Why The Carrie Diaries should've stayed on Netflix
What bad things can be said about Netflix? It has no commercials, it's an easy to use app, you can download videos and watch them offline, and it has amazing original shows combined with classic movies and TV shows. (Hello, the Office!) What keeps people coming back for more is the constant changing of new shows and movies, keeping audiences excited as they anticipate their favorite thing to view arriving at the platform. However, when you watch a show that you love, it feels as if a good friend is leaving when Netflix pulls the plug on your favorite show. To me, that show was The Carrie Diaries. While it left Netflix Friday, there are so many reasons why it should've stayed on the air.
Samantha (Lindsey Gort) and Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb)
Samantha (Lindsey Gort) and Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb)
For some context, The Carrie Diaries is a prequel spin-off to the show, Sex and The City as it follows the main character, Carrie Bradshaw through her high school years. After her summer before her junior year of high school, when she lost her mom, her dad decides to let her intern at his law firm in Manhattan. While out running an errand, a outrageous woman named Larissa comes up to Carrie. To her shock and surprise, she's the style editor for Interview magazine, leading Carrie to live her secret life working at the magazine. Throughout the series, narrated by Carrie herself, she and her friends go through the ups and downs that high school can bring: homework, jobs, dating, friendships, bullies, and trying to discover what you want in your life.
Despite the show receiving a multitude of negative reviews when the show aired, causing it to only have 2 seasons, most of the viewers were fans of the original show and disliked how most of show strayed from dating and friendship details. Despite not having seen the original show (for obvious reasons), this show connected with me more than any show has. The actors have incredible chemistry with each other and they portray a variety of personalities that are relevant to teens in society. Carrie is a writer who, while she has thoughts going through her head at any given moment, is focused on achieving her dreams. Her ambition can cause her to make mistakes, but she lets them play out and she grows from the outcome of her situations.
Left to right: Maggie (Katie Findlay), Mouse (Ellen Wong), Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb), Walt (Brendan Dooling)
Her friend group is diverse and they have their own issues with growing up. Maggie confuses lust with love, causing her to really think about what she wants in a relationship. To put more of a burden on her, her grades aren't the best, making college seem like a low possibility along with her parents not offering enough support to her. Mouse has goals of her own. Ever since the day she was born, her parents have put her on the railroad to entering Harvard. More often than not, her competitiveness and ability to study gets in the way. However, she is always there for her friends in any given situation. Walt is struggling with coming to terms with his sexuality; being gay during the 1980's was a far from easy situation to deal with. His parents do not approve of said lifestyle, so trying to maintain a "straight" persona while coming to terms with what he actually identifies as plagues his mind more often than not.
Some other company such as Carrie's sister Dorrit (whose rebellious but sensitive nature makes you switch feelings about her every episode) and Donna LaDonna (the biggest queen bee in 1984 you would ever meet who also has secrets) round up the whole group. Not to mention Carrie's love interest/boyfriend, Sebastian Kydd, whose not only super gorgeous, but the sweet bad boy of the school. Even though his family life and past mistakes are what outsiders see, he is "boyfriend goals," as he will do anything for Carrie. Having this variety of characters livens up the show and combined with the well-written dialogue makes me question what TV viewers didn't like.
Sebastian (Austin Butler) and Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb)
Besides the cast, the show really embodies the time period which is the wild and fabulous 1980s. While the sets are mostly simplistic, besides the clubs that Carrie and Larissa frequent, the show delivers the 80's in style and music. Carrie embraces the essence of style in her clothes. At school, layered t-shirts and jeans show her calmer personality; the laid-back style of a teenager. When she's interning in the city, you can spot her in bright neon dresses, often in a bold print. The hair and makeup reflect the time as well with noticeable eyeshadows and hairstyles that screams 80 cans of hairspray. As most people know, the 80's had the best music and the show doesn't skimp on any greatest hits. From Madonna to Cyndi Lauper to Billy Idol, you will be jamming to the soundtrack by the time you finish the series.
