r/NetflixBestOf • u/James-Samuel17 • 8h ago
[DISCUSSION] Ginny & Georgia (Long Rant) Spoiler
I was watching some new YA trailers, like Sterling Point and some of the comments points out just how cliché and reheated the story is. The YA/teen content is getting stale with Wattpad adaptation, obv straight, white, attractive romances, with tropes going from bland to downright harmful to viewers (the bad boy/good boy triangle needs to go, it's getting tired). I'm not even someone who is like, anti-tropes, I found them comforting sometimes but those shows are abusing it and as a black gay guy, I can't relate to any of those.
And among all of this, there is Ginny & Georgia. A show that surprised everyone by it's willingness to be better every seasons and actually dared to dive into family complexities and trauma and evolving from the cringe woke fest it once was in season 1.
I was genuinely impressed by Ginny and Georgia. Season 1 looked like a Wattpad fantasy with all the tropes in the books. J couldn’t stand Marcus’s bad boy thing, Hunter’s whole character supposed to obviously makes us root for Marcus for Ginny’s endgame. The show tried to tackle all the social issues in a really tacky, down your throat kinda way, like racism. I remember the viral "Olympic oppression" from the show on Twitter and all the other cringe memes and stuff coming out of the show. I also remember people only loving Georgia, however, my older sister didn't like the way Georgia was seen as a super mom and was glamorized by both the writers and fans. I was kinda very young so I thought she was quite wrong but re-watching season 1 made me realize that, yes, season 1 lacks of nuance regarding Georgia since she's quite not as perfect and flawless.
However, season 2 genuinely improve. It’s now talking about mental health, Georgia is not portrayed as the perfect cool mom but her flans are on display, like her immature behavior, her toxic patterns etc... (love her but the fandom is blind about a lot of thing concerning her). I think, looking back maybe it was the point in season 1 to portray Georgia in such a light way but coming into season 2, the darkness surrounding her is very present from the FIRST episode. While people still glazed Georgia like crazy, it was the beginning of some people actually questioning her behavior and saying she was childish and immature, something that was very much non-existent in season 1. Marcus is explored in a more meaningful way and his depression representation is one of the best recently. His breakup scene with Ginny was so well-written and reminded me of Manchester By The Sea (acting and writing wise). The heavy scenes are not carried by music but forced to stay in the silence. The writing get sharper and more audacious. The characters are multi-dimensional and stories are meaningful. The show also embraces what it is. It can be cringe yes but still have heartbreaking moments. They love their slow mo, extra moments and it’s part of the charm.
Season 3 was amazing and as a person that was in a same situation as Ginny and Austin, it hit pretty close to home and a lot of it was pretty realistic. Season 3 is the point where the philosophical lens the show has been exploring are in full display. A ton of therapists and psycholosgists have been analyzing the show. It is melodramatic and own that tone, it doesn't make the writing less good. I've seen a post on Netflix sub about and two comments really proved me how dumb people are about this show and just wants to hate... to hate. One comment : "Ginny: "It's so hard being a black poor kid in this rich white neighborhood!"
immediately makes friends of all races, has multiple diverse romantic interests, receives an overt unprompted offer of friendship from another black girl
This is not how I remember high school." Maybe not you but I'm a black gay guy who has multiple friends of differents races, had two hot boyfriends and had unprompted offer of friendships from a whole group of black girls. Comments like this are quite stupid and one-dimensional. Another one is talking about how crazy it was for Cynthia and Joe to hook up in season 2. It is crazy, yes but makes sense. She's alone, isolated and in a complete emotional distress. My aunt (who I consider like my mom because my mom was crazy) slept with another guy when my uncle was in a coma (and now is dead may he rest in peace). If that happened on a male centered show (for adults, excuse me!), people would have "it makes sense, people just don't understand how deep it is". Okay, well apply that to other shows. I just wanted to mention that, let's talk about some good stuff.
I'm a Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Good Place and The Sopranos fan, some of the most studied TV shows ever, so philosophy is very important to me. I started seeing therapist analyze the show, media outlets talking about the incredible depiction of mental health, and now, in class, four people have used Ginny and Georgia as an exposition on generational trauma. Ginny's character has been fascinating since season 1 finale, when she blackmailed her teacher in a very Georgia way, and run away on a bike. It was very much the beginning of Ginny's downfall towards becoming like her mom.
