Everything Now (Netflix series, 2023)
A tremendous performance from rising star Sophie Wilde makes new British dramady Everything Now soar to dizzy heights.
The eight part series tells the story of 17-year old Mia Palanco (Wilde) who bounces back onto the streets of London, after being released from hospital, following a long battle with anorexia.
Sixth form, however, is more chaotic than ever before. It’s FOMO to the max, and Mia is more than smart enough to realize that her peers have moved on from youthful activities to more exciting adventures. Going to the cinema or the skate park isn’t enough anymore. Now it’s all about ‘parties, pills, booze and sex’. So to make up for lost time Mia makes the ultimate to-do bucket list.
It’s the start of what looks like a great teen drama series. The first couple of episodes kept me hooked throughout.
Sophie Wilde is best known for her starring role in the horror cult hit movie Talk to Me, and considering the quality of her multi faceted role as Mia, she is probably on the fast track to Hollywood.
Mia’s mother dominant yet absent Viv is played by Vivienne Acheampong, who starred in the Netflix-series The Sandman. While Alex Hassell and Sam Reuben play Mia’s well-meaning father Rick and brother Alex. Mia is also part of a brilliant group of friends, played by a bunch of very talented young actors.
The most recognizable name in the cast is probably Stephen Fry. The legendary actor and comedian plays a supporting role as Dr. Nell, as the head of the anorexia nervosa clinic Mia visited. Anorexia and mental health are taken seriously by the filmmakers, but so is the YOLO experiences Mia is chasing after. So there is a good thematic balance in the show.
The series was originally called The Fuck-It Bucket, before it was changed to the more optimistically sounding Everything Now (which means that to my mind at least it is now named after an Arcade Fire song).
Everything Now is created by Ripley Parker and written by Parker with Roanne Bardsley, Dylan Brady and Glenn Waldron. The series is directed by Dionne Edwards, Charlie Manton, Laura Steinfl and Alyssa McClelland.
It looks like they’ve all done a fine job and personally I wouldn’t be surprised if Everything Now turns out to be the next Heartstopper or even Sex Education for Netflix.