Ending Far From AWKWARD.

Article first published as Ending Far From AWKWARD. on TheTVKing.

MTV's Awkward. has easily been, hands down, the best series the network has ever produced. This week, the third season ends with "Who I Want to Be," which also marks the last episode helmed by creator Lauren Iungerich. The hour-long installment, double the length of the typical episode (as was last week's penultimate), fittingly brings central character Jenna (Ashley Rickards), and others, full circle. It could easily have served as a series finale - though Awkward. will continue on with a new showrunner next year.

Awkward. begins with a letter. Jenna's mother, Lacey (Nikki Deloach), anonymously sends her daughter a list of things to change about herself. The author is the mystery of season one, and Jenna is quite effected by the words. When it comes out that Lacey is responsible, it almost ruins Jenna's parents' marriage, and fractures the relationship between mother and daughter.

The story has moved past that, but it's appropriate to bring it up again now. Jenna has undergone quite a few changes this year, going through a phase where she cheated on her boyfriend and fell out with her besties. In "Who I Want to Be," she has mostly succeeded in rebuilding what she destroyed and is trying to figure out the type of person she should be going forward. This letter is part of her growth, a catalyst really, and she considers it along with her answer, as she should.

Lacey finds Jenna reading the letter and the two have a moving heart-to-heart. They've suffered tribulations together and come out the other side stronger than ever, both individually and as a pair. It's a reflective scene which really tells us who the women are, how far they've come and what they mean to one another. Both actresses do a terrific job with this emotional stuff, and many viewers will likely be moved to tears by the result. I dare say this may be my favorite moment of the year, if not the show as a whole.

Jenna's introspection comes because of an assignment from Mr. Hart (Anthony Michael Hall). Although the teacher seems grumpy and abrasive, if not downright cruel, at the start, there's something really cool about the way he and Jenna connect, and how he pushes Jenna to do her best work. She has talent in the field of writing, and he knows how to manipulate her to bring out the best. That, combined with the experiences Jenna has had, allow her to figure out both what to put and how to act. I hope this dynamic continues, as Jenna still could take things much further.

A lot of Awkward. has concerned Jenna and boys, which is expected for a story about a teenage girl. First she was with Matty (Beau Mirchoff), then Jake (Brett Davern), then back with Matty, then Collin (Nolan Funk), the latter being a physical attraction only. And part of "Who I Want to Be" does find Jenna pining over Matty, who she has not gotten over. She wants him to ask her to prom and he doesn't.

But that's not all Jenna is. Some girls may pin themselves to a guy, however, there is more to Jenna. She gets to tell Collin off in a triumphant moment. She tells Matty the door is still open for him, but she also knows she's survive, even thrive, if he never comes back to her. Then, even better, she dances by herself at the prom, happy and confident, not needing anyone else. This doesn't mean she's lonely; in fact, she's never been more solid with her loved ones. It just shows that she's a full individual who has accepted herself and is ready to move on to the next chapter of her life, whatever that may be.

Jenna isn't the only one who's blossomed. Ming (Jessica Lu) has found her confidence and her place. Tamara (Jillian Rose Reed) and Jake have bliss. Lacey regrets mistakes she's made because she's learned not to make them again. Matty is able to heal and enjoy himself with Bailey (McKaley Miller), a worthy date. Even Sadie (Molly Tarlov) has to smile, in love with a boy named Austin (Shane Harper), who gets her in a way no one else ever has.

"Who I Want to Be" is mostly about Jenna, though, as it should be. She's the heart of the show and the reason why we tune in. There's only been one brief period I didn't like her and had trouble relating (during this year's destructive phase), but the finale of this season makes that other stuff worth it. A person is not created already fully-formed, and over three glorious seasons, we've witnessed the evolution of Jenna. Beautiful.

Awkward. will return for a fourth season sometime in 2014 on MTV.

