Netflix’s "I Am Not Okay With This" Is Your Superpowered Dose of Teen Angst

Syd’s just your, uh, ordinary teenage girl.

If you mixed John Hughes, Carrie and Lady Bird together, it’s highly likely that the result would be I Am Not Okay With This. Based on the graphic novel by Charles Forsman and adapted by Christy Hall and Jonathan Entwistle, this new Netflix series is fuelled by an intense dose of hormones, teen angst and misunderstood characters.

Many movies and shows have explored similar coming-of-age themes, and for the most part, I Am Not Okay With This feels like a familiar story. Except, there is one prominent difference that sets it apart: on top of the usual stress that comes along with being a young woman, our main character also has superpowers. 

To recap, the seven-episode dramedy centers on the self-deprecating Sydney "Syd" Novak, portrayed by It’s Sophia Lillis, who lives in a Pennsylvania town with her mum Maggie (Kathleen Rose Perkins) and younger brother Liam (Aidan Wotjak-Hissong). It becomes evident early on that Syd’s struggling to come to terms with her father’s suicide, which took place in the basement of her family home. To deal with the trauma, her school counsellor has suggested she keep a diary of her thoughts. 

Additionally, Syd’s also trying to navigate thigh acne, burgeoning romantic feelings towards her best friend, and her strained relationship with her mother. So, when superpowers (specifically telekinesis) begin to emerge from her anger and anxiety, it’s a lot.

Of course, the extreme reactions associated with being a teen have been investigated in many other texts. X-Men, Spider-Man and Carrie also delved into self-discovery and raging teen hormones, combining the character's journeys with superhuman elements. However, the show shines by using Syd’s powers to visualise her heightened emotional states. Everyone experiences overwhelming emotions at one point or another, so when Syd’s so embarrassed that she accidentally knocks down trees with her mind, it doesn’t feel wholly unrealistic. Instead, it’s simply a physical representation of how the world can often feel as if it’s spiralling out of control.

Along with her new-found telekinesis, Syd’s also coming to the realisation that she might be gay. She’s got a massive crush on her best friend Dina (Sofia Bryant), and she’s confused as to why she doesn’t want to date her next door neighbour Stanley Barber (Wyatt Oleff) given how in love with her he is. Despite Syd’s life being somewhat chaotic, the show is always careful to validate and respect her feelings. Regardless of her unnatural abilities, she’s never presented as totally abnormal.

In saying that, the series does occasionally steer off into superficial territory. Dina’s boyfriend Brad (Richard Ellis) is the stereotypical jock, whose sole duty seems to be antagonising Syd. Plus, the stop-start rhythm of the episodes sometimes hinders the show’s tumultuous energy. Even though it does an excellent job at drawing parallels between Syd’s personal struggles and her psychic powers, there are no other vastly engaging subplots, besides one episode inspired by The Breakfast Club that features a smaller escapade with a handful of characters.

It is Lillis who manages to keep the show grounded. She brings an incredible amount of vulnerability and wit to her character, appearing at this point in her career utterly incapable of delivering an average performance. Her emotive blue eyes consistently let us know what Syd’s thinking, while her sarcastic voice-overs provide an authentic internal monologue. Oleff, who starred alongside Lillis in It, proves a worthy partner in crime as the exuberant and very fashionable Stan. It’s Oleff who get’s the best one-liners, and Stan’s self-assuredness is in stark contrast to Syd’s lack of self-identity.

An explosive season finale threatens to take the show in a completely different direction. If it is to venture into more supernatural realms in future seasons, we can only hope that I Am Not Okay With This continues to put Syd first. She might have superpowers after all, but there’s something that’s even more powerful: letting Syd know that, in actual fact, she is perfectly okay.

3.5/5

You can stream I Am Not Okay With This on Netflix from 26 February 2020.

Header Image: Netflix