Telling the story of Ginny and her mother Georgia — who was abused as a child, joined a biker gang for protection, became a teenage mother, was thrown into a series of abusive relationships and learned to kill others to keep her loved ones alive — the Netflix show “Ginny & Georgia” rose to popularity after its first season’s release in 2021. Released for streaming on Jan. 5, the second season of “Ginny & Georgia” consists of 10 episodes, each running between 50–65 minutes. Continuing the storyline of mother Georgia Miller (Brianne Howey), her teenage daughter, Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and their life in the fictional town Wellsbury, Mass., this season quickly ties up previous loose ends. With Georgia’s nemesis’ husband in hospice, her abusive ex-boyfriend released from jail and her past coming back to haunt her yet again, season two’s plot is notably more intense. 

The screenwriting shines in its messaging. The characters, many of whom are teenagers, struggle with self harm, depression, eating disorders and alcoholism. Rather than glamorizing these issues, “Ginny & Georgia” sheds light on their harmfully pervasive nature, making the show relatable for those who are also struggling.

@aeboyds her pain is so overlooked, it’s incredible how much I relate to her#fyp #foryou #aeboyds #aftereffects #ginnyandgeorgia #abbylittman ♬ original sound –

TikTok user @aeboyds shares an edit of Abigail Littman (Katie Douglas), voicing how they relate to the character in the caption

The show’s cinematography contributes to its accurate portrayal of teenage life. With the eighth episode filmed in two different perspectives — half through Marcus Baker’s (Felix Mallard) and the other half through Ginny’s — the audience is able to put themselves in Marcus’ shoes and experience how his depression impacts his life. This back-and-forth between the two livens the episode while also increasing the audience’s sympathy for Marcus, making the following scenes of the season significantly more emotional. While one half of the episode portrays Marcus as aloof and heartless, seeing his perspective reveals how his internal battles mute his external state, which offers him redemption after being painted as inexplicably cold in the previous season. 

Most impressive is the storytelling of Georgia’s troubled past. Young Georgia (Nikki Roumel) does a stellar job at playing the role of a young teenage mother battling abusive relationships, raising a child and shielding her child from the same trauma she endured. Roumel’s gradually-adopted poker face effectively portrays Georgia’s transition from prey to predator, and the small slip-ups where her fear shines through emphasize her young age at the time. The acting in addition to the screenwriting brings Georgia’s character to life, making the audience feel for her even after she kills a man. 

Although the show hits a majority of the marks on relatability, it unfortunately falls short on others, with the most prominent example being the believability of interactions between characters. From the weird coffee shop game — there was absolutely no reason for them to pretend as if they are baristas and customers when they are in the middle of a conversation — to the blatant misuse of African-American Vernacular English, there are numerous scenes that urge viewers to turn the television off in sheer secondhand embarrassment. Additionally, the drama in the show is often unreasonable, unnecessarily elongating episode runtime. 

For those invested in dramatic coming-of-age shows with a spoonful of cringe, season two of “Ginny & Georgia” is a better fit than season one — there is significantly more drama and emotional vulnerability in the newer season. With heartfelt scenes preceding wrenching ones seconds later, the plot is a rollercoaster that paints a beautiful story of a mother and her daughter’s fight to remain intact when everything around them is broken. 

3.5/5 

Season 2 of Ginny and Georgia was significantly better than season 1 pic.twitter.com/SOabsTHKu0

— (fan/parody acc) (@ungodlyfIo) January 6, 2023

Twitter user @ungodlyflo shares their opinion on season one versus two of “Ginny & Georgia,” embedding a scene from the second season to prove their point