'High School' is the delightful Tegan and Sara origin story you didn't know you needed
You don’t have to be a Tegan and Sara fan to enjoy “High School,” an excellent series that serves as both a coming-of-age story and the emergence of their creative spark.
But why not be? Their smart pop is always a good listen. Here we see how, early on at least, it is also an expression of their upbringing and challenges, which are detailed in the eight-part series streaming on Amazon Freevee on Oct. 14.
It’s really good.
Based on the memoir by Tegan and Sara Quin, it’s a little about music and a lot about life, but also about how the two things become intertwined. Set in the mid-1990s, it also boasts a great soundtrack, with songs from Nirvana, Hole, Liz Phair, the Pixies, Sinéad O’Connor and more. I’d love to get a look at the budget for the music clearance.
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There are strong 'Freaks and Geeks' vibes thanks to first-time actors
It begins with a punch.
That comes courtesy of Tegan (Railey Gilliland), who delivers a fist to the eye of her identical twin sister Sara (Seazynn Gilliland) on the eve of 10th grade. Tegan is fed up with her sister, with whom she used to do everything, blowing her off for the summer to spend time with their friend Phoebe (Olivia Rouyre), who is becoming something more to Sara.
The black eye that follows is just another thing to be self-conscious about at their new school in Calgary, where they have moved with their mother Simone (Cobie Smulders) and her longtime boyfriend Patrick (Kyle Bornheimer).
Simone is worried by the way her daughters seem to be growing apart; she is also concerned about her relationship with Patrick, which has hit a stagnant snag.
Spoiler alert, but not really: Eventually the girls will find Patrick’s old guitar in the basement and, despite bombing out of their weekly piano lessons, show a natural talent both for playing music and writing songs. I mean, the show is based on Tegan and Sara.
But it’s the getting there that makes up the bulk of the series, especially the early episodes. There is a strong “Freaks and Geeks” vibe here in the way showrunners Laura Kittrell and Clea DuVall deglamorize the coming-of-age experience; the honest and naturalistic performances by the Gilliland sisters — who are, amazingly, first-time actors — account for a lot of that.
Whether they are coming to terms with their sexuality or testing parental limits or experimenting with drugs or freaking out about the Green Day concert coming to town, it all feels genuine.
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Each episode of 'High School' explores different perspectives
Each episode is broken into parts that tell the story from different points of view, and not just Tegan’s and Sara’s (though, naturally, they take up the bulk of it). There are also segments for Simone, for Tegan’s new friend Maya (Amanda Fix) and others.
They’re ingeniously constructed — the same scenes from different angles with different perspectives, both visually and narratively. What’s background in one telling becomes central to another.
Like everything else in the show, it never feels forced. It simply plays out naturally, no matter whose side of the story we’re seeing. It’s like a 3D effect for narrative.
When the girls finally find the guitar and start plinking out songs on it, it’s thrilling. (The delightful “Tegan Didn’t Go to School Today” is their first, and it’s a more fully formed work than the title might indicate.) Finally, they have something to bond over again. They share a genuine enthusiasm for each other’s talents.
Importantly, though, it’s not magic. While they’re good at writing and playing music, it isn’t a cure-all for the challenges that their 15-year-old lives are filled with. Their burgeoning talents aren’t warmly welcomed by all of their friends.
And they’re still in high school. That can be a tricky place. But in the case of this “High School,” it’s a place you’ll want to revisit.
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'High School'
Streaming on Amazon Freevee on Oct. 14.
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'High School' TV review: Tegan and Sara's origin story is a delight
