I Am Not Okay With This

I Am Not Okay With This is an American coming-of-age comedy-drama streaming television series, produced for Netflix and first released in February 2020. Based on Charles Forsman’s graphic novel of the same name, the series invites viewers into the tumultuous world of adolescence through a supernatural lens.

The series features talented young actress Sophia Lillis in the lead role as Sydney Novak, a troubled 17-year-old navigating the stormy seas of high school, family life, sexuality, and grief, whilst simultaneously coming to grips with her mysterious, burgeoning superpowers. Sophia Lillis is best known for her role as Beverly Marsh in the It franchise where she starred alongside Wyatt Oleff, who also plays a leading role in this series.

In I Am Not Okay With This, Wyatt Oleff portrays Stanley Barber, Sydney's quirky and endearing neighbor, and one of the few who offers her unconditional friendship and a non-judgmental ear. With his eccentric and retro style, Stanley provides comic relief, but also becomes a vital ally for Sydney in her journey.

Kathleen Rose Perkins, known for her roles in shows like Episodes and You're The Worst, portrays Sydney's mother, Maggie. Maggie is a single mother overwhelmed by the pressures of life and financial constraints after her husband's untimely death and is often oblivious to Sydney’s private battles.

The story unfolds in the small and monotonous town of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, providing a gritty backdrop for the drama. The town radiates a feeling of hopelessness, amplifying the teenage angst and helping to set the tone of the show. The creators marry themes of adolescence and supernatural elements seamlessly making I Am Not Okay With This compelling and immersive.

Sydney's journey is confusing and often frustrating as she is prone to outbursts of anger and sadness that trigger her latent powers, which can have dangerous — and sometimes deadly — consequences. As her abilities continue to manifest, her confusion deepens, and she grapples to understand whether these powers are a blessing or a curse.

Throughout the series, Sydney turns to her diary to unload her thoughts, fears, and frustrations. This forms the base for many of Sydney's voice-over narratives offering viewers an intimate insight into her psyche. Her grappling with her sexuality also forms a significant narrative strand as she finds herself attracted to her best friend, Dina (played by Sofia Bryant), further complicating her life’s complexities.

Her complex relationship with her mother forms another central aspect as Sydney struggles against her mom's lacking understanding and emotional distance. There is a constant, heavy sense of grief throughout the series as Sydney also battles to come to terms with the loss of her father.

The creators, Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall, manage to balance the dark elements with humor and a strong underlying current of hope and resilience. Fans of Netflix's Stranger Things and The End of the F***ing World, the latter being another Forsman's adaptation by Entwistle, will see familiar themes and settings—suburban ennui, high school dramas, troubled friendships, and the labors of growing up suddenly made literal through sci-fi elements.

There's also a nostalgic nod to the 80s, showcased most evidently through iconic throwbacks in the soundtrack and in Stanley Barber's character. On a deeper level, this retrospect creates a sense of shared generational experiences, with teen struggles displaying a timeless quality.

Each episode runs for approximately 20 minutes making it easy to binge-watch. It briefly yet effectively captures the messy and challenging world of teen life, sensitively portraying mental health struggles in a way that resonates with viewers of all ages, making it more than just another teen drama.

Overall, I Am Not Okay With This is a dramatic and often poignant exploration of adolescence that merges the supernatural with the everyday, creating a genre-bending series that pushes beyond traditional teen show boundaries. Its honest depiction of teen angst and struggles, wrapped in a coating of supernatural intrigue, makes this series an exciting and compelling watch.