Throughout recent years, Netflix Originals have become increasingly popular. From shows to movies of all genres, it’s easy to find something that fits your interests. One of the most recent and popular shows is Ginny and Georgia, a teenage drama. The show covers an array of issues ranging from racism to drug abuse, and sexual assault. 

The plot surrounds a daughter, Ginny, and her mother, Georgia, after they move from Texas to a small town in Massachusetts. Both protagonists face issues both on their own and together. 

Throughout the episodes, the show illustrates Ginny’s high school life, newfound friends, and how she adjusts to her environment. There are many similarities to real-life high school students, but there are just as many differences. For instance, I found that the portrayal of how teenagers interact with one another is completely flawed, especially teenagers’ social media presence. 

The way the teenagers behave on and off social media in this show is what adults think teenagers act like. In reality, people my age aren’t putting on performances in the hallways in the middle of the day. The so-called romantic gestures aren’t realistic. No high school student would put themselves out there in such a grand way for someone they’re interested in, based on my experiences. 

Along with the unrealistic high school life, the adults’ situations are just as unrealistic. I may not be the most reliable source for adult struggles, yet I know for a fact that most adults aren’t finding ways to cover up their federal offenses, as portrayed in the show. 

It’s also notable that the show covers a wide variety of social issues such as racism, racial stereotypes, and more. I could never compare People of  color(POC)’s experiences to my own. However, my friends have experienced similar situations that the POC characters face, especially casual racism. Phrases like, “Can I touch your hair?” and “What are you?” are thrown around too often in real life. I liked how they called this out within the episodes as a means to teach people about POC’s everyday encounters. 

The show in its entirety had a complex storyline that covered a multitude of current issues, but it was not executed as well as I would’ve hoped. The show was renewed for season two and I’m hopeful for more accurate portrayal of these topics in the upcoming season.🔳