“Paper Girls” Is The Sci-Fi Series You Never Knew You Needed — Here Are 8 Reasons Why
Prime Video just dropped its new series, Paper Girls, and it’s about to be your new obsession.
Who’s the Erin?
Who’s the Tiff?
Who’s the KJ?
And who’s the Mac?
The casting on this show is actual perfection. The girls mirror their comic book counterparts effortlessly, and their chemistry, both on-screen and off, is undeniable. I mean, just look how freakin’ adorable they are together IRL!
2. Its take on time travel feels original and invigorates the genre.
And the show allows the characters to do what I imagine is everyone’s secret desire: check in on your older self to see how you turn out.
3. It has every possible element that a true sci-fi nerd would want.
This sci-fi world is rich and complex, with plenty for any fan of the genre to geek out over. There’s something familiar and comforting about the story, but it always feels fresh and exciting and takes you places you’re not expecting.
4. It gets surprisingly emotional and you will feel genuinely moved.
Where I feel Stranger Things sets their kids up to happily be the only ones who can save the world, Paper Girls sets theirs up to ask, “Can it be literally anyone else?”
5. There’s a queer relationship that’ll make you text your friends, “OMG this is so cuuuuuuuuute.”
6. It gives you plenty of ’80s AND ’90s nostalgia to delight your inner child.
7. It gives you representation both on screen and behind the camera.
I know we see the word “representation” so much these days that it’s almost started to lose meaning, but it IS important! In addition to the queer characters mentioned before, this series also showcases a family of Chinese Americans, a Black woman in STEM, and offers some pretty realistic looks at young womanhood. Plus, the series is directed exclusively by women, was created for TV by a woman (Stephany Folsom), and has majority women on its writing staff. It’s so refreshing to see a story like this told from such a female perspective in a genre that is often dominated by dudes.
8. And critics across the board have been absolutely loving it!
If all of the points I made weren’t enough for you, Paper Girls has an 87% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and fans alike raving about the performances of the cast and its unique take on the genre. Keith Phipps of TV Guide said, “The mind-bending time contortions make it grabby. The characters’ inner lives give it heart. But it’s the combination of the two… that makes Paper Girls stand out.” And he’s right!