Published by Mason Oldridge, 25 April 2024
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
The Australian teen comedy-drama reboot returns, following up its mediocre first season with a sensational second run.
We see the ensemble cast in their various storylines; Amerie is targeted by a new mysterious enemy Bird Psycho while involved in a love triangle between her ex-boyfriend Malakai and new student Rowan, Darren and Ca$h’s relationship is strained due to Ca$h’s asexuality as he fights to leave his old life behind him, Quinni struggles with change in her life, Harper attempts to move on from her ordeal and befriends Ant, who falls for her, Spencer begins a secret affair with Missy, who inspires him to change and become a better person, new student Zoe leads a celibate group, there is a student election between Amerie, Sasha and Spider and returning sports teacher Mr Voss leads a pro-male group the CUMLORDS as a breakaway from the SLTs.
Compared to a relatively stale first season, the storylines are a lot more compelling, with particular pick-up towards the latter end of the season as Bird Psycho’s identity is revealed. It is hinted that something happened to Rowan when he was younger and that he had some prior connection to Amerie. In the season finale when Amerie proclaims her love for Malakai in front of Rowan, he traps her and Harper in the AV room while the school is ablaze from an accidental fire set by Mr Voss during a protest and showcases a film revealing that when he was younger, he was in love with Amerie and they bonded over caring for an injured bird, but when they were mocked for giving the bird a funeral, Amerie embarrassed Rowan by claiming to the other kids it was his idea. Rowan lashed out in a rage back at home and his brother was killed in a car accident crossing the road to get their mother for him. Quinni rescues the girls and Amerie saves Rowan as he comes to terms with losing his brother, in truly emotional scenes that highlights Rechner’s incredible performance as the newcomer.
However, where every praise is deserved for a dramatic finale, the show is somewhat overshadowed by its desperate wokeness. Most characters are LGBT, offering up an unrealistic representation of high school youth, and it promotes sexual promiscuity and makes light of the difficult subject of abortion as Amerie makes no attempt to consider the pro-life counterpoint.
Overall, this second season is a very entertaining and emotive teen series, but needs less reliance on wokeness.
8/10