Provokr Picks: Teen Angst
Teens are dumb, but they're great for drama!
Teenagers are always crying about one thing or another. They broke up with their girlfriend, they can’t use the car, they’re grounded, they can’t find the perfect prom dress. They’re prone to freaking out over any number of seemingly epic crises which the test of time will reveal to be mere trifles in the grand scheme of their lives.
Regardless, there’s a ton of great TV and film involving young people getting in over their heads and having to deal with significant problems. Here are Provokr’s picks for the best recent programming starring angst-ridden teens.
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser
Shannon Purser was shockingly killed off early in Stranger Things, but she certainly left a strong impression on audiences, leading to the memetic #JusticeForBarb movement, and turning the little-known actor into a star. Her latest project is a Netflix original movie. Purser stars as Sierra, who accidentally starts a texting relationship with a boy from school who thinks she’s actually the hot cheerleader. It’s a classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, and should be solid, heartwarming entertainment for movie fans of all ages when it premieres on September 7.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Love letters are precious, private nuggets of correspondence between the sender and the object of their affection. In To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor, X-Men: Apocalypse) writes letters to her five biggest crushes, but never intended for them to ever be read by anyone but herself. She just couldn’t help herself; she’s so romantic, she had to put her feelings to paper. Naturally, all hell breaks loose when the letters get out and everyone learns of her feelings. This Netflix original, based on the best-selling novel by Jenny Han, debuts on August 17.
The Kissing Booth
Based on the YA novel by Beth Reekles, The Kissing Booth eschews the sci-fi and fantasy aesthetics of popular Young Adult fare like Twilight and Divergent in favor of the classic John Hughes approach. Think less Hunger Games, more Pretty in Pink. The Kissing Booth wears its 1980s influence on its sleeve with the casting of The Breakfast Club star Molly Ringwald in a lead role. Still, the real star of the film is young Joey King (FX’s Fargo, The Conjuring), who aims to use a kissing booth to overcome her unrequited crush on a boy in school. Basically, it looks like the most adorable, kind-hearted, saccharine movie for teenagers from every generation. The Kissing Booth is out now on Netflix.
Kiss Me First
It would be reductive and inaccurate to describe Kiss Me First as Ready Player One meets Nancy Drew with queer themes, but it’s still a great way to sell the aesthetic of the unique series. This Netflix original, co-produced by the British E4 company, follows an introverted teen (Tallulah Haddon) who takes on a whole new persona when she plays the massively mutiplayer online virtual reality video game, Azana. In cyberspace, she is no longer Leila Evans, but Shadowfax. When one of her online friends disappears, Shadowfax launches an investigation and uncovers secrets and conspiracies she could never have predicted. A show about social bonding and the value of community, Kiss Me First is better than you might think, and definitely worth watching. It’s currently streaming on Netflix.
On My Block
One of Netflix‘s early 2018 sleeper hits, On My Block is a lovely dramatic comedy about high schoolers in a less glamorous side of Los Angeles. The show’s small corner of L.A. truly comes alive with varied characters who are over-the-top, yet still completely relatable. Like all the best coming-of-age family dramas, On My Block tells a personal, intimate story without patronizing its audience. The talented cast of unknown actors are perfect in their roles, and we can’t wait for season two, which will presumably be out sometime in 2019.
Cloak & Dagger
Marvel Comics has served as the source material for some of the biggest blockbusters of the last decade, from Iron Man to The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. On the television front, they’ve launched shows like Agents of SHIELD, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher. Their latest project is Cloak & Dagger on the Freeform Network. The series follows a pair of teenage star-crossed lovebirds on the run while trying to learn how to control their newfound abilities. It’s kind of like Romeo & Juliet with superpowers. It’s a perfect mix of adventure, mystery, and romance for teens and parents alike.
