TV Review: "Awkward"

Of course I love typically popular shows like Game of Thrones, How I Met Your Mother, Downton Abbey, Community and The Simpsons. But today I’m going to talk about a slightly more obscure show that maybe hasn’t been the most publicised or successful, but that I’ve really enjoyed watching: Awkward. I’m also planning to review other less-viewed shows such as The New Normal (my review of which will come very soon).

MTV’s Awkward is a high school dramedy (a comedy with elements of drama) starring Ashley Rickards as the infinitely complex and conflicted Jenna Hamilton, who, in a twist of conventional teen-drama tropes, gets with the most popular guy in school in the first episode, which itself instigates her series of dilemmas (no, she does not get pregnant). Also quite unconventional and fresh are the side characters. I thoroughly enjoy Jenna’s best friends Tamara (played by Jillian Rose Reed), a wannabe socialite, and Ming (played by Jessica Lu), a non-stereotypical Chinese tomboy (though I wish they used her more in the main plot). But the character I can’t get enough of is Jenna’s arch-enemy Sadie (played by Molly Tarlov) who, despite being the wealthy, spoiled head cheerleader, is insecurely overweight. Sadie has got to be the most maniacally devious yet addictively hilarious villain I have ever come across anywhere on TV, and her nasty one-liners are among my favourites anywhere. I love a bunch of other characters too, but paragraphs can only go on for so long.

Props to this show for taking a really worn-out genre and putting a bit of a fresh spin on it. I thoroughly enjoyed the the sometimes light and sometimes dark comedy of the excruciatingly awkward moments throughout the show that are so incredibly relatable for melodramatic teenagers like me. I love Jenna as the quirky narrator, constantly questioning herself and the world around her. Also, whoever makes the soundtrack for this show has a really good taste in music. Though it might be a little girl-centred for some guys (which is really no reason not to love it; the humour and themes are very universal), and though it might need to pick up its game a little after what has so far been a slightly sloppy third season (though I think the first season is a must-watch), Awkward is definitely worth checking out if you ever get the time.