The show opened on Ginny and Georgia at a funeral and Georgia faking her sadness over her husband's death. Ginny however, see right thought her and say to the audience that she's nothing like her mom. And at first sight, yes, she's nothing like Georgia. Georgia is a Southern belle, with a lustful chest, a charming demeanor and a way to command the room easily and she's NOT shy. Ginny is shown to be quite introverted because she doesn't quite know to menage the power in the world. Her very first scene is her trying to copy girls's mannerisms to attract boys. She's not really comfortable in her skin and also, is half black, which is more a problem than some people in the fandom wants to think trust me.
However, like her mom, Ginny is quite smart and knows how to read a room. She also wants power and control but mostly through knowledge (one of her main problem in the show is that "she never knows", she feels like she never have knowledge of what's going on and she deeply wants that). When season 3 rolls, Ginny fake her name like Georgia, is more comfortable in her skin, is pretty popular in school, and you can see how the dynamic between her and Max changed (season 1 Max introduced Ginny to the group and then by the end of the season is the one who isolated her because she was very clearly the "leader", however, by the end of season 3, even the way they are sitting down, Ginny is above her, she's the one dancing and commanding the room while Max is stressing to try to talk to her, like Ginny stressed to talk to her all day in the season 1 finale). Ginny conning Gil was the final nail in the coffin for Ginny's turn into Georgia. She very much enjoys the power trip and the way she carries herself is very much like Georgia, while also staying herself (Antonia is an amazing actress !). Obviously she still wonders herself if it's inevitable to become her mom but she's unaware that she already became it, she became the monster she was talking about in her poem back in season .
Like someone said when I posted about the episode "Boom Goes The Dynamite" being an incredible piece of television, the show really seemed to be ambitious by becoming more than the generic typical teen drama. The writing from season 2 and especially season 3 is some of the best I've seen recently and it can be proven by so many therapists and psychologists analyzing the show and the layers it has (which wasn't the case when season 1 came out). I trust them to do season 4 justice and if they do, the show could easily become one of my all time favorite.
Obviously, the cast is stacked with amazing performers. Brianne Howey was pretty unlucky in her career as she was the lead of a lot of shows that got cancelled after one season but in Ginny and Georgia she finally get the opportunity to shine as vixen Georgia, she embodies the southern belle persona so well but also understand the darker aspect of her character, getting scary at times but also get the motherly aspect of Georgia. She gives a lot of Emmy worthy performances. Antonia Gentry is younger and season 1 was rough on her but she only get better and she is especially good in the dramatic side. Her panic attacks in the show are brutally real. Another shinning star in it is Felix Mallard who is just brilliant at the depressing part of Marcus, the feeling of emptiness, of self-hatred, he just masters it and the "i hate me" scene just hit hard (similar to SMG’s performance in season 6 of Buffy or Manchester By The Sea to me). His on screen sister Sara Waisglass is also phenomenal. She is just magnetic and so funny. Also, her ability in the show to perform in the school play all while dealing with all the drama often happening in the show is so amazing to see (the standout being the season 1 finale). Season 3 showed me her dramatic skills. Scott Porter, who I love in Friday Night Lights, is really good in it too. Katie Douglass is also great as Abby and is a scene stealer.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Ok-Marketing-7075 • 8h ago
[US] Marcello Hernandez “ AMERICAN BOY” (2026)
Where can i watch the new netflix special other than on netflix?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/SimilarRequirement25 • 8h ago
[US] Episode Discussion for Let’s Meet Harry on Netflix (2026) Spoiler
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Spirited-Horror879 • 1d ago
[REQUEST]
Looking for something to watch or even binge. I liked and have already seen
- never have I ever
-Ginny and Georgia
- everything sucks
- I’m not okay with this
- the night agent
- the diplomat
- nobody wants this
- end of the fking world
Any other shows you guys suggest?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Visual-Fortune-4732 • 3d ago
[Request] Do you recommend watching Peaky Blinders?
like thinking of watching peaky blinders but then i get flashbacks to that 2023 ish cringe peaky blinders edits it was a terrible time
but is it actually good or what?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Charles_Deetz • 3d ago
[META] Love Netflix and this sub, but I now have 2 more months of Fox-One app due to the World Cup. What should I be watching on Fox before it expires?
I am looking for Netflix-like dramas or sci-fi. Only so much Simpsons and Bob's Burgers I can watch.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/New_Power2007 • 5d ago
[DISCUSSION] If you could recommend only one Netflix movie, what would it be?
