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teen

“Yes, but, uhh, what does “Winx” mean?” “Nothing! Just…Winx!”

Fate: the Winx Saga
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A dark ‘n’ gritty spinoff of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon, Fate: the Winx Saga looks incredible, but relies on tired plot twists.

B.L. Panther Posted on January 14, 2021January 14, 2021

“Tiny Pretty Things” clears a high barre for teen drama

Tiny Pretty Things
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Netflix blends Pretty Little Liars and Black Swan into a scintillating if overstuffed series about the pressures of performance.

Shannon Campe Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020

“Grand Army” portrays teens in a rare realistic light

Grand Army
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Netflix’s ensemble drama treats its young characters as authentic people instead of tiresome stereotypes.

Marshall Estes Posted on October 12, 2020October 11, 2020

“The Secret Society of Second-Born Royals” inherits its charms from better franchises

Secret Society of Second-Born Royals
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Disney+ tries to blend its love of princes and princesses with its new focus on superheroes, with mixed results.

Michael Snydel Posted on September 26, 2020September 26, 2020

TIFF 2020: “Summer of 85” tells a wistful tale of young gay love

TIFF Summer of 85
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François Ozon adds another touching romance to France’s queer cinema canon.

Shane Slater Posted on September 14, 2020September 14, 2020

“The Kissing Booth 2”: plenty of kissing, not so many booths

The Kissing Booth 2
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Inexcusably long but otherwise harmless, the sequel to Netflix’s hit teen romcom offers more comforting fluff.

Beau North Posted on July 25, 2020July 24, 2020

“Little Voice” sings loud, but doesn’t have much to say

Little Voice
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Apple TV+’s latest kids series is a cloying, over-familiar teen show that tries a little too hard to be hip.

Douglas Laman Posted on July 11, 2020July 11, 2020

“Hanna” season 2 hits hard, but could pick its shots better

Hanna Season 2
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Finally out from under the shadow of its filmic inspiration, the Amazon series treads new ground in its second season.

Tim Stevens Posted on July 3, 2020July 3, 2020

TV spinoff “Love, Victor” complicates its squeaky-clean queerness

Love, Victor
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Hulu’s spinoff of Love, Simon has a shaky start, but ultimately offers value to queer youth searching for guidance.

B.L. Panther Posted on June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

Netflix dramedy “Can You Hear Me?” is worth listening to

Can You Hear Me?
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A French-Canadian export weathers the challenges of girlhood with remarkable alacrity.

Megan Sunday Posted on June 7, 2020June 7, 2020

“Blood & Water” makes for an uneven mix of teen drama and mystery

Blood & Water
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Netflix’s latest African original series is a teen mystery that can’t quite overcome its derivations.

Dot Green Posted on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020

Remembering the fleet-footed delights of “Center Stage”

Center Stage
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Nicholas Hytner’s coming-of-age dance picture still holds a special place in the hearts of Milennial women twenty years on.

Megan Sunday Posted on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020

May’s Filmmaker of the Month: The Friday the 13th Series

Friday the 13th
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For the first film’s 40th anniversary, we hack and slash our way through the long, bloody saga of Jason Voorhees and his journeys from hell to Manhattan to space.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 2, 2020June 2, 2020

“Never Have I Ever” is beautifully bittersweet

Never Have I Ever
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Mindy Kaling’s new coming-of-age teen dramedy for Netflix is a lovely look at the complexities of adolescent life.

Megan Sunday Posted on April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

If Your Brain Needs A Vacation, Come to “Outer Banks”

OUTER BANKS
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Netflix’s new teen drama is more CW than anything else, and doesn’t offer much else than overstuffed teen […]

Tim Stevens Posted on April 13, 2020April 13, 2020

“Crip Camp” Highlights the Humanity of Disability

Crip Camp
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This feel-good doc charts the lives and trajectories of disabled teenagers in the ’60s, and how one summer camp changed their lives forever.

Tim Stevens Posted on March 29, 2020March 29, 2020

“Stargirl” Goes Full Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Stargirl
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Disney+’s adaptation of the Jerry Spinelli novel is tooth-achingly twee.

B.L. Panther Posted on March 15, 2020March 15, 2020

“To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” Keeps Things Warm, Fuzzy, Safe

To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
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Netflix’s sequel to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before keeps the charm but loses some of its edge.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 11, 2020February 11, 2020

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