Awkward. puts the right shoe on the wrong foot

MTV's Awkward. completes its sophomore season with two important decisions for Jenna (Ashley Rickards) in "The Other Shoe." The first, which guy she should be with, is one that is sure to be debated by fans and revisited by the writers in later seasons. The second, whether she should go to Europe, or stay home with that guy that she picked, has a much more clear cut answer. Despite how romantic it might be to stay, she should definitely go.

Alas, Jenna is a teenage girl completely smitten, so of course she chooses the boy over the trip. It is an understandable choice for a girl in her position, even though those with age and wisdom will deeply regret her missing such an amazing opportunity. At this point in Jenna's life, that love is more important.

It's not like Matty (Beau Mirchoff) gives her much reason to go. Yes, he does tell her that she should take the trip, and says he is supportive. But what I think that Jenna is looking for to be able to comfortably leave is a declaration of strong feelings about being missed. That would be out of character for Matty, and when he doesn't exhibit such a display, one can see Jenna's doubt begin to creep in about the state of their pairing if she were to leave for six weeks. This likely influences her decision.

The brilliance of Awkward. is in the development of the characters, both from the writing and the acting. This whole situation is presented so clearly and realistically. Jenna and Matty act like teenagers. That may seem a simple formula to make a series work, but looking across the wide spectrum of teens represented on TV, it quickly becomes apparent that few shows truly "get" this age group of humans, so unique in their motivations and feelings. Series creater Lauren Iungerich is the terrific exception.

Look at where Jenna is in "The Other Shoe." At the beginning of the series, she is a shy dork who really wants to be noticed. Now, two seasons later, she has grown so darn much. Having the guy of her dreams, and being presented with a free trip to Europe, well, this is the kind of conundrum that most only dream of. Many people would happily take one or the other. To have the choice of both at once, talk about First World Problems! And good for Jenna, who is a good person who deserves happiness.

Interestingly, the Big Secret of season two (who comments on Jenna's blog) is resolved with much less weight than it's counterpart from season (the letter). While Clark (Joseph Haro) has been around for awhile, he's not been a big, noticeable player. Hopefully, he will be more so, going forward, as another friend for Jenna to lean on.

The reveal that Ricky Schwartz (Matthew Fahey) is making out with Clark in the closet is arguably a bigger twist then the blog commenter. At first, it goes against what we know about Ricky, given his ill treatment of the many ladies he has supposedly been with. But there are a couple of easily explainable reasons he might be in that (wonderfully literal and figurative at the same time) closet. One, touched on in the episode, is that he is just such a horndog that he will make out with anyone. Or, perhaps he bounces between girls because he just isn't finding what he wants, and Clark can help him with that. Either possibility is intriguing, and hopefully his character will be fleshed out a bit more next year, too.

What sucks about the Ricky thing is that Sadie (Molly Tarlov) does not need any more scarring. True, she is not a nice person, so it's hard to root for her. But finding out a guy she genuinely likes bats for the other team, or is at least open to it, is going to hurt her deeply, which will only make her more mean. Like most bullies, Sadie's anger comes from a place of pain. Season two hasn't been as sympathetic to her as the first year, but I still want to see her grow into a decent person by the end of Awkward. This kind of thing is a major step back on that journey. Although, without adversity, the prize wouldn't be earned.

At first, it's very hard to believe that Jake (Brett Davern) and Tamara (Jillian Rose Reed) find each other in "The Other Shoe." Their pairing is spoken of as a possibility earlier, and then quickly dismissed. But the natural way that it unfolds, and the emotional state of both characters, makes it feel right. For now. I don't see it lasting, but they could definitely be good for each other in the short term, as they are sweethearts who have been burned by the less considerate. Yay for them!

Ming (Jessica Lu) is often shoved to the background, but her character has steadily gained a little more traction in season two. Having her moment with crush Fred Wu (Kelly Sry) at the party acknowledges that she is part of core cast, and hopefully there will be even more for her next season.