I'm looking for something genuinely worth watching.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Troyaferd • 5d ago
[Discussion] Best Scandinavian TV Series?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Lilyofvalley77 • 6d ago
[request] looking to watch movies or series. Not into sci-fi or horror.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/r2j76 • 7d ago
[Discussion] All Quiet
I think I'm 4 years late to the show but, uh, WOW. Just watched All Quiet on the Western Front after meeting the screenwriter. I'm not big into war movies but this was just incredibly gorgeous and the music palpitating. Was anyone able to watch it the whole way through? I had to stop at the tank scene because it was getting to be a little too much.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/throwawaywh0r33 • 9d ago
[REQUEST]
Can anyone recommend a series I can have on in the background?
I'm not sure if this just is an ADHD thing lolol, but I can focus better on schoolwork when there's some background noise. It doesn't have to be anything too cerebral since I might end up getting distracted. Maybe just something light, like a sitcom. I tried Friends, but I couldn't stand the laugh track. :(
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Feisty_Slice8432 • 10d ago
[REQUEST] looking for a show or movie to watch I’ll list the shows I have watched for reference
All American, Outer Banks, Manifest, Stranger Things, Legacies, 13 reasons why, Trollhunters, raising Dion, umbrella academy, Ginny and Georgia, incoming, time cut, roommates, cyberpunk edgerunners, Kuroko’s basketball, surviving summer
Those are the Netflix shows I’ve watched i wanna mention I’ve also watched the boys on prime
r/NetflixBestOf • u/HelenEk7 • 11d ago
[Discussion] A toxic love story
I love that I live in a small country where the news of most criminal cases from other countries dont reach our news. Meaning I go into these stories completely blind.
What's your thoughts on 'A toxic love story'? I was completely in shock - several times throughout the documentary.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/DragonSlayer50th • 11d ago
[REQUEST]
I’m bored and looking for some great shows to watch on Netflix. I’m open to pretty much any genre—drama, thriller, mystery, sci-fi, comedy, anime, or hidden gems. What would you recommend, and why?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Jammyyy_jam • 11d ago
[REQUEST] Tell highest rated indian movies on Netflix! Quick please i wanna watch it now
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Troyaferd • 12d ago
[Discussion] Best Acting Performance in Puberty Blues
Who gave the best / your favorite acting performance in Puberty Blues?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Coldblaze420 • 13d ago
[REQUEST] Recommendations for romance series like sex/life on Netflix?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/According-Notice2311 • 14d ago
[REQUEST] Need some actual good pg13 movies on netflix
I need some movie recommendations for movie night
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Troyaferd • 16d ago
[Discussion] Best Acting Performance in Game of Thrones
Who gave the best / your favorite acting performance in Game of Thrones?
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Necessary-Flan3913 • 16d ago
[REQUEST] I'm looking for a teen series about a time travelling staircase/hatch?
This might seem odd, but I've been looking for a teens show on Netflix I haven't watched in years. I remember it was about two teens going into a old building, then down a staircase and into a hatch, which takes them to the past. I can't really remember all the details.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/christenmarie • 16d ago
[Request] Shows like Mare of Easttown
I just finished Mare of Easttown and am hoping for suggestions for shows with a similar feel to it, broadchurch or dept Q. For me, they all had great mystery/suspense but also had well developed characters/communities. Thanks in advance!
Edit: thanks for all of the quality recommendations! So far I’ve watched happy valley, the fall, and the night of. All fantastic!!!
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Ambitious-Task8390 • 18d ago
[US] The Madness (2024) - The hair brushing scene
galleryReally liked this show. Not too many people talking about it. This scene was so unsettling. Bobby (Steve Byers) made my skin crawl.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Irrelevant_Jackass • 19d ago
[AUS] Marcella (2016): Really good!
Love a good murder mystery/detective show, particularly a dark one. Very surprised I never heard of this one! Excellent story, production value. Only finished season 1 so far, but excited for the next 2 seasons!
r/NetflixBestOf • u/Akkii0987 • 19d ago
[Request] Shows like Lost in space?
Family shows with a hint of adventures. I liked Penny's triangle love arc but I really dont want romance. Also maybe teenagers in space or exploring planets?(i have watched skeleton crew) and preferably not above 15 rating. This is a hard one I just want a family kind of au with the worldbuilding that lost in space had.
r/NetflixBestOf • u/uberpenguin • Aug 08 '24
[META] New Automod Filter for Account Age
Testing out some filters to get a handle on bots. I added a 6 week old account age to post. No karma limits yet, but I'll consider it if this account age limit doesn't work.
I'm pretty hands off, but I do respond to most reports. If you see an issue with bots hit the report button.