High School

Binged the first 8 episodes this evening.

It is an interesting show, and not just full of fluffy high school nostalgia. This mischaracterized as "Comedy" when it should really be "Drama". People have problems, not everyone is totally happy about everything, and not everything is fixed the way you might hope. Not the standard "there is an issue and it will be solved by the end of the episode" drama. There are definitely good things that happen, not to worry.

Since this is an autobiographical story of Tegan and Sara, it moves along at a realistic pace. I like the fact that a story like this can be made and has an audience, even if it might not be what some people expect.

The soundtrack is definitely top-notch, lots of great tunes in there.

Such a great show! It's so cool to see this written memoir come alive on-screen. Railey and Seazynn do a great job. This is the show I needed growing up, to see a reflection of myself at that age. I definitely think the episodes could be longer! This is a show that you hope has longer seasons because it's so engaging. Enjoyable for any viewer, whether it's your first time hearing about Tegan and Sara, or you're a stan. I can't wait to hear their music on the show. The soundtrack they have with each episode really sets the scene. The wardrobe department did a great job - definitely sets the time of the 90's.

Basically, what the title says. I've been a T&S fan since "If It Was You" era (I'm getting old). I read the book, of course. I honestly didn't have super high expectations of the show and was just gonna watch.

I gotta say, even if you're not a T&S fan, it's great and worth watching. It's a very under-done snapshot of a certain time, place, and experience in life (growing up gay in the 90s). The pacing is good, the music and style references are on point, and the acting across the board is a solid A- (the twins can be a little awkward and stilted at times but I forgive them as this is their first foray into acting, ever. They're doing great).

My mark of a good TV show is if I watch it without any other distractions and if I look forward to it every week, and I gotta say, this show hits that mark perfectly. I've been a Tolkien fan way longer than T&S fan, and uh... That Show is not hitting that mark for me at all.

TLDR: great show, if we ever get a second season (navigating the late 90's Canadian indie music scene and becoming adults? YES PLEASE), I bet all of my extremely minor gripes are fixed.

So far it's a great portrayal of what it means to be a teenager trying to figure yourself out. I really appreciated the nuanced and heartfelt look at each sister and the rest of the characters as they are forging their own paths. A very accurate but not overdramatized depiction of teenage years.

The 90s vibes and music are immaculate. And the relationships feel authentic. The show does a great job establishing Tegan and Sara both as separate characters but fully cringing the viewer into their tense relationship with each other and their individual arcs.

Plus got to love the subtle nod to the episode titles being songs from their 20+ year career!

I only knew tangentially of tegan and sara before seeing this show. It doesn't matter towards your potential enjoyment whatsoever.

The scene-setting for me particularly (incredibly early-mid 90's pilled musically) was so fun to see. My high school experience was a decade after this show but It didn't feel far off at all.

The acting is quite good. The 2 leads are asked to be all sorts of things... snotty, sarcastic, infatuated, caring... and they do all of it well enough. The real heavy hitting will come towards the end of the season I'm assuming.

The Mother is a real breath of fresh air. She strikes a balance between "cool mom" and stern that you love to see.

Having 2 separate but conjoined queer stories at the helm of a coming of age show is something we need more of. Hopefully gone are the days of a "thrown in" queer story or even the stereotypical stuff with a "good heart". This feels very real.