Warning: spoilers ahead.
Created by daddy/daughter duo Daniel and Zelda Barnz
Genera+ion is a half/hour dramedy centring queerness
It also explores teenage mental health, and in all fairness
I’m glad the teens get to see and hear this
But don’t get me wrong, Genera+ion isn’t perfect
HBO had a hit with Euphoria and now they’re probably trying to milk it
And it feels like messy storytelling, but it’s still something
I don’t even know if it’s realistic
There’s trauma just to be traumatic
Mixed with humour so it’s comedic
Cringe, laugh or sigh, viewers always interact with what’s on the screen
I don’t even know if they’re accurately portraying your average Gen-Z teen
Sometimes the dialogue and language is forced
So sometimes you ask “what is this discourse?”
But it’s still something
The show has its moments and gives us many things
Like Chester (Justice Smith) being on the edge of suspension
Because he challenges gender conventions
(It’s the bare minimum in the grand scheme of Western society, but major for a teenager at a school with regressive gender and outfit/uniform rules.)
Whilst being popular and wallowing in a deep emptiness
But there’s more we get to witness
It highlights how this generation
Is learning all the information
To be less like the Earth’s bigoted excrement
Even if it’s surface-level, it’s still something
For her raging homophobic comments, the kids continuously condemn
Arianna (Nathanya Alexander), their annoying Black 4C-haired friend
Whose gay dads she loves to emotionally torture and offend
(That really pissed me off because why is the only Black girl the most problematic?)
The newfound friendship between Chester, Riley (Chase Sui Wonders), and Greta (Haley Sanchez) is adored
The budding romance between Riley and Greta is pure
Semi-closeted Nathan (Uly Schlesinger) hooks up with his sister’s boyfriend
Whilst simultaneously crushing on Chester, but surely that’ll end
Because Chester awkwardly crushes on guidance counselor Sam (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett)
Meanwhile, “deep” and OTT Delilah (Lukita Maxwell) gives birth on a public restroom floor, damn
Five episodes in and the characters are still too mysterious
Genera+ion isn’t flawless but it’s far from hideous
However, I’m sad to have found out that one of the writers and executive producers is Lena Dunham because she contributes to my weariness
Hey, I told you I’m no poet. Episodes 1–5 of Genera+ion are available now on HBO Max.
