Netflix released, in 2021, the dramatic comedy Ginny and Georgia, created by Sarah Lampert. The plot addresses themes such as complicity, mother-daughter relationships, sexual harassment and murder. Now, the series returns in its second season as one of the main streaming premieres, much to the delight of fans. But, unfortunately, it abused the drama and got a little tiring.
For starters, the new episodes follow Georgia relating to Paul and trying, at all costs, to keep his past a secret. Meanwhile, Ginny goes into a crisis of anxiety and depression after discovering that her mother actually poisoned and killed Kenny, her stepfather.
Heads up! This review contains spoilers for the second season of Ginny and Georgia!
It’s totally plausible to see Ginny feeling bad, vulnerable and dejected after discovering such a disturbing event in her mother’s life, and indeed Antonia Gentry, who plays the character, gets the drama scenes right, especially the ones where she burns herself as a form of mutilation. However, the text focuses on this drama in such a tiresome way that, instead of compassion, we feel laziness.
In each scene, in each chapter, Ginny has the same expression. She does not seek to talk to her mother, nor to solve her friendship problems with Maxine. The girl is so immersed in her despair that she tires the viewer.
Drama, drama and more drama
Speaking of sadness and drama, you can’t deny that this was the focus of Ginny and Georgia in the second season. In addition to the protagonist, her boyfriend Marcus (Felix Mallard) also goes into a depressive crisis and becomes apathetic, not wanting to get out of bed, and immersed in sadness and alcohol.
The focus on the mental health of the characters would be a great success, even more so when it comes to teenagers, but the text is poor and does not develop the situations well. In this way, everything is a little loose, leaving the public without understanding the purpose of addressing such topics. It is, to say the least, disappointing.
Incidentally, even Marcus and Ginny’s breakup is poorly explained. He decides to end the romance with the girl, even though he loves her, because he is depressed and feeling bad. The reason that triggered his depression and what the consequences of the disease will be is up in the air.
poorly developed characters
Who watched the first season of Ginny and Georgia I certainly expected a good development of the characters in the new episodes, which does not happen. The protagonists who give the series its name even gain prominence, but the others fall by the wayside.
As Ginny struggles to rebuild emotionally, Georgia tries to deal with everything around her. That is to say: the upcoming wedding with Paul, the return of her ex-husband Gil (Austin’s father), the job at City Hall and the detective on her heels. To deal with these situations, however, she seems increasingly immature, getting her feet in her hands. We don’t see her evolve until almost the end of the series.
Georgia wages a cold war with Ginny, neglects how having killed a man can impact her daughter’s life, and continues to try to resolve things in the most absurd way possible. The fact that she suffocated Cynthia’s husband (Sabrina Grdevich ) — who was in a terminal state — suffocates only proves the protagonist’s lack of maturity. She tries to help Cynthia, but she didn’t have to, since the two aren’t even that close.
However, at the end of the series, the text gives her much-needed redemption. In the last two episodes, Georgia seems to finally grow up and is able to tell (almost) the whole truth about her life to Paul.
Supporters without history, but with potential
Now speaking of the supporting actors, the situation gets even worse: Maxine (Sara Waisglass) seems to devolve and spends the whole season crying for Sophie (Humberly González). Despite the disappointment in love, the character had much more to deliver, but ended up being reduced to an unloved teenager.
Abby (Katie Douglas) is another sidekick. The girl seems to have some kind of eating disorder and self-image problem, but since the first season the subject has not moved forward.
Speaking of the positive highlights, Austin (Diesel La Torraca) gained more screen time and did not disappoint. The child actor is charismatic and his final scene, running after the car that is holding Georgia, is touching.
It is worth mentioning that the presence of Zion (Nathan Mitchell) and Gil (Aaron Ashmore), Georgia’s ex-husbands, also pleases and brings greater dynamism to the plot. It remains to be seen whether they will be better presented in a possible new season.
Soundtrack and costumes please
If, on the one hand, the text of Ginny and Georgia disappoints, on the other hand the soundtrack and costumes please and help tell the story. Through their clothes, the age difference between Ginny and her mother is very clear.
Furthermore, Georgia’s wardrobe helps reaffirm her as a woman who is looking for stability and her place in the world, but who is nothing like the provincial mothers in the neighborhood.
The songs also seem to fit the plot well, and are a plus point of the story.
Is the second season of Ginny and Georgia worth watching?
the second season of Ginny and Georgia it really skids by not delving into important topics — like the racism Ginny suffered in the classroom, for example — and becoming shallow and lukewarm.
The final scene leaves an interesting hook for a (future) next season, but it will be necessary to improve the script if it wants to succeed. The success was to better explain how Georgia’s childhood was and what made her get to where she is.
In this way, the new episodes of Ginny and Georgia don’t like it, but those who really want to continue the story can give it a chance and watch them on Netflix.
