Netflix released yet another coming-of-age show, and this time it’s a lovely coastal vacation set in the Polish seaside. Absolutely Beginners feels familiar, as the quirky protagonists set out to make a short film, they also get into a trio with someone living in the area. It’s not quite a love triangle though, even if the series is marked as romance, and even with its limited runtime, it’s dedicated to building up the friendship between the three. And this friendship is portrayed in such a tender and sweet way that respects both their unique dynamic and their individual paths.
Synopsis
Two childhood best friends enjoying their final seaside summer as they prepare for film school meet an aspiring athlete who ignites unfamiliar desires.
Storyline
Lena and Niko need to produce a short film as part of their application for their dream film school. They decide to travel to the Polish seaside, so that they can enjoy their last summer while making it. There, they meet an aspiring athlete that would put their friendship to the test.
TLDR
Awww, this show is making me feel young again.
What stands out
Absolute Beginners is an intriguing coming-of-age series, as its young cast grows and learns and makes mistakes. Naturally, it devotes individual subplots to each of the characters, where they either overcome a challenge or explore things that are relevant for teenagers – including, but not limited to, picking a career path, sex, figuring out how and where to move, etc. However, the series can get overwhelming as the subplots aren’t just for the teen cast, there are other subplots for their parents as well. This isn’t necessarily a bad decision, but with only six episodes to tackle all the subplots, the show does feel like it drifts in certain moments.
