In search of people like younger me on TV

There is hope out there.

I’ve been developing an idea for a post for the past week or so, ever since #internationaldayofthegirlchild (10/11 btw) was out there in the social media ether and getting its share of attention.

Last tally had 96 followers following #internationaldayofthegirlchild on LinkedIn and close to 38K posts on Instagram under that hashtag not including variations (with the year appended to the hash).

If you’ve read my Substack before, you know that one of the things I feel really strongly about is children seeing well fleshed-out characters with plotlines on TV that they can relate to and connect with. And it’s really hard to find that.

Take for example, Disney’s new Doogie Kamealoha, M.D - a “glow up” of the Neil Patrick Harris original, Doogie Howser, M.D., which tells the story of a 16-year-old doctor/child who is equal parts awkwardly traversing adolescence and adulthood but is nonetheless, objectively attractive, uber smart, has a boy/girl crush that seems to be requited, and is, by virtue of having an actual profession, financially set for life. Their super power is their intelligence.

It’s fantasy though. “Doogie” aka Lahela is inarguably Insta-ready and TikTok-boost worthy at all times. Just look at the pic below. Brains and beauty? Ugh, can’t we just pick one or the other?

And while I dig the mother/daughter doctor gender twist in the 2021 reboot vs the OG and like that kids watching see female doctors represented as a normal thing, this mother/daughter duo feels unrelatable.

So where does one find TV that speaks to kids in a genuine way, appreciating all the serious feels that kids experience, whether it be feeling overlooked, misunderstood, jealous, happy, sad, inadequate, awkward, powerless and do it in a way that layers on top the added element of going thru all those vibes, under the microscope of a classroom, exponentially magnified by the claustrophobic fish bowl of their school and extra curricular lives?

Here are some shows that give me hope because of how their characters embrace vulnerability, accept it and turn those very same vulnerabilities into superpowers. Fellow humans, in the form of friends, are not set up to be adversarial, but accepting, encouraging and supportive.

Star vs The Forces of Evil on Hulu

Per AV Club:

A hyperactive, overly-optimistic princess named Star Butterfly is sent to Earth after failing miserably at her princess duties, where she befriends a student named Marco Diaz. Star, voiced by Eden Sher, is a lot of fun, part of the welcome wave of prominent animated female characters who thrive on their flaws as well as their strengths. Star’s approaches life, danger or otherwise, with a devil’s may care attitude that is wildly infectious, casting clumsy spells that create black holes in bedrooms and puppies that shoot lasers out of their eyes (and have hearts for anuses– I’m not joking).

Alexa & Katie on Netflix

I’ve written on Substack before about my fondness for the show Alexa & Katie because, while it can fall into the laugh track variety of comedy, the writers aspire to build more dimension into the characters. Alexa generally takes up a lot of space and then she gets cancer and takes up more space, understandably. Katie, Alexa’s BFF, could very easily fall into that “sidekick” role but the storyline pivots to deal with how Katie’s polished facade of the girl that has her sh*t together is actually a cover for some serious anxiety. Yes, she’s smart, determined, a great friend, and cares deeply and guess what? She needs care and support, too, and her body has a way of letting her know that thru the panic attacks that she gets.

The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix

The new season of The Baby-Sitters Club which was just released on Netflix a week ago is fun for parents and kids to watch together. There’s some serious and on point topics broached from adolescent pressures, blended families, losing a beloved grandparent to growing up with digitally native kiddos dealing with TikTok and kids experiencing first crushes.

The day-in-the-life of a young digital star educational value alone in Episode 4 of Season 2, “Jessi and the Superbrat” should count towards some sort of academic credits for parents learning how to talk to their kids about abandoning their passion in pursuit of online stardom. I’m going to employ Jessi’s mom’s “some things are meant to be private and not shared” motto for the rest of my kids’ existence.

Season 2 also showcases an episode (one of the best of the season) focusing on how Dawn, resident social justice warrior and the “chill” person of the baby-sitters club, started to feel increasing levels of anxiety as her friend, Mary Anne moved in to her home, albeit temporarily, and invaded her space (making a mess) and set her daily rituals off course. Will a mindfulness coloring book fix it all? Maybe not, but it’s a tool and Mary Anne’s dad telling her he gets her and encouraging her to vocalize that which she is most afraid of is the right message.

The Owl House on Disney+

Per Beth’s Exceptional Video Playlist:

The Owl House follows Luz as she uncovers a magical place, finds acceptance and a support crew of people that get her and empower her to take chances. It’s pretty phenomenal.

Does Luz face frenemies? Yes, she does. But she also has a strong sense of who she is and is able to navigate that with empathy and gain followers along the way.

Shrill on Hulu (NSFC - Not Suitable for Children but good for adults)

When I wrote about Shrill, I was so excited to see a female character in a starring role who was funny, smart, sexy and at optimal times, self-possessed and oh yeah, fat too.

While body image and acceptance of oneself is at the core of the shows’ focus, there’s a lot more to Shrill than a show about what being fat is all about. One of my favorite overarching storylines in Shrill is Annie’s friendship with her college BFF and roommate, Fran. Fran is bold and loyal and as Annie’s boyfriend Will says, “they are mischievous.” They bring out the fun in one another but they also love one another fearlessly. If there’s a love story to be found beyond Annie’s acceptance of herself and inability to compromise on who she is after 3 seasons of trying to figure it all out, it’s her relationship with Fran.

So while I’m not sure there’s a “12-year-old Beth” or maybe will ever be on TV, when I look around these days, I see more narratives out there that at least attempt to present a more holistic, nuanced interpretation of real-life emotions and situations. It’s not just the dork, the jock, the beauty, the weirdo, the gamer, the stoner, and every other “type” of person. And with that, I’ll leave you with on a memorable, connected note from John Hughes:

P.S. I haven’t watched the new Wonder Years (Hulu), but curious if any of you have and what you think. According to NPR, it’s worth it.