I Am Not Okay With This: Season 1 – Netflix Review (5/5)

I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS is a new Netflix series based on a comic book. This supernatural coming-of-age story works on every single level. The genre is best described as horror-comedy. Read our I Am Not Okay with This season 1 review here!

I Am Not Okay with This is a Netflix series with a supernatural coming-of-age story. The casting is perfect and the execution of this comic book adaption is simply awesome!

The genre is officially “comedy” but with the supernatural elements and the amount of blood, it is definitely also both a thriller and has horror elements. You will know from the very beginning that Sydney (Sophia Lillis) runs around in the streets in a blood-soaked dress.

Continue reading our I Am Not Okay with This review below. We’ve watched all episodes in season 1 for this review and it is a very quick binge-watch. First of all, the episodes are all under 30 minutes. Second, it is absolutely brilliant. Basically, now we just cannot wait for season 2.

Sophia Lillis as perfect as Sydney

The main protagonist is Sydney since this is her story. She is the narrator as well since we get to hear her thoughts as she writes them down in her journal. If you watch the trailer for season 1 then you’ll know exactly what to expect.

However, you won’t know just how perfect Sophia Lillis is as Sydney. Also, while the trailer gives you some idea of how she interacts with Stanley (Wyatt Oleff), it’s only a fraction of what happens in season 1 of this new Netflix series.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Sophia Lillis and Wyatt Oleff work together. They were both in IT where they portrayed Beverly Marsh and Stanley Uris respectively.

You might like: Our review of IT Chapter 2 here >

And yes, the “Stanley” in I Am Not Okay with This is very different from IT‘s Stanley. I was never crazy about Wyatt Oleff in IT but I love him in this Netflix series.

In between making the two IT movies, Sophia Lillis also managed to co-star in the HBO series Sharp Objects. This was an adaption of a Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) novel and Sophia Lillis played the young version of the main character. The adult version was portrayed by Amy Adams.

For good measure, I should also mention that Aidan Wojtak-Hissong (Slasher) is really wonderful as Sydney’s younger brother, Liam. The same should be said for Kathleen Rose Perkins, who plays their mother. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but they are both truly amazing in this series.

Stranger Things meet The End of the F***ing World

While both actors were in the acclaimed Stephen King adaptation, this new Netflix doesn’t really remind us much of any Stephen King story. Well, okay, there is a very clear and obvious comparison to another Stephen King book and title character.

When you see Sydney in her blood-soaked dress, it is nearly impossible not to think of Carrie. In case you don’t know, Carrie was actually the book (and movie) that really launched Stephen King’s career.

In I Am Not Okay with This, we’re dealing with a very different kind of story. However, the coming-of-age story which results in a girl with certain abilities having a blood-soaked dress is a perfect parallel. For the most part though, the plot of this Netflix series a lot lighter and more fun. Something Carrie absolutely is not!

I Am Not Okay with This is more of a Stranger Things meet The End of the F***king World with a hint of Sex Education for good measure. And yes, it’s an absolutely brilliant combination that results in a stellar Netflix series.

Season 2 of I Am Not Okay with This

Season 2 of I Am Not Okay with This really cannot come fast enough. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that season 1 ends in a way that makes me crave a lot more of this story as soon as possible.

While we get to see how Sydney’s abilities seem to evolve throughout season 1, it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface. The season 1 finale episode is one hell of a wild ride that should leave you damn shocked. In other words, please avoid spoilers and just experience it for yourself.

As soon as the credits begin at the end of the season 1 finale episode, you will need season 2 of I Am Not Okay with This. Hopefully, information on when we’ll be getting season 2 is right around the corner. The casting alone should tell us that Netflix knows they have a hit on their hands.

Watch Season 1 of I Am Not Okay with This on Netflix

I Am Not Okay with This was created as a Netflix series by Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall. The series is based on a comic book by Charles S. Forsman.

Charles S. Forsman also created the comic book The End of the F***ing World which was also adapted by Netflix. Season 1 came out in October of 2017 and Season 2 was released in November 2019. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait two years for another season of this new Netflix series.

Jonathan Entwistle also directed the first five episodes of The End of the F***ing World as well as the short film that came before the Netflix series. Christy Hall is debuting as a screenwriter, creator, and producer which means she has one amazing debut production on her resume now.

This new Netflix series is the kind of story that you just can’t stop watching. And with episodes that have a runtime under the 30-minute mark, you will probably binge-watch this very quickly. We saw all episodes in one sitting for the purpose of this review. And we’ll definitely be rewatching it before season 2 comes out!

Season 1 of I Am Not Okay with This is out on Netflix worldwide from February 26, 2020.

Details

Co-Creator / Director / Executive Producer: Jonathan Entwistle
Co-Creator / Writer / Executive Producer: Christy Hall
Stars: Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Sofia Bryant, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Aidan Wojtak-Hissong, Richard Ellis