B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Lauren Iungerich’s series Awkward. into the ol’ VCR. 

Okay, okay. I know I’ve already teased an upcoming piece on my fave MTV shows from high school and college, but hear me out. Writing that piece sent me on an Awkward. rewatch. Which led me to a lot of thinking. Which has led me to write a full-blown piece on Awkward. itself. 

In the spirit of Jenna Hamilton, this is not only going to be a review, but a salacious little personal essay. I’ve been blogging for over 12 years, so it’s not like I have anything to hide. Plus, my Matty McKibben of sorts doesn’t really believe in social media, so it’s a win-win. But, I digress. 

Additionally, it’s time for another world famous disclaimer. Awkward. DEFINITELY has some offensive things in it. I’m not here to defend it, and there’s not really an excuse for it outside of being on MTV from 2011-2016, and their programming wasn’t exactly known for being appropriate. So, just keep that disclaimer in mind if you want to settle in for a binge. 

WATDD (With All The Disclaimers Done, as Tamara would abbreviate), let’s get to it. 

Raise your hand if you were shocked by who wrote the carefrontation letter.

I mentioned this back in my MTV piece, but Awkward. had a tight grip on me throughout college and the couple of years after (we’re talking tighter than Jenna’s side braid). First and foremost, Jenna was a writer (like moi), and, embarrassingly enough, Awkward. was one of my inspirations to start my personal blog in the first place. 

Secondly, I had crushes on both Beau Mirchoff and Molly Tarlove in college,and somehow still thought I was straight. Nothing further, your honor. 

Thirdly, there’s something about Awkward. I just love. Idk if it’s because Jenna reminds me of high school and college Baillee (minus the actually having sex part). College Baillee was something else, and I don’t necessarily know if it was something good, but, that’s who I was. I was definitely cringy and a little self-absorbed like Jenna, so I think I related to her but not in the ways I thought I did.

And finally, I, deep sigh, understand Jenna’s plight as a writer. From Ione Skye’s advice about how being a writer basically makes you a masochist, to writing for an online publication that overhauls your piece, after assuring you that you had final approval. 

Yes, this is basically the exact same haircut I have. And no, I don’t want to talk about it.

Awkward. chronicles Jenna Hamilton’s (Ashley Rickards) journey through high school and into the public eye after a tragic accident and secret summer camp hookup catapult her into popularity. It’s part Diablo Cody and part Never Have I Ever, all while dabbling in cringe territory. 

At its nexus, Awkward. follows Matty (Beau Mirchoff) and Jenna’s relationship as it evolves from a rendezvous to love, and everything in-between. Although Matty and Jenna have their fair share of other relationships, both good and bad, I’ve always been Team Matty (and I realized as an adult that it’s because the men I tend to like or fall for are complicated and emotionally unavailable). 

In the way of other teen shows, the teens on Awkward. act like they’re at a trampoline park with the way they jump to conclusions. There are so many episodes where the central conflict could be solved through a simple conversation. But who wants to watch a three-minute long episode?

As an adult, this watch of Awkward. made me reflect on some of my own relationships from the past. Now, friends, I’m not going to give you a full recap of all of the people I’ve liked or hooked up with (we’ll keep my Bo Burnham piece as the longest pop culture piece I’ve written), but I want to briefly touch on my own Matty McKibben. 

Be-hymen is still one of the FUNNIEST things I’ve ever heard.

There was once a dude in my life, but we could never get the timing quite right either. As an adult, I’ve learned not to romanticize relationships like this. Sometimes, the universe gives you an almost to prep you for your definitely. Do I still have feelings for my Matty McKibben? A little, yeah, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. But, sometimes, you also have to know when to just let something go. 

Sometimes, it isn’t just bad timing. Sometimes, even if you have feelings for each other, it’s just not meant to work out. And that’s okay. I know that Matty and Jenna will ultimately (maybe?) be together, but it’s unhealthy to force relationships that don’t work. 

I’d be lying if I said it still didn’t give me the warm and fuzzies to watch, though. But, as I’m coming up on 31 years on this big ol’ hunk of rock, I thought I’d a) throw out some advice and b) I’ve been thinking about my own Matty McKibben and wanted to remind myself how toxic that entire situation was (I also realized the only place I hadn’t blocked him was on Venmo, so for the first time in my life, I, an adult woman, blocked someone on Venmo). 

All of my friends reading this and pretending to be shocked at me writing about this dude.

At risk of spewing the deets on more of multiple romantic mishaps, I’ll leave you with some words from Sadie Saxton’s (Molly Tarlov) iconic graduation speech

“Be the hero of your own goddamn story.” 

You’re welcome. 

Awkward. is now streaming on Paramount+