A chaotic blend of dramatic, comedic, suspenseful and romantic story arcs - that's Ginny & Georgia in a nutshell. Back for another round of silly teen comedy and coming-of-age struggles, this season is a literal rollercoaster in terms of its drastic tonal shifts and overall quality.
Right from the first episode it became clear this season was going to some seriously dark places, and boy did it really go for it. There's some very heavy and quite confronting character arcs explored over the course of the season, specifically with Ginny. It makes sense with where her character is in the aftermath of season one's events, though I do believe it goes a little too dark at times. There's some instances where the content is so serious and the vibe is so intensely dramatic that when the next scene is all sunshine, rainbows and silly jokes, it feels a little odd. The tonal shifts in every episode are huge and plentiful - there's many instances where the contrast works well, but there's some where it feels like a strange amalgamation of two different shows. I give it some credit for actually going to those dark places and not glossing over everything, but at the same time it leads to an unavoidable juxtaposition that both hurts and helps the show.
There's going to be a recurring theme throughout this review, and that is the fact that most elements of this season work both in favour of and against my overall enjoyment. Ginny & Georgia is a series where - when it's good it's great, and when it's bad it's a tough watch. Every episode has many highs and lows, and it constantly shifts back and forth between those. One thing to note is that there's a tonne of arcs jam-packed within every episode. There are so many narratives all progressing at the same time, that it can become a lot to keep track of... especially later in the season. The writers have strived to ensure every single character has something going on and isn't completely sidelined. It makes some episodes quite bloated, but at the same time it highlights the writers' ability to keep every character relevant and not make it feel like anyone is forgotten.
The huge number of narratives leads to one element that I thought held the series back - the episode lengths. I understand something like House of the Dragon or Stranger Things having hour-long episodes due to their expansive worlds and sprawling narratives. But something like Ginny & Georgia doesn't call for episodes to be that long. It makes it a hard series to binge because of how it all feels very dragged out. So many times an episode would end and I'd be shocked that I'd only just seen one episode and not at least two. So much of this series could be trimmed down, resulting in shorter episodes and a more bingeable final product. Especially when you consider there's a couple of arcs (I'm looking at you Cynthia) that are straight-up weird and not befitting to the characters whatsoever.
The series may be called Ginny & Georgia, although for the bulk of the season it's Georgia who was part of the more interesting and engaging content. While Ginny's experiences were more up and down, Georgia's journey was a little more consistent and fun. Much of the show's suspense and tension is driven by her arc, leading to dramatic sequences that weave in a hint of comedy really well. Even the side characters that interact with Georgia have more intriguing things going on. It's just that her half of the series felt a little more tonally balanced than what's going on with Ginny. This 'imbalance' with Ginny's arcs does get better going into the final two episodes, which may be the best of the season with how they deal with some big game-changing moments. Despite all the many positives and negatives of the season, one thing's for certain - fans of the first season will certainly get a kick out of the mayhem that unfolds since it's very in line with what is already established in season one.
There's no denying that the mother-daughter chemistry between Brianne Howey (Georgia) and Antonia Gentry (Ginny) is one of the show's biggest highlights. Whether they're sharing a meaningful heart-to-heart or going back and forth with some classic banter, they're just a joy to watch. The season's biggest emotional moments are those where Brianne and Antonia sit down and let it all out. There's some notable 'car therapy' moments where they both commit to the scene and make it easy to buy into the complex relationship these characters share. Their ability to then shift from tear-jerking drama to dropping hilarious one-liners is brilliant, ensuring their connection feels as real and authentic as possible. Speaking on Brianne specifically, she carries herself with this swagger that has her command all attention whenever she's on screen. It's hard to avoid your face lighting up whenever she shows up with her iconic southern twang - a testament to her talent.
Outside of our titular cast members, the likes of Raymond Ablack (Joe), Sara Waisglass (Maxine) and Scott Porter (Paul) really step it up a notch with their performances. Sara is by far the most 'out there' and energetic cast member, leaning into the silliness of the show and acting as the vessel for plenty of quirky comedic beats. She also gets a few key opportunities to tap into her dramatic side, especially when acting against Felix Mallard (Marcus). I like how she branches out and shows there's perhaps a bit more to her character than just the 'loud teenager'. I'd say the majority of the supporting performances are solid, so rather than going through them all I'll just say this is a great ensemble where each actor fits their role well.
In the end, as much as I have a love-hate relationship with this series, I can't help but say it's still an enjoyable watch. Just when it loses me in its long stretches of nothing and bloated episodes, it hooks me back in with some lighthearted fun and great dramatic tension. I may hate the sight of Hunter, but then whenever Georgia shows up I forget about the series' flaws. It's a strange relationship that I don't have with any other series, something that I'd say is more a compliment than a criticism. One thing's for certain - this rollercoaster is nothing if not consistent, so fans of Ginny & Georgia's first outing are sure to enjoy this season's hijinks.
7.3/10
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