PEN15 is a cringe comedy television series developed for Hulu, created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam Zvibleman, it tells the story of “middle school as it really happened. Erskine and Konkle play versions of themselves as 13-year-old outcasts in the year 2000, surrounded by actual 13-year-olds, where the best day of your life can turn into your worst with the stroke of a gel pen.” In this trailer we’re introduced to best friends Maya and Anna as they start middle school, learn about first kisses, dating, drinking, modeling, masturbation, and friendship. The show challenges the TV trope of adult actors playing teen characters by making the focus of the show be they as 32-year old actors playing 13-year old characters despite all other actors being age appropriate for their roles.

discussion

What in this clip helps us know the show is set in the 2000s?

How does this show portray the experience of being a teenager? 

How does having Erskine and Konkle as the only not-age appropriate actors challenge how we normally see teenagers portrayed?

How does the experience of being a teenager in the year 2000 as shown here compare to being a teenager today?