![]() ![]() But even when they butt heads, their relationship remains a guiding force in PEN15. Of course, at age 13, Maya is not particularly great at communicating with her mother, often exploding into bursts of I hate yous and you hate mes. Maya often expresses resentment of her Japanese heritage, which makes her different from any of her classmates, but her relationship with her mother helps soften these feelings. Played by Erskine’s real-life mother, Mutsuko Erskine, Yuki has always been a scene-stealing character. Similar to an episode in Ramy, another underrated gem produced by Hulu, PEN15 dedicates an entire episode this season to Maya’s mother Yuki. Trying to find footing in Anna’s new world, Maya begins fawning over Steve’s best friend, eventually leading to the series’ rawest and most upsetting moment. But feeling alone amidst her parents’ separation (and after learning about the Holocaust sends her into a Nihilistic spiral), this budding romance is something in Anna’s life that actually makes her feel hopeful. Her preoccupation with Steve puts a strain on her relationship with Maya, who feels relegated to being the third wheel. Anna finds herself with her first boyfriend, a high school freshman named Steve, who supplies her with alcohol and introduces her to group therapy. In the time between Part 1 and 2, when the pandemic impacted their ability to shoot an episode in Florida, PEN15 released an animated special that bridges the gap between the halves of Season 2 well, emphasizing the deep impact the divorce is having on Anna and the girls’ ongoing struggle with self-image.Īs always in PEN15, the idea of a young girl’s self-worth being intrinsically linked to male validation plays a heavy role in the final batch of episodes. Still fighting when the play begins on opening night, a mid-show mishap reminds the girls they truly need each other to succeed. When Maya earns the starring role and Anna is made stage manager, each firmly believes they’re the most important person in the production. The years separating Erskine, Konkle, and Zvibleman from their time in middle school haven’t trivialized junior high dramatics instead, they’re now able to thoughtfully reflect on the impact these arguably momentary experiences are having on Maya and Anna’s lives.Īt the end of Season 2 Part 1, Maya and Anna had just rekindled their relationship after the school play nearly tore them apart. ![]() Like any middle schoolers, Anna and Maya perceive every small inconvenience as a catastrophe, but no matter how immature the situation, PEN15 always approaches the girls’ perspective with immense care and respect. Our final moments with Maya and Anna are fraught with conflict, ranging in importance from bat mitzvah drama and failing Dance Dance Revolution routines to Anna’s parents’ contentious divorce and Maya’s deep insecurities. Season 2 Part 2 leaves us with an emotional and satisfying conclusion to the beloved series. The series has continued in this more serious trajectory for its impressive final episodes. But the second season-split into two parts-even surpassed its stellar first, as classic comedy beats gave way to more emotional arcs. ![]() The series instantly struck a chord with anyone who related to its hyper-specific depiction of junior high in the early 2000s, particularly young Millennial women like co-creators and stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, who (along with co-creator Sam Zvibleman) have drawn from their own lives to play fictionalized versions of themselves. ![]() Premiering in 2019, Hulu’s PEN15 was at first a gross-out comedy relying heavily on the sight gag of its 30-something lead actresses playing 13 and interacting awkwardly with their middle-school-aged castmates. ![]()
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