Grand Army

It starts off a little slow but picks up through the episodes. It's a good representation of teenage life, the characters actually look and act their age. The teens also wear real/normal clothes instead of couture or outfits a 25yr old would wear clubbing. The storylines are engaging. Not as gripping or as much drama as say, Euphoria but very relatable ...Teens do drugs, are mean, insecure, have sex, have crushes, have fun, party, are trying to discover themselves and find their place in the world, all the while doing stupid sh** sometimes...that's this show.

Without giving too much away I liked the way consent, impact and agency are explored, its very much real but not often shown this way on screen. We tend to be shown extremes.

Also, this show is not "BLM crap" ignore that review. Not that it should be an issue but BLM barely comes up, it's given about 5 mins of screen time - a subtle subplot that crops up occasionally alongside other storylines, but is by no means dominant or even a storyline I even noticed until trying to understand what the triggered review was about. I'd say in terms of general themes, sex and belonging dominate this show more than anything. This show is contextual, current and has varied storylines. There are a diverse range of characters of varying heritage, developing different subplots. To be honest this is what Brooklyn looks like in 2020. There are white people, black people, brown people, East Asian people, Jewish people, Muslim people, wealthy people and poorer people, and they all have problems. This show has all the diversity without the Disney style cheese, it's as real as it gets for an American high school. Enjoy it for what it is, Teens in Brooklyn growing up in 2020.

Grand Army does a great job at capturing reality, from the characters to the themes tackled. While watching, I felt like I had met the characters in my highschool years; they weren't stereotypes, but well-rounded, real and raw... nothing like the 30 year-old hotties we've become so used to. As for the themes tackled, the series does not shy away from serious topics and approaches them from a diverse point of view, without romanticizing them or using them for melodrama. It might not be for everyone, but I do appreciate the series' effort to give all teenagers something or someone to relate to.

This isn't your typical drug/alcohol abuse, sex, & violence type of teen drama. It's more than that. It's about identity, hardships, race, etc. This show gave a more real high school experience than Euphoria did...and I love Euphoria. The authenticity and character development is what did it for me. If you don't like "woke" or "political correct" shows then don't watch it. This show is real life and if you want to escape that when watching tv shows then don't watch this because this show really made me reflect on life and I like that. Highly recommend checking it out!

Against everything about OUR generation, this is why I'm hopefull. The whole show was a big journey. They were struggling, trying to find their way and like it or not it was a discovery. Even the dark ones. Maybe for the first time I felt like I could see it clearly. Those kids weren't perfect. They don't have to be. They just stood tall, fought for what they believe. I think the show made most of us who could judge them and think that they deserved what they had, to understand and empathize. And I think it didn't make it in a nice way. If you don't like it, probably you should get your thing together and think.

It should be clear that-given the show's controversial topics-it will be subject to harsh criticism, as well as affirming support. Personally, I enjoy narratives that aren't sugar-coated. This is a real and raw look at adolescence from a modern student's point of view. Yes, there may be cliches, but the story overall feels fresh and original. I read a review that attacked the legitimacy and safety of public education. While there are cases that may dignify this opinion, most people don't have the means to attend private institutions. Instead of simply denouncing government run education, fight to improve it. No system is perfect, which is why it will take a cumulative effort to create necessary change. It sounds simplistic, but if this show highlights anything, it's that this generation will lead the charge to change the antiquated and divisive ideals that have plagued this nation since its inception. Stand tall and "FREE THE NIPPLES!"