Amidst the bright lipsticks and sounds of "Material Girl" ringing in your ears, the underlying message in each episode touches your heart. Read off as journal entries that Carrie writes down, she spins questions to either make the audience reminisce about that time in their lives or think about it on a deeper level. Some of my favorite monologues and quotes are:
Despite the show receiving a multitude of negative reviews when the show aired, causing it to only have 2 seasons, most of the viewers were fans of the original show and disliked how most of show strayed from dating and friendship details. Despite not having seen the original show (for obvious reasons), this show connected with me more than any show has. The actors have incredible chemistry with each other and they portray a variety of personalities that are relevant to teens in society. Carrie is a writer who, while she has thoughts going through her head at any given moment, is focused on achieving her dreams. Her ambition can cause her to make mistakes, but she lets them play out and she grows from the outcome of her situations.
Left to right: Maggie (Katie Findlay), Mouse (Ellen Wong), Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb), Walt (Brendan Dooling)
Her friend group is diverse and they have their own issues with growing up. Maggie confuses lust with love, causing her to really think about what she wants in a relationship. To put more of a burden on her, her grades aren't the best, making college seem like a low possibility along with her parents not offering enough support to her. Mouse has goals of her own. Ever since the day she was born, her parents have put her on the railroad to entering Harvard. More often than not, her competitiveness and ability to study gets in the way. However, she is always there for her friends in any given situation. Walt is struggling with coming to terms with his sexuality; being gay during the 1980's was a far from easy situation to deal with. His parents do not approve of said lifestyle, so trying to maintain a "straight" persona while coming to terms with what he actually identifies as plagues his mind more often than not.
Some other company such as Carrie's sister Dorrit (whose rebellious but sensitive nature makes you switch feelings about her every episode) and Donna LaDonna (the biggest queen bee in 1984 you would ever meet who also has secrets) round up the whole group. Not to mention Carrie's love interest/boyfriend, Sebastian Kydd, whose not only super gorgeous, but the sweet bad boy of the school. Even though his family life and past mistakes are what outsiders see, he is "boyfriend goals," as he will do anything for Carrie. Having this variety of characters livens up the show and combined with the well-written dialogue makes me question what TV viewers didn't like.
Sebastian (Austin Butler) and Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb)
Besides the cast, the show really embodies the time period which is the wild and fabulous 1980s. While the sets are mostly simplistic, besides the clubs that Carrie and Larissa frequent, the show delivers the 80's in style and music. Carrie embraces the essence of style in her clothes. At school, layered t-shirts and jeans show her calmer personality; the laid-back style of a teenager. When she's interning in the city, you can spot her in bright neon dresses, often in a bold print. The hair and makeup reflect the time as well with noticeable eyeshadows and hairstyles that screams 80 cans of hairspray. As most people know, the 80's had the best music and the show doesn't skimp on any greatest hits. From Madonna to Cyndi Lauper to Billy Idol, you will be jamming to the soundtrack by the time you finish the series.
Amidst the bright lipsticks and sounds of "Material Girl" ringing in your ears, the underlying message in each episode touches your heart. Read off as journal entries that Carrie writes down, she spins questions to either make the audience reminisce about that time in their lives or think about it on a deeper level. Some of my favorite monologues and quotes are:
- It isn’t goodbye because it feels wonderful. It’s goodbye because it feels so final.
- Sometimes the unexpected takes the form of a sweet surprise.
- That’s the tricky thing about labels. Once in awhile, they tell us everything we need to know. But most of the time, it’s only a very small part of the story. Slapping a word or two on a person can make things worse. In reality, nothing is simple as the label we give it. The one thing you have to remember about labels? They only matter if you let them stick.
- It’s easy to become attached to something you love. It’s even harder to let go of that something when you’ve held it so close for so long.
- It’s scary when we realize how quickly our expectations for the future can slip away. Sometimes what we expect and what actually happens can be completely surprising- in a good way. Of course, some things in life really are predictable. It’s reassuring when things turn out just as we think they will. But more often than not, the universe pulls the rug out from under us. Will we be brave? Or will we run away hoping to avoid the next cruel surprise? So how do we carry on where the unexpected could hit at any time? We look for someone we love to hold on to.
- When you are obsessed with one goal, it’s hard to focus on anything else.
- No matter what you’re going through, it’s always better if you have people to share it with.
Signed,
Midwestern Redhead
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