Lastly, the scene where Valerie (Desi Lydic) gathers Jenna, Kevin (Mike Faiola), and Lacey (Nikki Deloach) in her office is priceless! Valerie seems to be mostly present as comic relief, but there should be no complaint about that when she is used to such beautiful effect. It's a small bit of the episode, but a memorable one, thanks in no small part to Lydic's formidable comedy chops. She has taken a character who could easily slip into an annoying superfluous part of Awkward. and made her a frequent delight and valuable member of the ensemble. Bravo!

Awkward. has been renewed for a third season and will return next year to MTV.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

Awkward. confronts "Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary"

The latest chapter of MTV's Awkward. is "Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary." Jenna (Ashley Rickards) considers telling Jake (Brett Davern) about Matty (Beau Mirchoff) preemptively when a video camera is discovered outside of the Sanctuary, the secret hookup place for the school. If the video leaks and shows Jenna and Matty, their secret will be revealed. But Jake says he doesn't want to know who the other man in Jenna's life was. Should she tell him anyway?

Ah, the drama of teenage love. These characters are incredibly authentic to their age group. Jake frets, admitting his jealousy over a mystery man is a bit insane, but unable to help himself. Matty is oblivious to the fact that he hurt Jenna. Jenna worries about hurting others' feelings, and is too immature to have the courage of complete honesty, or the wisdom to know when it's vital. These are characters flaws, to be sure, but ones typical of kids, and a credit to Awkward., not a liability.

If there is any doubt that Matty's feelings for Jenna are real, "Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary" erases them. He is really hung up on her, and his joy to learn that she loved him is endearing. Not realizing that his behavior towards her while they are together is so painful, his confrontation of that reality, and the obvious ill feelings he has over it, also score a point in his favor. Mirchoff nails this episode, allowing the flavors of Matty's emotions to dance across his face without having to vocalize everything.

Unfortunately, at the same time that Matty is ready to commit to Jenna, she pulls further away. She isn't the flighty type, and having decided to be in a relationship with Jake, she is serious about making it work. Jenna made her decision, and she isn't going to second guess it to death. It's too bad, but Matty missed his window. At least until Jake and Jenna break up, and this is high school, so even if it weren't a television show, they probably would.

The question is, should Jenna tell Jake about Matty. This is wrestled with throughout the half hour, but even though Jenna decides not to tell, it isn't over. Jake says he doesn't want to know, and seems happy with the knowledge that Jenna doesn't love the other guy anymore. However, the fact that her first sexual experience is with Matty, Jake's close friend, makes this equation a lot different than if Jenna slept with a stranger. She does owe him the full truth, and soon, because it will come out eventually, and if Jake hears it from anyone but Jenna, no matter how painful her telling him might be, he will feel even more deeply betrayed.


Jenna's relationship with her mother, Lacey (Nikki Deloach), is even more complicated. Lacey is doing everything she can to try to make things up to Jenna for writing the mean letter that is so central to season one. Is it because Lacey regrets hurting her daughter, or, as Jenna asserts, she's worried Jenna will tell Kevin (Mike Faiola), Jenna's father? It's probably a bit of both, but Jenna is nowhere near ready to hear Lacey's apology, and Lacey desperately does not want Kevin to know about the transgression.

Just as Jenna comes to the understanding that she can't tell her dad because it's not her secret to spill, Lacey acts like a grown up, deciding that she must come clean to Kevin and face the consequences. For someone as immature as Lacey can be, it's a wonderful surprise to see her take this responsibility, and it demonstrates that Lacey is determined to be a good mom, setting the right example. "Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary" does not show Kevin's full reaction to the news, but it can't possibly be good, especially if any part of him still believes Jenna tried to kill herself in episode one, at least in part due to the letter. What a cliffhanger going into next week!

