It’s a perfectly fun, nostalgic and ridiculous TV binge
What TV shows are dominating the conversation, have something interesting to say, or are hidden gems waiting to be uncovered or rediscovered? We take a look ahead of your weekend watch. And, be warned, there are spoilers ahead.
Cue the Auto-Tune, because “Girls5eva” is finally getting its big break.
The story of a pop girl group reuniting as adults and chasing stardom on their own terms is performing for the masses now that the first two seasons are available to stream on Netflix, plus a third, sixepisode instalment dropped earlier this week.
It’s been a three-year journey for the comedy, which debuted in March 2021 on Peacock in the U.S. and a month later on W Network in Canada.
The show earned strong critical reviews — 96 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and 80 per cent on Metacritic — but failed to generate the same buzz with viewers simply because of where it streamed.
Now though, “Girls5eva” is cued up to do for ’90s pop groups what “This Is Spinal Tap” did for rock in the 1980s: satirize the nature of the beast while exposing the genre’s bigger problems in a funny and thoughtful way.
“Girls5eva” is the brainchild of Meredith Scardino, whose previous writing credits include “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “The Colbert Report” and “Saturday Night Live.” The first season kicks off when a rapper samples Girls5eva’s one hit song, thrusting the women back into the spotlight.
That group consists of Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Summer (Busy Philipps), Gloria (Paula Pell), Wickie (Renée Elise Goldsberry) and Ashley (Ashley Park). As teens they were at the mercy of their seedy manager Larry (Jonathan Hadary), but when we meet them in adulthood they’re far from the merchhocking, product-placing girls they once were. Or at least they’re pretending to be.
Dawn is the unofficial leader and entry point to the series. As a mom and wife she leads an unglamorous life, rents an apartment from her brother (Dean Winters) and works at the family restaurant. She dreams of more, so when the opportunity to perform on Jimmy Fallon comes up, she’s the one who gets the gang back together. In that role she anchors the journey as the Everywoman, albeit one who has her own share of freak.
Bareilles’ performance allows the other women to embrace their quirks and wild turns, creating one of TV’s best ensembles.
Gloria is a dentist and, after years of hiding her sexuality, is proud to tell people she and her ex-wife were the first gay couple to divorce in the State of New York.
Summer continues to embrace her role as “the hot one” and caters to nostalgic fans alongside her potentially closeted husband, a former boy bander named Kev (Andrew Rannells).
Ashley died young in an infinity pool accident, but she remains present through flashbacks as the repressed memories begin to surface. And then there’s Wickie, a downright diva who thinks the world owes her something, has her own “riff Rolodex” and is equipped with enough zingers to warrant her own catchphrase dictionary.
Goldsberry originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in “Hamilton” and is known for her amazing voice. That talent combined with how she brings Wickie to life is unstoppable. She easily steals every scene, whether she’s posing for uninterested paparazzi or serving as the group’s unofficial publicist.
In addition to the gem of an ensemble, there are fun appearances by notable personalities that further sell this world. Drew and Jonathan Scott, John Slattery, Mario Cantone, Mario Lopez and Tim Meadows all stop by to play heightened versions of themselves, while Bowen Yang has a fun turn as an influencer, and executive producer Tina Fey pops up as Dolly Parton.
The cast, nostalgia and commitment to world-building is what makes the show work, but the real genius of “Girls5eva” is its ability to balance extreme parodies with heartfelt storylines.
The women begin as the embodiment of the stereotypes they represent, but soon grow beyond what they were conditioned to be. The flashbacks are often light despite how they highlight the terrible working conditions of teen pop stars, and the present-day reflections of those times are what force the character to grows.
That growth is huge in the first season as the women work toward a common goal: performing at the Jingle Ball.
There are plenty of laughs along the way and nostalgic winks to the ’90s, as the performers and viewers realize how much the game has changed. Mall performances are no longer a thing, generating buzz in today’s industry takes more than an MTV tour bus, and ownership rights is a tricky battle in the world of social media and influencers.
The second season continues those threads when the women sign a deal with the Property Brothers, a fun Canadian connection that also pokes fun at the idea of branding and how current personalities need to market themselves in so many directions. The season is very much about the women producing an album, but it also tackles ideas like gender stereotypes, ageism and identity.
By the time Season 3 rolls around and the ladies embark on a selfguided tour, the world opens up even more.
As the women reconnect with their former selves and try to do better than their past mistakes, other timely issues (body autonomy, the nature of fame) arise.
As for the songs, they’re just as ridiculous as you’d hope. Even when they’re meant to be heartfelt, the lyrics are terrible, but they’re performed in such a serious way — and to catchy music — that they become their own character as the episodes unfold. They’re also a good reminder that hit songs aren’t always deep and meaningful. Sometimes, they’re the ones that just make you want to do squats.
It all adds up to a fun, colourful show with a fast pace and plenty of giggles in every episode. And, with the instalments clocking in under half an hour each, “Girls5eva” is the perfect series to binge over a weekend when you just want to laugh and unwind.