Grand Army Trigger warning: This program focuses heavily on sexual assault, including a depiction of an underage character being assaulted. I discuss that aspect of the program in this blog. Dip out now if that's an issue!
Created by: Katie Cappiello.
Production companies: Westward.
Where to watch: Netflix. Subscription required.
First aired: 2020.
Seasons: Cancelled after one season.
Genre: Drama.
Rating: TV-MA. Sexual assault, drug use, swearing, mature content.
Trailer: Grand Army High School students are all up in your face with it. Whatever it is, Their drama, their desires, their demons. With so much all up in your face it's hard to comprehend how much is going on behind closed doors.
Now, actual trailer:
Joey Del Marco is not your typical high school student. She is an activist, an organizer, a bit of a shit-stirrer if you ask anyone at school. Joey is a lot of things. Joey did not anticipate being a victim. Not at the hands of her supposed best guy friends. The guys she thought new better, the guys she thought she taught better, the guys she thought loved her. Joey (played by the stunning Odessa A'zion) goes from queen of the jungle to bottom of the totem pole in one traumatic evening.
But Joey isn't the only one at the school, of course. And everyone at Grand Army has something going on. From taking care of little kids, to trying to support a family, to navigating life as a freshmen, everyone in the hallways has something to prove....and something to hide. At Grand Army solid ground turns to clouds fast, and all the students are at risk of falling through.
Here is a less heavy interview wit the main cast before the show came out, so no spoilers!
Created by: Playwright Katie Cappiello originally released this story as a play focusing soley on the character Joey Del Marco called Slut: The Play. The play focuses on Joey, who is part of dance team that calls themselves sluts, as she navigates the aftermath of being sexually assaulted. In the play, Joey is horribly slut shamed by her peers and adults in her life(Wikipedia, Slut: The Play, n.d). Cappiello is a writer, director, feminist, and activist who lives in New York City (Wikipedia, Katie Cappiello, n.d)
Analysis: If there is one thing we can be sure gen. z loves it is a gritty teen drama, right? With the emergence of Sam Levinson's Euphoria, movies like Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, weird TikTok drama, celeb gossip, what-have you, it is clear that young adults today find entertainment in the discussion of human relations and exploration of human capabilities. Gen. Z asks us how far we can bend before we break? how much can we change before we are no longer our true selves? how far we are willing to go to protect ourselves? Grand Army is great because it offers ample opportunity to explore those elements through character proxies, not with yourself and your friends. There is a little bit of everything going on in this show, and though the main storyline revolves around sexual assault many other issues are discussed as well. Teen parenthood, money struggles, dealing with your emerging sexuality, Queerness, religion, school shootings, you name it and Grand Army is talking about it. The production of this show is impressive to say the least. Great camera work and visual clarity throughout. Many of these type of teen dramas do static, one camera shots for the whole show but Grand Army provides a dynamic visual experience. The colors and costumes manage to be bold and authentic simultaneously. You've seen these teens, maybe not literally but in a sense you have. The actors seem age appropriate and the writing is naturally modern. I've found a lot of cool music through teen dramas and this show was no exception. Check out some of the artists featured on the show: (These are some NSFW songs, headphones suggested, listener discretion advised, obey all the Youtube laws, do what's best for you, whateva)
I thought it was cool that the show featured so many lesser known or independent artists, especially creators from New York where the show takes place.
In the Library: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it would be a good time to highlight the many resources available to people to talk about the resources available to have discussion about the topic. Additionally it would be a great time to make space for people who have experienced sexual assault. Give patrons information about resources available to them to help them seek justice or healing. Sound bath mediations could be held in private rooms. Books that helped people on their journey after sexual assault could be highlighted. Stories like Grand Army that discuss how people are affected by sexual assault could be put on display.
Potential issues: This show covers some very traumatizing events that a person can experience. Anyone who watches this should be prepared to have questions and discussions about the events portrayed. Guardians' who are on the more protective side might take issue with the story.
Reason for Inclusion: I wanted to include a show that was a little bit like Euphoria, which is undoubtedly one of the most popular shows amongst young adults right now. Grand Army finds success in a lot of the places that Euphoria fails to, like in portraying healthy relationships and boundaries. I included this program because it is raw and real while still being respectful.
Sources:
Flying Lotus. (2019). Black balloons reprise (official video) ft. Denzel Curry. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isn8Qp-H0N4
Katie Cappiello. (n.d). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Cappiello
Netflix. (2020). Grand Army official trailer. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKJ80PoTty8
Princess Nokia. (2019). Sugar honey iced tea (S.H.I.T). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7o8EGUTqwI Raffy Ermac. (2020). Talking w/ the 'Grand Army' cast About coming-of-age & queer inclusion. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2RTMigCNAU
.Slut: The Play. (n.d). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slut:_The_Play
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