As great as Awkward. does this drama, it also excels at comedy. There have been a number of one-note and enjoyable classmates shown, usually introduced more for a punchline than story point, but are always amusing. This week, there is a girl (Alison Sieke) who, while being a vegan, admits to eating a hamburger in the Sanctuary, then is shown having a cup of red liquid thrown on her. It may be small stuff, but it's touches like these that pump up the charm factor and make the creative team, led by series creator Lauren Iungerich, seem even more clever than before.

Also introduced in "Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary" is the school's Asian mafia, led by the almost omnipotent Becca. Jenna asks Ming (Jessica Lu) to approach the Asians to get information about the Sanctuary tape, since they seem to know everything. Getting the tape is no problem for Becca, who is a scary creeper with an impassive face. She gets the tape, but tells Ming that one day a favor will be called in.

On many shows, this type of situation would fall into rote stereotypes. In Awkard., race is played upon, but not quite in the way one would expect, and certainly not in a lazy way. Much of the credit should go to the actress playing Becca, who totally has the Eddie Izzard head shake / nod bit down cold. The overall effect is impressive and thoroughly humorous. Hopefully Becca will return soon to cash in her favor! She would be a great recurring character.

Lastly, Valerie (Desi Lydic) is tasked by the principal with recovering the tape. In the episode's only possible misstep, the principal isn't aware of the camera, either, and fears his own sexual liaison, which happens on campus, will be exposed. Valerie is merely a pawn in Becca's game, but ends up getting a Vice Principal position out of it, without quite knowing how she is blackmailing her boss. Not too shabby, and certainly a self-esteem booster for a woman that needs it!

It should not surprise me by now how delightful each and every episode of Awkward. is, balancing larger story arcs with an extraordinary attention to detail. And yet it still does surprise, because the bar is set so high, and it continually exceeds even those lofty expectations. The cast is nearly flawless, and the characters seeming to be built upon the actors' strengths. There are few series out there that I look forward to as much as this one, and can find so few faults in. If you have not discovered it, it is time to correct that.

Tune in to Awkward. Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. ET on MTV.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com Article first published as TV Review: Awkward. - "Sex, Lies and Videotape" on Blogcritics.

Awkward. faces "Queen Bee-atches"

     In this week's episode of MTV's Awkward., "Queen Bee-atches," Jenna (Ashley Rickards) attempts to help her mother, Lacey (Nikki Deloach), get into a high profile charity club run by Darlene Saxton (Heather Mazur, Crash). Yep, that's Saxton, as in Sadie Saxton's (Molly Tarlov) mother. Things don't look good for Lacey's admittance until Jenna finds Sadie's food journal and gains some leverage. Also, while working the recruitment event, Jake (Brett Davern) tells Matty (Beau Mirchoff) about kissing Jenna. While Matty doesn't reveal his own personal bond with her, the competition between the two is starting. 

     Awkward.'s quality has been top notch so far in this freshman season, but "Queen Bee-atches" really achieves pitch perfectness. It is the story of several characters, and how they deal with their insecurities. Jenna, of course, is the main girl, and she is really finding herself as she emerges from her shell. This week, she is given some really great dirt on Sadie, but is too sweet to use it for anything more than to help Lacey. It shows strength of character advanced for such a young girl, and is done in a totally realistic way. For instance, Jenna begins to feel charitable, seeing Sadie's inner pain laid bare on the page. Then Jenna turns to the next entry and finds a mean comment about herself, sparking anger all over again. She's only human, after all.

     Sadie is becoming likeable, albeit just behind closed doors. She may not have written the letter to help Jenna, as Jenna suspects early in "Queen Bee-atches," but Sadie is trying to deal with some serious turmoil. In high school, it is no secret that many people feel like they must be popular, well liked, and great looking in order to have self-esteem. Sadie is in this trap, concerned with her appearance. She's furious at herself for giving into the cravings the make her heavy, as well as genetics that don't do her any favors. But while breaking down in tears to her mother, it's hard not to feel her very real pain. No wonder she's so mean! Plus, Sadie gets straight A's, so there is definitely more to her than her looks, which aren't bad in the first place.

