Euphoria Is Fine, but This Sydney Sweeney 90s Queer Drama Is Top-Tier Emotional Damage
This might just contain an extreme level of nostalgia, great storytelling and characters you can actually relate to.
Sydney Sweeney has been admired for stealing the show in Euphoria. And the praise is well-deserved. Her character's (Cassie Howard) Season 2 spiral into chaos was the kind of performance that people get the Emmy for. And although we all know that Sweeney was great in this HBO original, there's another show that deserves your attention.
Back in 2018, Sweeney delivered a performance so genuine and touching that it still lives rent-free in my mind. It's one of her roles that proves she can and will do complex characters no matter what anyone says.
Everything Sucks! (2018) Is The 90s Time Capsule
If you're a 90s kid or just someone who appreciates that sweet, nostalgic vibe, Everything Sucks! is basically your dream come true. Set in Boring, Oregon (yes, that's actually a real place), this Netflix gem takes us back to 1996.
The show follows the initial clash between high school A/V club and drama club that results in them teaming up for a shared project. Everything Sucks! is a character-driven series with an interesting plot along the way.
If you're worried that the show's 90s setting will feel fabricated, it's not. It actually nails the vibe and evokes heavy nostalgia.
Sydney Sweeney Does a Great Job of a Portraying a Bisexual Character
Sydney Sweeney plays Emaline Addario, a theater kid who takes drama everywhere she goes. But beneath that stereotypical drama queen exterior is a person dealing with some seriously real stuff.
The show tackles the process of self-discovery and sexual identity in a way that's both sensitive and authentic. And that's something that a lot of projects have tried to do but just couldn't.
Her character arc explores the complexities of discovering and accepting her sexuality in a time when being queer wasn't really talked about. Emaline goes from dating the stereotypical bad boy to falling for the nerdy Kate Messner. It’ll make you laugh, cry and most importantly, think. It's raw, emotional and real.
Everything Sucks! Is Realistic Depictions of Growing Up
Speaking of being raw and real, Sweeney herself talked about that in an interview to Hollywood Life, saying:
“I think this show sets itself apart because it’s very real and raw. There’s no sugar coating on anything. They show teenage life as it actually is. I think it’s really good to have something truly relatable, and it touches so many different topics and issues in a beautiful way.”
If you're ready to experience this gem for yourself (or revisit it for the tenth time, no judgment), you can watch it on Netflix right now.
