting to the first year of high school. the nostalgia comes roaring back. Being that I graduated in the '90s, the show is also a reminder of how tough those years were but is also a trip down memory lane that touches on familiar emotions of first love, youthful playfulness, the dawning of creative enterprises, and how much our friends really mean to us. Throughout Everything Sucks, bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the transformation from youth to adulthood begins with sheer delight...even when disappointment plays a part.
Considering there are only ten episodes in the first season, I think most will probably be left wanting more. The writing on the series is so flawless and delicate, that anyone that experienced high school will find something or someone to latch onto. There are people we swear we know. There are characters, stories, and little bits of humanity here that we can all sympathize with. Young boys feel that first small dose of love. The girls are coming to terms with their sexuality. And the adults that surround them feel the exact same things we experience today.
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| Hello boys! Ever heard of No Doubt? |
The most striking thing about the first season is how far the journey comes in such a small time. In only 220 minutes or so, we see the young Luke and Kate transform from insecure freshman to more mature kids that have already been on an adventure which will define their respective futures. Taking big chances that could result in dire consequences at home, the two find that their world is changing for the better as they find comfort in who they are. Honestly, Everything Sucks is one of my favorite things of 2018 so far. I really hope that Netflix has a hit on their hands with this one.
If you have teenagers at home, this is a suggested viewing that families could share together. Knowing that high schools weren't always a target for violence might give kids hope that we might one day see some kind of change. Also, Everything Sucks is a nice example to remind our own children that we went through many of the same things they did, before the advent of cell phones and social media.
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