I Am Not Okay with This explained
Director: | Jonathan Entwistle |
Narrated: | Sophia Lillis |
Music: | Graham Coxon |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Num Seasons: | 1 |
Num Episodes: | 7 |
Cinematography: | Justin Brown |
Runtime: | 19–28 minutes |
Network: | Netflix |
I Am Not Okay with This is an American coming-of-age black comedy television series based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman. The series stars Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Sofia Bryant, and Kathleen Rose Perkins. The series was released on Netflix on February 26, 2020, and received positive reviews, with praise for the performances, particularly for Lillis and Oleff.
Originally renewed for a second season, Netflix canceled the series in August 2020, citing "circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic".
Cast and characters
Main
- Sophia Lillis as Sydney Novak, a 17-year-old lesbian girl who begins to realize that she has telekinetic powers
- Wyatt Oleff as Stanley "Stan" Barber, Sydney's neighbor and friend
- Sofia Bryant as Dina, Sydney's best friend, whom she has a crush on
- Kathleen Rose Perkins as Maggie Novak, Sydney's widowed mother
Recurring
- Aidan Wojtak-Hissong as Liam Novak, Sydney's younger brother
- Richard Ellis as Brad Lewis, Dina's jock boyfriend whom Sydney dislikes
- David Theune as Mr. File, the high school science teacher
- Zachary S. Williams as Ricky Berry, confident, monied jock and Brad's best friend
- Jackson Frazer as Richard Rynard, a bully who torments Liam and whom Sydney confronts
Photographs of Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden are briefly used as an easter egg to their respectively portrayed characters James and Alyssa from The End of the F***ing World (2017–2019), the events of which are intended to be taking place simultaneously with those of I Am Not Okay with This.[1]
Production
Development
On December 12, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for an eight-episode first season, of which only seven were produced. The series was created by Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall, who are credited as executive producers alongside Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, and Josh Barry.[2] Entwistle also directed the series.[3] The series was released on February 26, 2020.[4] The series was renewed by Netflix for a second season.[5] On August 21, 2020, Netflix canceled the series after one season, stating "COVID-related circumstances".[6]
Casting
Alongside the series announcement, it was announced that Sophia Lillis, Sofia Bryant, Wyatt Oleff, and Kathleen Rose Perkins would star in the series, with Aidan Wojtak-Hissong and Richard Ellis recurring in the series.[7]
Filming
Filming commenced in Pittsburgh in June 2019.[7] The town of Brownsville, Pennsylvania[8] served as a primary location, while Wilmerding's Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School was used as the high school exterior.[9]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an 87% approval rating with 67 reviews, with an average rating of 6.82/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "As awkward and charming as adolescence, but with twice the supernatural twists, I Am Not Okay With This first season at times veers into shallow territory, but Sophia Lillis' strong performance keeps it afloat."[10] Review aggregator Metacritic gave the series a score of 68 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11] The series was nominated for "Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel" at the 2020 Harvey Awards.[12]
Notes and References
- Web site: 'I Am Not Okay with This' on Netflix: That 'The End of the F***ing World' Easter Egg Explained. February 26, 2020. March 2, 2020. March 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200302022317/https://decider.com/2020/02/26/i-am-not-okay-with-this-netflix-end-of-the-fucking-world-easter-egg-connection/. live.
- Web site: Netflix Orders Coming-Of-Age Series 'I Am Not Okay with This' From Jonathan Entwistle & Shawn Levy Based On Comic. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. December 12, 2018. February 3, 2020. August 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190813083812/https://deadline.com/2018/12/i-am-not-okay-with-this-graphic-novel-netflix-coming-of-age-series-jonathan-entwistle-shawn-levy-stranger-things-producers-1202518315/. live.
- Web site: Strause . Jackie . Netflix's 'I Am Not Okay With This' Adaptation Casts Sophia Lillis as Lead . . February 9, 2020 . June 10, 2019 . February 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225195148/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflixs-i-am-not-star-sophia-lillis-1217057 . live .
- seewhatsnext. See What's Next. 1219666484437217280. January 21, 2020. Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, and Sofia Bryant star in I Am Not Okay With This, a truly super coming of age series from the producers of #StrangerThings and the director of The End of the F***ing World that's kinda like if John Hughes made X-Men — FIRST LOOK. February 3, 2020.
- Web site: I Am Not Okay with This season 2 coming to Netflix in 2021. Yunus Emre. ozdiyar. August 8, 2020. August 8, 2020. August 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200821203823/https://chaospin.com/i-am-not-okey-with-this-season-2-renewed-netflix-news/. live.
- Web site: 'The Society' & 'I Am Not Okay With This' Canceled By Netflix Due To COVID-Related Circumstances. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. August 21, 2020. August 21, 2020. August 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200821203429/https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-society-i-am-not-okay-with-this-canceled-netflix-covid-related-no-season-2-1203020036/. live.
- Web site: 'I Am Not Okay With This': Sophia Lillis To Star, Wyatt Oleff, Kathleen Rose Perkins Among Six Cast In Netflix Coming-Of-Age Series Based On Comic. Deadline Hollywood. Anita. Bennett. June 10, 2019. February 3, 2020. February 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200203234309/https://deadline.com/2019/06/i-am-not-okay-with-this-sophia-lillis-kathleen-rose-perkins-netflix-ya-series-1202629732/. live.
- News: O’Keefe . Meghan . February 26, 2020 . 'I Am Not Okay With This' Filming Locations: Welcome to Brownsville, PA . March 2, 2020 . . February 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227164214/https://decider.com/2020/02/26/i-am-not-okay-with-this-filming-location-brownsville-pa/ . live .
- News: Guggenheimer. Paul. February 24, 2020. Western Pennsylvania-filmed 'I Am Not Okay With This' debuts on Netflix. TribLive. February 26, 2020. February 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226084801/https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/western-pennsylvania-filmed-i-am-not-okay-with-this-debuts-on-netflix/. live.
- Web site: I Am Not Okay with This: Season 1 (2020). Rotten Tomatoes. September 16, 2020.
- Web site: I Am Not Okay with This: Season 1. Metacritic. March 7, 2020.
- Web site: August 31, 2020 . HARVEY AWARDS REVEAL 2020 NOMINEES . October 24, 2020 . harveyawards.com . en-US.