Set in 90s, in the Canadian suburbs, Ready or Not centers on the unlikely friendship of two girls with opposite dispositions: the insecure, accident-prone Amanda Zimm, who tends to leap into embarrassing situations without thinking them over (Ready); and the cool, insightful, and cautious, Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone (Not).
At it's best, Ready or Not showcases a type of bittersweet realism, found in The Wonder Years and Freaks and Geeks. The girls are free to talk about pretty much anything (to quote Amanda discussing her older, 7th grade idol, Chrissy "letting a guy touch her boob for a second because it's supposed to give him a boner or something".) Even though there's the occasional after-school special message, it's saved from being cheesy with it's humor. For example, the episode where Busy's brother awkwardly attempts to bum a cigarette off of a group of older kids and obliviously declares "a guy just likes to enjoy a butt every once and a while".
However, in the last two seasons, there was a noticeable difference in tone. They could no longer go through the same embarrassing shenanigans as in the earlier episodes without looking foolish instead of naive. Things become more serious, and there is less humor to be found.
Seasons 4 and 5 also concentrates on the two girls growing up and growing apart. Amanda is bubblier, and having an easier time with boys and the social dynamics of school. Though, Busy is thrown threw a loop. She is suddenly unsure where she fits in when it becomes more apparent that Busy is Jane Lane to Amanda's Charlotte York. Through it all, Busy becomes more desolate, yet consistent. At times, it makes it really hard to like Amanda's character, her boy-crazy, social climbing ways become more apparent than ever. However, both girls work hard at staying friends no matter how different they are, and whatever the circumstances.
