“I’m, like, a lot.” This is not only a line spoken by Justice Smith’s
Genera+ion character within the first few minutes of episode one, it’s also a succinct review of the HBO Max drama trying to capture teen angst and desire for freedom. Produced by Lena Dunham,
Genera+ion will inevitably be compared to HBO’s other recent offering in the genre, the Zendaya-led
. The two might tackle similar themes, but
Genera+ion is not as heavy with despair. It’s still full of coming-of-age stories that deal with sexuality, familial relationships, and self-identity, but the storylines are presented with a more fun, self-aware energy an energy that can be summed up with one word: extra.