My latest Netflix binge was a new show named Everything Sucks, a show about a nerdy highest school AV club joining forces with a self-obsessed high school theater club. Set in the real town of Boring, Oregon, the show focuses on growing up in a small town and dealing with the struggles of high school. Covering topics of depression, abandonment, sexuality, and loneliness, there are many relatable topics for teens in this show.
One more thing, the show is set in the 90’s.
Viewers are treated to alternative 90’s rock, flannel-clad teens, dial up tones, and 90’s logos plastered over all of household items. This level of nostalgia is something Netflix viewers have become accustomed to. Netflix keeps reviving dead shows from decades past. When they’re not reviving shows from the past, they’re setting their new shows in different eras.
Everything Sucks is the most recent example, but Netflix has other blasts from the past. A prominent example is Stranger Things, as the show is set in the 80’s. Netflix has revived shows like Full House, Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development, and The Magic School Bus with no signs of stopping. To be fair to Netflix, they’re not the only ones. In fact, networks have been doing this for years. Growing up, That 70’s Show was a successful show for Fox and was set 25 years in the past. My parents and grandparents watched Happy Days in the 70’s, but the show was set in the 50’s. Nostalgia clearly has a home on television.
Why Is Netflix Stuck In the Past?
If you look at all of the shows revived and set in the past, you’ll notice a majority of the shows appeal to a millennial audience. Netflix is massively popular and has subscribers in all age brackets, but their original content seems to cater to a specific audience. This is because millennials are shifting their viewing habits to focus more on streaming. They watch less cable television and rank Netflix as their preferred viewing option. It only seems natural to use tactics to engage these viewers.
Everything Sucks relies heavily on the value of nostalgia. By doing this, they connect with the viewer on a more emotional level and this appeals to a millennial audience. There are many shows about high schoolers or the struggles of adolescence. Netflix wants to give viewers an extra incentive to tune into this show.This is where the nostalgia fits in. Netflix knows there are people who are going to tune into this show because it takes place in the 90’s. I’ll be honest, this is partially why I tuned in.
This emotional connection is valuable to millennials. We want characters to experience scenarios we’ve experienced. Most millennials have some attachment to the 90’s and the products of the time. When we watch characters use dial-up Internet to get online, we know the struggle because we’ve sat through the dial-up tones. When we watch characters relate to the song Ironic by Alanis Morissette, we’re familiar with the songs and know the emotions it’s trying to evoke. These scenarios make the show more relatable for millennials.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a reflection of Netflix trying to grow and cater to its audience. Creating this connection makes viewers more likely to relate to the characters. For younger viewers, these characters are relatable because their scenarios may parallel the viewer’s day-to-day life. For the millennial crowd, the connection comes in the form of nostalgia. When executed correctly, this feels authentic and creates a bond. When executed poorly, it looks like a gimmick and ploy to capture their attention.
Should You Watch ‘Everything Sucks’?
Yes! I ended up liking this show a lot more than anticipated. I am guilty of falling into the trap of melodramatic teen drama, so I may be more likely to enjoy this show than most people. The soundtrack and the props add a level of authenticity to the plot line. This show is a reminder of the struggles from a couple decades ago and highlights a lot of the progress we’ve made. Nostalgia may be a tactic for Netflix to engage viewers, but I felt engaged for the right reasons. Even with my understanding of Netflix using the 90’s to forge an emotional bond, I appreciated the show. This is why Netflix has a growing audience and their original content has been successful.
