PEN15

No, I am not a bot or getting paid for my review as some users are claiming. I feel like the people who gave this show a low rating just do not understand it. The fact that the stars are in their 30s playing 7th graders is part of the humor.

I am the same age as the actresses, so I was in 7th grade in 2000. For me, this show was so relatable. So many of the conversations and events in this show happened to me at that age. My best friend and I were so much like Anna and Maya. Add in the music, clothes, cars, and slang and I was sent on a nostalgia trip. This was wonderfully done. I'm sorry that some people did not understand it.

I've only watched a couple episodes, but it is so dead on so far from my experience. Set in 2000, I would have been the older brother. My sister is literally named Maya, was into Sylvanian animals, etc. She once cut her hair stupid and I laughed and my mom cut it into an embarrassing way. my ojiichan died some years before but we were told he would watch over us at all times. So yeah, masturbating? Is he judging us? It's so wild to see such a specific character I can relate to that I have never seen in any tv show or movie.

Everyone who complains about the age difference clearly isn't getting the joke. Remember body doubles exist and are used! The whole mentality of growing up at that time is there. They captured it. I'm 14 again watching this. Good stuff!

These people criticizing this and saying it is sexualizing kids are out of their minds and paranoid. You must have had a strange middle school and puberty. I grew up in the 80s and this shows the awkwardness and raging hormones that I experienced. And if you are saying it is sexualizing kids then I don't think you've watched it at all. You probably read something and regurgitated the propoganda. It's funny and an accurate depiction, of course exaggerated. Lighten up!

This is such an odd series but I have to say "truthful" and due to that -- hysterical. Personally I was kind of put off by the first couple of episodes but after a while you will be drawn in. For me this was even more on the nose as my long time best middle school and high school friend was Korean and I think most modern shows might not think of that dynamic with girls.

The show is unique in that they have thirtysomething year old women playing their 7th grade selves along with real life 13 year olds. To my shock, it works well. I suspect they did so because no modern little kid could really capture the creators of this show at 12. Also, some of the plots are very grown up and that might not be fully available to real kids.

Definitely worth watching.