Greater than a story of two soon-to-be-famous sisters, “Excessive College” is a ’90s-set, grunge-drenched, all-inclusive story in regards to the ongoing seek for your self.
The second scene in “Excessive College,” earlier than even the title card makes an look, sees future Canadian pop star Tegan Quin absently staring on the already-iconic Icelandic pop star Björk. Whereas the swan queen would function a sound function mannequin for any artistic-minded youth, Björk’s phrases barely register with the brooding younger lady, sitting in her basement, constructing resentment towards a sister who’s upstairs monopolizing their once-shared good friend, Phoebe (Olivia Rouyre). Quickly, in a combat ostensibly began over a loud boombox, Sara (Seazynn Gilliland) will get one heck of a shiner from her annoyed sibling, Tegan (performed by Railey Gilliland).
However simply because the sudden outburst of violence isn’t an indication of darkish and harmful occasions to return, Björk’s knowledge isn’t doomed to obscurity — not for viewers, anyway. “I believe I’ve been enjoying music lengthy sufficient to comprehend that if I’m having enjoyable, that’s the one proper method,” she says. “[I’m] not going to be too anxious about folks’s preconceptions. It’s like a bonus in the event that they prefer it, you understand?” As easy and pure as that sounds, it’s nonetheless an extended street between listening to such recommendation and realizing it; between the anxious questions of adolescence and the skilled vantage level of maturity; between the Tegan (and Sara) seen right here and the Björk glimpsed on a ’90s tube TV.
From co-showrunners Laura Kittrell and Clea DuVall (who additionally directs), “Excessive College” begins its teenage protagonists on the journey from discovering their voice to singing, loud and proud. Alongside the best way, they be certain to incorporate views past pop stars, from dad and mom to step-parents, crushes to different youngsters. And, in no small feat, they’ve a whole lot of enjoyable — as most children (not on “Euphoria”) are likely to do.
Based mostly on Tegan and Sara’s 2019 memoir of the identical identify, “Excessive College” picks up when the dual sisters are simply ardent music followers, not musicians but themselves. Tegan is nervous about becoming a member of a brand new college, making her combat with Sara notably ill-timed. And not using a sister to lean on, the primary days are tough. Lots of the college students carry friendships with them to the brand new college yr. Lessons are literally targeted on homework and studying — the one socializing Tegan has time for is being bullied by a pushy bro. However that teasing turns right into a blessing in disguise when Maya (Amanda Repair) intervenes; wearing dishevelled layers with messy blonde hair and an affinity for Inexperienced Day and Nirvana, Maya and Tegan shortly bond over their mutual tastes (and good natures).
These occasions make up the primary quarter-hour of the premiere’s half-hour episode, nestled clearly underneath a title card that claims “Tegan.” (The bruise underneath Sara’s eye additionally helps distinguish the similar twins early on, in a savvy, delicate selection by the filmmakers.) The second half belongs to Sara, and we quickly be taught why she and Phoebe have boxed Tegan out of their friendship trio: Sara and Phoebe like one another. They like like one another, and neither needs to voice their emotions with anybody however one another. However their secret summer time romance is already underneath stress. Phoebe’s acceptance to a French language immersion college means she and Sara can solely hang around sporadically. Earlier than break ends, they fear about drifting aside and alternate reassurances — guarantees older viewers will instantly acknowledge as past their management.
Watching Tegan and Sara navigate their particular person and shared social circles is fulfilling in the identical method so many sincere coming-of-age tales may be. Their lives carry the standard teen melodrama stemming from confused and crisscrossing feelings, and intensified by the joy of your first home social gathering, rave, or live performance. The collection additionally handles every character’s creating sexuality with readability and charm. (That the present begins with Tegan and Sara combating, and thus much less desperate to share secrets and techniques with one another, helps distinguish their particular person paths to studying love’s many types.) Finally, “Excessive College” might get to their time as musicians, however the title isn’t only a prelude to one thing greater or a peek behind the scenes for super-fans; it’s a sound, candy, story of sisters, pals, and household. Episodes are sometimes divided into a number of views, like Tegan and Sara’s complimentary halves of the pilot, however they broaden past the 2 future pop stars to incorporate their pals and oldsters, too.
Cobie Smulders performs Simone, the ladies’ mom who works at a disaster hotline whereas honing her thesis on “baby sexual abuse with a give attention to incest.” Watchful however pleasant, encouraging however fast to curb any dangerous conduct, Simone is a traditional “cool mother” — the form of mother or father who’s common amongst her pals and her youngsters’ pals — however that’s not how she sees herself. Tegan and Sara’s dad is essentially out of the image; he lives on the town, however he’s solely referred to as upon as wanted, and most of their care falls to Simone and her long-term boyfriend, Patrick (Kyle Bornheimer). Way back, they agreed to not get married, however now their relationship has hit an ungainly stagnancy, the place it seems like one thing has to vary, for higher or worse. Simone and Patrick don’t take up almost the period of time as their youngsters, however their arcs assist inform “Excessive College’s” bigger story, about folks of all ages who’re nonetheless looking out, nonetheless asking questions, nonetheless discovering an identification that’s their very own, reasonably than conforming to expectations.
Kyle Bornheimer and Cobie Smulders in “Excessive College”
Michelle Faye / Amazon Freevee
Directed by Duvall, the present’s design mirrors its characters, whereas providing a quiet rebuke of TV norms. Shadows are in every single place. The Quins’ home is usually darkish, its colours muted. Sunny days forged a pale gentle, and nights are pried open by faint, unnatural yellows (from bulbs anybody alive within the ’90s ought to bear in mind effectively). Truthfully, the primary visible comparability level that got here to thoughts was “True Detective” Season 3 — a solemn, gritty drama that forged Mahershala Ali’s haunted, looking out lead in equally shadowed earth tones. However “Excessive College” isn’t making an attempt to make itself out to be extra critical than it’s, or conform to status TV requirements; it’s grunge. That’s it. Just like the bands that form its protagonists and fill its blaring soundtrack, “Excessive College” crafts a no-frills actuality that matches its characters’ scruffy heroes. Kurt Cobain can be proud. (And never simply because Nirvana is overtly worshiped. Inexperienced Day and Gap play outstanding elements, as effectively, together with about two dozen different alt rock favorites.)
DuVall additionally units up intelligent framings by the scripts’ dueling views — a shot of Tegan consuming lunch within the premiere is an early stand out — however she additionally trusts her younger actors in lengthy, silent takes, and with good motive. Of their skilled performing debuts, Railey and Seazynn Gilliland are endearing, identifiable leads, particularly adept at conveying what’s wanted in pensive moments. A younger supporting forged fills in naturally round them, and Smulders matches her function completely.
“Excessive College” takes its teen heartaches and hang-ups critically, however it’s additionally a totally pleasing collection that’s removed from only a Tegan and Sara origin story. It’s an antidote to dramas that paint tragic teen portrait after tragic teen portrait. Typically, the youngsters are all proper. Typically, they’re even sort. Possibly all they want is somewhat encouragement from Björk, even when her phrases haven’t sunk in but.
Grade: B
“Excessive College” premiered on the 2022 Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition. The eight-episode first season debuts Friday, October 14 on Amazon Freevee.