By Noemi Vargas, March 16, 2021
Happiness, confusion, excitement and hardships are some of the many aspects life has to offer. “Ginny and Georgia,” the new Netflix original series by Debra Fisher, depicts just that through the eyes of an angsty, dramatic high school girl, Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and her mother, Georgia (Brianne Howey).
The many life lessons and emotions revealed in the showing was overwhelming at times given the fast pace of the show, but that was what made for an attractive, compelling story.
As the series begins, it sets a serious tone with Ginny’s stepfather’s passing away and her family moving to Massachusetts. Shortly after the move, Ginny and Georgia start to unveil the unusual mother and daughter dynamic they have.
The imperfect relationship between the two characters pushes Ginny and Georgia to quickly find confidants in their new neighborhood, showing that they both craved feeling secure with their emotions.
Through flashbacks of Georgia’s childhood when she was 15 years old, the show reveals the trauma that led her to make poor choices and lose trust in people. Georgia’s past not only affected her but also her children. As the show progresses, Georgia’s bad habits continually haunt her and force Ginny into a position where she is tasked to look out for the family, being stripped away from normal teenager experiences like having friends.
Ginny, being the teenager that she is, goes through her own traumas and issues which make life difficult. The show jumps from one problem to another with a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Although this makes the show feel like it was all over the place, it perfectly embodies the life of a teenager and a mom who never got to be a teenager.
The characters were well developed and showcased many levels of intensity, making the show relatable for viewers. It was refreshing to see that the writers did not shy away from touching on some of the many important social topics including crime, racism, self-harm, parental abandonment and sexuality.
When it came to episodes with sensitive topics like self-harm, the storyline encourages the audience to seek help and allow themselves to be vulnerable enough to speak about the problems they face.
Every episode was unpredictable and wild as it alternated between lighthearted scenes to intense drama, keeping viewers intrigued. The unpredictable direction the show took also gave viewers the satisfaction to sit back and enjoy the strong chemistry between the characters. The typical boy-next-door romance along with stories about friendships, sex and college aspirations made the show an emotional rollercoaster that is impossible to not binge.
The downside of the series was the fact that there were only 10 episodes. There were so many important topics and characters in the series that the show didn’t dig into because of the limited number of episodes, making the series feel rushed and unfinished in some areas. But the effort the producers and writers made to include many of the issues people go through can still be appreciated.
Nonetheless, “Ginny and Georgia” is a relatable show that anyone at any age can watch. If interested in romance, hardships, reconciliation, this show is worth binging.