     Again, kudos must be given to Tarlov for the bold, brave way she tackles the complicated character,  as well as her hilarious physical humor. Hopefully Jenna will eventually help Sadie see her good features, since Jenna is the only one likely to offer a kind word now and then to the "Queen Bee-atch."

     I didn't initially like Lacey. She's an adult acting like a child. But stop and think for a moment about how teen pregnancy robs a girl of her youth, and there is readily something more than pathetic desperation apparent in Lacey's attempts to fit in. Wanting to join the charity club is her way of making up for missing those formative social experiences. Sure, it is misguided, and she sort of uses her daughter, wrangling Jenna to participate in something she has no interest in. But there is real love between the two. Not only that, but when Lacey learns she is accepted only as a charity case, she sets a great example by not sticking around. She's not a push over, and now one begins to see that Lacey actually gave Jenna some fine personality traits. Here's a strange, off-the-wall musing: might Lacey have written the mysterious letter?

     The dynamic between Matty and Jake in Awkward. is hilarious in this episode! Matty clearly has some real feelings for Jenna, even if he's struggling with what dating her might do to his image. Jake doesn't care as much what others think, but is torn because he still has a girlfriend, Lissa (Greer Grammer). As Jake talks with Matty, both understand they want Jenna and would be lucky to have her. And they are pretty funny, spilling all that alcohol.

     I don't think that Matty is willing to take the leap yet of a public relationship with Jenna, but Jake looks to be seriously considering moving on from Lissa. It's a jerk move to want to talk about feelings with Jenna before breaking it off with Lissa, whom he isn't in love with. But teen boys can be jerks, and still be good guys at heart. It's the jerkishness of Jake's actions, his own weakness, that keep viewers torn between Jake and Matty, both of whom have their pluses and minuses.

     It is not often I watch a half hour of television and can not find at least one small criticism. Yet Awkward. achieves this feat. I am blown away by the talent that creator Lauren Iungerich, the cast, and the crew have to put together such a consistently amazing show. I generally like to focus on the positives in my reviews, and then toss in a couple of things that could be improved. I have no such remarks to make about "Queen Bee-atches." It's all good.

     If you are not watching Awkward., which airs on MTV Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. ET, you are missing one of the absolute best series currently on television. Do yourself a favor and correct that.
     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Click here to catch up with streaming episodes of Awkward.

Article first published as TV Review: Akward. - "Queen Bee-atches" on Blogcritics.

Awkward. not a bit so, to its credit

     Awkward. is new to MTV, premiering last week, and continuing every Tuesday. The series centers around Jenna Hamilton (Ashley Rickards, One Tree Hill), a girl who feels like an unnoticed outsider in her typical, popularity-run high school. Her dream nearly comes true when she loses her virginity to her crush, Matty (Beau Mirchoff, Desperate Housewives). But then he says he doesn't want to be with her in public. Upset, she writes a sad blog post, then accidentally trips in the bathroom, knocking several items about. This improbably makes Jenna appear to her parents (Mike Faiola and Nikki Deloach, North Shore) to have attempted suicide. The rumor spreads around school, and suddenly everyone notices Jenna, though not in the way she particularly wants.

     MTV has finally done it. That is, made a great television series that transcends the cliches usually abundant on the once-music video-focused cable network. Jenna is a very interesting character, who decides to be bold after her "scandal," and after receiving a mysterious letter offering her advice on how to have a better reputation. Who the letter comes from is an as of yet unanswered mystery. Jenna is actually pretty open even before this, letting her inner emotions spill onto a public blog. But she is also genuinely nice, even to mean girl Sadie (Molly Tarlov), who is determined not to let Jenna into the circle of "cool" people. This kind of perspective, realistic and brave, yet modest and good, is a rarity in any television character, especially one still in high school. She combines many great traits to make a capable lead.

