Netflix is Changing Teen Television for the Better: On My Block, Everything Sucks and the Teen Image AK Follow Mar 22, 2018 · 3 min read

I’m not going to lie to myself: I am a huge sucker for teen television. In my defense, I’m 15, but nevertheless, it is a bit embarrassing. All of the shows feature formula that usually involves a pregnant 16 year old, two friends fighting over the same girl or guy, an inexplicable lack of true parental figures, or a combination of all of the above. I hate that I watch them, but the fact is I do.

One fact that teenagers around the world have faced is that on TV, 15=20. What do I mean by this? Let me display some of TV’s “sophomores and juniors” in high school.

Perhaps Scott just aged more quickly than his peers [Teen Wolf]

Peyton is just one of those teenage girls that has a professional hair and make-up crew ready at all times. [One Tree Hill].

Don’t mind this 24-year-old sophomore. [Gossip Girl]

Yep, he’s definitely in high school and 15. [Riverdale]

Don’t get me wrong. It’s the media’s job to impose beauty standards on the populous. But when the beauty standard becomes “look twenty”, I think it’s fair to say that things have gone too far.

A few months ago, after deciding to quit watching these “teen shows”, I was wondering if I was the only teenager in the entire world tired of the middle/upper class white “teens” who are the dominant face in shows aimed for our age group, though I am not oblivious to the occasional black or Latino 25 year old they throw into the English classes. A week ago, it became apparent that I was not alone.

A few girls in my class were talking about On My Block, a show about teens growing up in Southern California. I had seen the show pop up in my Netflix recommended, but due to my swearing off “teen shows” and inexplicable hatred for Netflix pushing their “originals” agenda, I hadn’t watched it. However on their recommendation, I tried it.

Wow.

The first thing that stuck out to me was that the kids in On My Block looked like the kids at my school. I could imagine seeing any of them in my classes without them blinking an eye. And that didn’t deter me from watching the show.

It wasn’t the best thing I had ever seen. When you hire teen actors on board, there are bound to be some corny moments. But I enjoyed the ten episodes. The kids were relatable. Ruby, one of the main characters, actually reminded me of a good friend of mine. It felt like I was actually watching other teens experiencing real teenage issues.

After I finished On My Block, those same girls mentioned Everything Sucks, which I’ve just started today. I don’t really like the name and I’m not sure how I feel about the plot, but yet again, thank goodness for the cast. The “cute” girl who is crushed on doesn’t look twenty and the A/V nerds look like real nerds, even if I think it’s a bit overdone.

Long story short: I love what Netflix is doing for teen television. Considering we have to wait a year for each new season, I’m excited to see if they introduce any new titles in the meantime.