Over the last year, the pandemic changed a lot of things, release schedules for a lot of our new summer teen drama’s is one of those things ::cough:: Riverdale ::cough:: HBOMax’s Generation is also another one of those shows to suffer from the strange episode release schedule. The series premiered in early March 2021 and introduced us to the GenZ, LGBTQA+ characters Chester (Justice Smith), twins Nathan (Uly Schlesinger) and Naomi (Chloe East), Riley (Chase Sui Wonders), Delilah (Lukita Maxwell), Greta (Haley Sanchez), and Arianna (Nathanya Alexander). This first half of season 1 was really enjoyable. We got to know these kids and how they navigate their sexuality in today’s world. However, with the release of season 1 part 2, the momentum we felt came crashing down.
For those of you who missed part one, let me catch you up. Chester is the star polo on his high school polo team. Being out and proud, Chester has made a bit of a name for himself at his school as being outspoken and frequently pushing the boundaries of the dress code, along with most other rules at the school. After bonding with his new guidance counselor Sam (played by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) they form a LGBTQA+ group at their school. Nathan and Naomi are twins and the rich kids in town with super type A, religious parents, who are also faces of the community. Nathan is struggling with sexuality and secretly fooling around with Naomi’s boyfriend behind her back. All of which comes to a head when he confesses that he is bisexual on his parent’s yacht during their older sister’s wedding. Yeah, that happens. Greta and Riley meet, and Greta begins to come to terms with the fact that she might be a lesbian. Arianna (the worst character on the show) spends most the season being a truly awful human being, feeling that she is above being homophobic or racist because she is an african american girl with two gay dads. The big OMG moment of the season comes to us from Delilah who secretly gave birth to a baby in the Panda Express bathroom at the mall. Phew! That’s A LOT I know.
Now on to part 2. I would love to say that all of these characters saw huge growth and really moved forward with their stories but….they really didn’t. Chester continues to make some pretty bad choices. For example, after finding Sam – his Guidance Counselor – on Grindr, he begins to flirt with him by using a headless profile picture. Sam finds out and shuts the whole thing down very quickly, thank goodness, resulting in Chester having a meltdown, and setting off the fire alarm at the hotel the LGBTQA+ group is staying in for a trip. Greta and Riley are still a complete mess. Arianna is still just as awful as she was in part 1. Naomi is still just as naive and boy crazy. Riley, who was all worried about what her parents would think of her, is now sharing a boy with her best friend. And finally Delilah, wanting a better life for her child and not wanting her parents to look at her differently, decides to drop the baby at a fire station. The Series ends at an LGBTQA+ event being hosted by Greta’s Aunt. Nathan invites his mother, trying to push her even further over the edge. The final moments of part two are dedicated to Nathan and Naomi’s mother Megan trying to leave the event early. Megan just cannot get past her homophobia and narrow minded views in order to support her children. Personally, with everything that happens in part 2, I feel like it could have been 1 episode showing the passage of time leading into bigger and better storylines.
Even though I was incredibly disappointed in Part 2, I’d say sure go for it, but don’t go out of your way to make it happen. Generations season 1 part 2 is dropping on HBOMax June 17th.
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