I Am Not Okay With This is a teen sci-fi series released on Netflix in 2020. Despite gaining momentum and getting the green light for a Season 2, the show was cancelled after just one season due to the pandemic. The filming during COVID-19 became a headache for Netflix due to the rising production cost, ultimately leading to the cancellation of Season 2. But even today, if you go and watch Season 1, you might be surprised by the amount of potential the show holds.
I Am Not Okay With This Story
The show is adapted from Charles Forsman’s graphic novel of the same name, and viewers who have seen Carrie may find some familiar elements. Even the writers have not tried to hide the influence. Instead, they lead into it from the very first scene.
The opening scene drops viewers directly into the ending with a shot of the main character standing in a prom dress with blood everywhere and a voiceover: “I’m a boring 17-year-old white girl.” This single line does most of the work of letting the viewers acknowledge just how overdone the main character is with her telekinetic powers.
Sophia Lillis plays Sydney Novak, protagonist of the series. She has done a great job in making Sydney’s social awkwardness feel genuine, making you root for her to get in control of her powers.
The show digs deep into Sydney’s character and relationships. Especially with her best friend Dina (played by Sofia Bryant) and Stan Barber (played by Wyatt Oleff), a boy she has a crush on but is uncertain about dating. They become the vehicle through which the show explores something a lot of queer teenagers know intimately: the exhausting balancing act of staying hidden while desperately wanting to be seen.
Grief and the weight of growing up alone
At the heart of I Am Not Okay With This is grief. The show takes place a year after Sydney’s father dies. As the story moves forward, she discovers her father had similar powers. This discovery makes his death even harder for her because she wishes he could have guided her through what she is experiencing. Without him, Sydney has to deal with her new powers and everything that comes with them on her own.
This one element differentiates the show from others in the same genre. It shows how powers like telekinesis can isolate a teenager who does not understand what they are dealing with. Anyone who has felt out of place as a teenager, whether because of identity or family loss, will understand how loneliness can affect a teenager.
To keep the show from feeling too dark, writers have kept small happy moments that bring life to the show. Sydney laughing with her friends or simply enjoying a day provides a nice touch to the story. These small moments also make the dark parts more emotional.
Sometimes the show also feels like a teen drama rather than a sci-fi, and Sydney has to use her telekinesis to remind you of her powers.
Short but Complete
The show features seven episodes, but I Am Not Okay With This manages to make every episode count. Each episode builds up for the blood-soaked finale. Which is teased in the first episode, and by the time you get to the finale episode, the emotional payoff feels earned rather than rushed.
If you haven’t watched it yet, or skipped it because it only has a few episodes, I Am Not Okay With This is still worth watching. It’s a short but memorable series that proves even shows cancelled too soon can leave a lasting impact.
