Hey, folks! What’s up? Today, I’m diving into a review of the series Everything Now, which bravely explores the journey of overcoming an eating disorder, seen through the eyes of a teenager eager to reclaim her missed youth.
Dropping on Netflix on October 5, 2023, this British teen comedy-drama is an 8-episode series, each lasting around 30 minutes. Created by Ripley Parker and brought to life by Left Bank Pictures, it tells the story of 16-year-old Mia Polanco as she returns to school after spending months recovering from anorexia nervosa. You can catch all eight episodes of Everything Now Season 1 on Netflix.
Upon returning home after extensive recovery from her eating disorder, 16-year-old Mia is thrown back into the whirlwind of school life, only to discover her friends have moved forward without her. This series distinguishes itself with its sensitive approach to mental health recovery, eschewing simplistic narratives in favor of more intricate, authentic depictions. After her recovery, Mia crafts a bucket list of essential teenage experiences to make up for lost years.
Mia Polanco: Rediscovering Time Through Recovery
Sophie Wilde, known from ‘Talk to Me,’ shines as the lead, delivering a captivating performance that adds depth and sincerity to Mia’s recovery story. Mia’s character embodies the complex reality of healing from an eating disorder, where improvement isn’t straightforward and returning to regular life brings unforeseen hurdles.
Everything Now also portrays uplifting recovery moments, offering touching and insightful scenes. As Mia walks to school, she muses on “All the everyday beauty I forgot how to see – and all the things I get to rediscover now.” Her bucket list serves as both a coping tool and a means to reconnect with the teenage moments she missed, weaving compelling narratives about first love, friendships, and self-discovery.
The Friend Group: Managing Evolving Relationships
Noah Thomas, Lauryn Ajufo, and Harry Cadby form the core cast as William, Becca, and Cam, the dynamic friends of Everything Now. These characters represent the challenge of keeping friendships intact when someone has been absent due to mental health issues. Their interactions reveal how relationships transform and the complexities of rejoining social circles that have moved on.
Each friend brings their own storyline and traits, painting a genuine picture of teenage friendships marked by loyalty, jealousy, and growth. Their interactions with Mia highlight both the support system and the awkwardness that can arise when someone returns after a life-changing phase.
Romance and Self-Exploration: Navigating First Love
The series delicately examines Mia’s romantic journey as part of her bucket list. Her experiences with dating while in recovery add layers to typical teen romance plots. As hinted, romance is part of the curriculum, but the show handles these scenarios with care towards Mia’s ongoing recovery.
The romantic elements are more than just engaging; they are crucial to Mia’s path of rebuilding herself and trusting her instincts anew. These storylines illustrate how recovery involves not just healing but rediscovering one’s identity and desires that were overshadowed by mental health struggles.
Family and Educational Dynamics
The series features a cast including Sophie Wilde, Lauryn Ajufo, Harry Cadby, Noah Thomas, Sam Reuben, Niamh McCormack, Jessie Mae Alonzo, Robert Akodoto, Vivienne Acheampong, Alex Hassell, and Stephen Fry. Supporting characters, including family and school personnel, provide further insight into how eating disorders impact entire communities, not just the individual.
Cast member Lauryn Ajufo described the project as featuring “A cast that you’re bound to fall in love,” emphasizing the ensemble’s chemistry, which makes the relationships feel genuine and captivating.
Critical Reception and Mental Health Depiction on Netflix
Everything Now has a 6.8 IMDb rating and has been praised for its careful handling of mental health themes. By avoiding a simplistic recovery narrative, the series brings depth and complexity to often overlooked storylines. Everything Now is a noteworthy addition to teen dramas, offering an authentic glimpse into teenage life in Britain in 2023, centered on Mia’s delicate and nuanced battle with anorexia.
The show has been lauded for its realistic and sensitive portrayal of anorexia, setting a new standard for how TV can address eating disorders without sensationalizing or oversimplifying the recovery journey. The series underscores Netflix’s commitment to diverse, meaningful storytelling that tackles important social issues through well-developed characters.
If you enjoy authentic teen dramas that address mental health with sensitivity and depth, Everything Now is an ideal series to binge on Netflix. This emotionally intelligent show demonstrates that recovery stories can be both genuine and hopeful.
Everything Now offers a refreshingly honest depiction of eating disorder recovery through engaging characters and genuine storytelling, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking meaningful teen drama that doesn’t avoid challenging topics.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 8
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 6.8/10 (IMDb), TV-MA
- Genre: Teen Comedy-Drama, Mental Health, Coming-of-Age
- Protagonists: Mia Polanco (Sophie Wilde), William (Noah Thomas), Becca (Lauryn Ajufo), Cam (Harry Cadby)
- Supporting Cast: Sam Reuben, Niamh McCormack, Vivienne Acheampong, Alex Hassell, Stephen Fry