It’s Netflix’s version of Euphoria, but it takes place in New York instead of Los Angeles. It's gritty, it's refreshingly realistic and it rocked my world - didn’t it rock yours, too??
Do you remember what it’s like to walk the halls of a high school? Feeling like you’re on display - subject to judgement, objectification and ridicule?
Grand Army reminded me of those days, the new series on Netflix that echoes past teen series Euphoria and Degrassi. Set in a fictional Brooklyn high school and based on “Slut: The Play” by Katie Cappiello, GA follows 5 teens as they go through pivotal points in their lives.
What struck me about GA is the gritty realness - not unlike Euphoria, but not as aesthetically pleasing. It’s messy and dirty - not always pleasantly wrapped in glitter or LA street style. It didn’t feel like a television show, it felt like real life. The teens’ experiences felt authentic, not just written for the screen.
Dominique Pierre, for example. Played by Odley Jean, Dom has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Literally- the girl doesn’t sleep. Her Haitian family struggles to make ends meet and she faces a unique choice to marry someone for a green card for $10,000. Not your typical problem for a high school junior. Dom’s monologue struck me at her interview at a mental health facility for an internship. She spoke about how self care is a luxury for a lot of people, and it matters who you decide to open up to. It matters if they look like you, it matters if they understand your socioeconomic background. Her struggles are realistic, they’re messy. Family can be embarrassing but you have no control over the hand you are dealt. Dom reminded me that you really never know how much someone is dealing with.
Joey, played by Odessa A’zion, was also carrying the weight of the world as a mere high schooler. But at first, it seemed like she ruled the school. She had a solid group of friends, was what you would call a “guy’s girl” and the outgoing dance captain. Everyone had a Joey at their school, too. The kind of girl who had enough confidence it didn’t matter what she wore or behaved. She knew who she was at such a young age, everyone couldn’t help but stop and stare. But they continued to stop and stare even if that wasn’t her intention. Like the teacher that objectified and judged her for wearing short shorts, or the stir she caused with a “Free the Nipple” shirt. Eventually, the lines blurred of who Joey was (oldest of three girls, child of divorced parents, confident dancer) and who Joey was perceived to be (slut for attention and down for anything).
I thought it was a smart choice for Grand Army to not only include a sexual assault case, but one where it was clear as day from the point of view of the victim, but not as solid in a court of law. Those are more common than we think, and I admire the show’s tenacity to tackle this gray area head-on.
And then there’s Leila (Amalia Yoo), who is one of those characters that you love to hate. Freshmen girls are a very specific brand of selfish. Like, downright psychotic selfish. That’s the thing with freshman girls in high school - their morals and values are fast and loose. “Right” and “Wrong” don’t matter as much as “Cool” and “Uncool”. Leila also represents that weird age of 15-16 where her body might be blossoming sexually before her mind. She desperately tries to catch up with the fuck boys that are pressuring her - and she unlocks “Jap Pussy,” her bad ass alter ego. The animated sequences of her alter ego seemed out of place compared to the rest of the series, but if anything, it made me want a spinoff.
Grand Army takes place in diverse Brooklyn - where Jayson (Maliq Johnson), Owen (Jaden Jordan) and Sidd (Amir Bageria) all have very different experiences as minorities at the school.
Sidd is a popular senior - he’s a champion swimmer who’s friends with all the jocks. But he’s hiding the fact that he’s gay, and unintentionally comes out to the entire school when his essay to Harvard is published by a jealous teammate. Suddenly, everyone knows - even his parents. I appreciated the intersectionality of Sidd’s character - not only was he the typical jock living “in the closet,” he is a son of immigrant parents. He notes his experiences with racist stereotypes, especially as an Indian man in New York after 9/11. Sidd gave the audience a visceral connection to what it’s like having a target on your back (as well as being a first generation American).
Owen was another student who felt targeted. He and Jayson got in trouble after a prank went too far, when they jokingly took Dom's wallet. Jayson was spared, but Owen was expelled. Next thing he knew, Jayson was offered a huge opportunity to perform a saxophone solo that was supposed to be Owen’s. This opportunity is an example of how narrowly Jayson missed the school to prison pipeline. Coming to this realization, Jayson gives up the solo in honor of Owen. In a chilling moment on stage, Jayson stands with tape over his mouth and his closed fist in the air. It’s a powerful statement, and posing as the series’ last moment made me love the show even more.
Grand Army doesn’t shy away from any topic of conversation - sex, race, assault, drugs. It doesn’t hide behind a curtain of aesthetic or big name actors. It thrives on the rawness of its characters and truth in its script. Watch it and see for yourself! You're gonna like it so much you won't even mind that it brings you back to high school.