Opinion – most TV shows do not represent teens’ real experiences

Nadie nos va a extrañar has been praised not only for delivering excellent performances and a perfect soundtrack, but because it showcases the social and cultural context of the nineties in Mexico City and the much-loved nostalgia of the 90s. 

It has also answered the complaints of critics by hiring a diverse cast of actors that look the age of their characters. Its school plot moves away from the hypersexualization of adolescence and the normalization of drug use that we usually see in youth series.

The show explores themes that are typical of the experiences of being a teenager, while finding your way to adulthood in a way that is more teen-friendly. 

Of course, there are parties, fights, and gossip. However, the show also balances this out by showcasing rich interpersonal relationships, the acceptance of individual identities, coming to terms with our sexuality, mental health, grief, and dealing with complicated family backgrounds.

Each of these topics make the show a realistic representation of the chaos that a teenager comes to live in, but without objectifying or sexualizing teenagers.

As a result, young adiences audiences say they identify with the show, despite not having been in high school during the 90s and not doing what Hollywood media describes as a “teenager experience”.

Nadie nos va a extrañar is accompanied by a highly curated soundtrack that presents us with musical hits of the 90s like “En algún lugar” from Duncan Dhu and “The Sign” from Ace of Base.

To set the mood, producers ensured that the musical choices brought something important to the scenes, taking this series to another level and managing to revive these classics today.

If you too were a teenager who lost your high school years to the pandemic or if you are looking for a weekend series that is emotional, easy to watch, and takes you to a part of Mexico that you may not have seen before, I recommend you to watch this series.