A fresh look at Hartley High over 20 years on. With her new friends - outsiders Quinni and Darren - Amerie must repair her reputation, while navigating love, sex, and heartbreak.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.1/10
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
TMDB: 7.2/10
Production
Fremantle Australia, NewBe
Cast
Ayesha Madon, James Majoos, Brodie Townsend, Chloé Hayden, Thomas Weatherall, Asher Yasbincek, Sherry-Lee Watson, Gemma Chua-Tran, Will McDonald, Bryn Chapman Parish, Rachel House, Chika Ikogwe, George Simitzis
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, modern teen drama that mixes messy romance, social satire, and genuine emotional stakes with a distinctly inclusive point of view. It’s especially strong when it leans into friendship dynamics, consent, identity, and the chaos of high school politics; the final season keeps the momentum but the show is at its freshest in the first two seasons.
Best for
viewers who like contemporary teen dramas with bite
fans of ensemble shows about friendship and identity
people who want sex-positive, emotionally direct storytelling
audiences looking for a fast, bingeable high-school series
Skip if
you want a low-drama, comfort-watch teen show
you dislike frank sexual content and messy relationship conflict
you prefer tightly plotted prestige drama over heightened soapiness
Overview
This is a lively, very current teen drama that understands how high school can feel both ridiculous and deeply consequential. It has the familiar ingredients of the genre—romance, status games, betrayals, and social fallout—but gives them a sharper, more inclusive edge than most school-set shows. The result is breezy to watch, but not empty; it often lands real emotional weight in the midst of the chaos.
Worth noting
The ensemble is the main attraction. Friendships, especially among the outsiders, give the series its heart, and the show is strongest when it balances humor with vulnerability. It also stands out for treating sex, identity, disability, and neurodivergence as part of the lived fabric of the story rather than as afterthoughts.
Bottom line
If there’s a caveat, it’s that the show can lean heavily into melodrama, and some viewers may find the heightened plotting a little exhausting over time. Still, as a bingeable teen series with personality, energy, and a clear point of view, it’s an easy recommendation for anyone who likes their coming-of-age drama messy, modern, and emotionally direct.
2006 · Curator 9.2/10 (79.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
For a grounded ensemble about adolescence, belonging, and the social pressures of a close-knit school community.
1999 · Curator 9.5/10 (165.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
An enduring outsider-school ensemble with warmth, awkwardness, and authentic teen feeling.
2021 · Curator 8.8/10 (28.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu
A character-rich youth ensemble with humor, pain, and a strong sense of community and identity.
Topics
teen ensemble, coming-of-age, sex-positive, messy relationships, high school politics, inclusive storytelling, bingeable, melodramatic, modern drama, friendship-driven