     The supporting characters are not bad, either. Sure, Matty is a bit of a stereotype thus far. He is willing to be Jenna's hero, as long as no one knows about her. Jake (Brett Davern) is the one who likes Jenna for who she is, and gets upset at the way she is treated. However, Jake is dating Sadie's best friend, Lissa (Greer Grammer), and until Lissa's deviousness is exposed, he won't pursue anything with Jenna. This sets up a rivalry for Jenna's affections, as when her stock rises, and Lissa's falls, both guys will have no problem publicly making their affections known. The truth is, though, while at first Jake appears to be the better catch, he is with a not-so-nice girl, so there must be some negatives to him. And Matty's concern over his own reputation can be forgiven because he is a teenager, as long as he makes right in the end. It is truly unknown who Jenna will eventually choose. Could go either way.

     Even better is Sadie. Jenna's internal monologue provides possible reasoning behind Sadie's wicked streak, and so, like Jenna, viewers will soon feel sorry for Sadie, rather than hate her unconditionally. It is also bold of MTV to go with an overweight, smart brunette as leader of the popular kids and head cheerleader, instead of the usual skinny, dumb blonde. Both types exist in real life, but normally that isn't obvious on television. Sadie gives Awkward. a dose of healthy realism, and is complicated enough to be interesting.

     Sadly, the adults on Awkward. are horribly developed. Jenna's parents don't even consider that she isn't trying to off herself, despite her insistence to the contrary. In the second episode, her mother even suggests a boob job to improve self esteem, though thankfully, her father nixes that idea. Not that Jenna would have gone through with it. Even worse, school counselor Valerie (Desi Lydic) is only concerned with being the students' friend, allowing herself to be easily manipulated by Sadie. Why such flat grown up characters, when the kids come multi-layered?

     Still, there's enough here to be an intriguing drama, separate from the crap that usually inhabits the network. And, to be fair, the teens that the reality fluff is targeted to, and who enjoy it, will likely like Awkward. as much as those with different tastes. It's really a show that should have wide appeal.

     After posting this review on another site I write for, blogcritics.org, I got an e-mail from series creator Lauren Iungerich, who couldn't have been nicer. In the e-mail, she addresses my complaints about the adults, I wanted to share some of those thoughts with you, as an extension of my review. I certainly felt I understood the characters better after reading them.

Lauren says:

     "Lacey, the mother, is actually one of the more complicated characters on the show and it will be revealed as the season progresses. Jenna's parents had her as teenagers and where her father sees her as the blessing that guided his life in the right direction, her mother sees her as a bit of curse because Lacey feels like her life was interrupted by having to raise a child. She is still struggling to find her own identity in the same way her daughter is trying to find hers. She loves her daughter but is misguided in her own desire to be a popular adult and make her daughter into the girl she once was and still wants to be-- instead of allowing Jenna to be who Jenna is. This is a common occurrence in the dynamic of mothers and daughters and while my mother was not as self-absorbed as Lacey-- she was always trying to mold me into a person i could never be. And this also gives Jenna an added complication in her life-- she does not have a strong mother to guide her. So she is left to her own inner spirit to guide herself. My goal was to have Jenna teach her mother how to be a good mother. And for Lacey to discover that her journey of self is far more enriched by having Jenna in her life.

     "As for Valerie- the counselor. She is a nut. She was inspired by a woman I worked with for a long time who was in a position of power and had absolutely no clue about anything. I have found it particularly fascinating that there are so many administrators in high schools that are clueless about kids. Valerie is trying to reinvent her own high school experience and in the process revealing that she has no true authority or expertise to be guiding anyone. Including herself. And you will see thru the season that her unprofessionalism does not go unnoticed..."

     I think both of these descriptions really help to understand what is going on, and counteract my reservations, as I hope they will yours.


     Watch Awkward. Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. EST on MTV.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Click here to catch up with streaming episodes of Awkward.

Article first published as TV Review: Awkward. on Blogcritics.