Ginny & Georgia
Parents say
Based on 128 reviews
Kids say
Based on 284 reviews
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Ginny & Georgia
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Ginny & Georgia is a series about a mother and daughter. It may seem similar to the beloved Gilmore Girls, complete with the initials, a bookish teen girl (Ginny), an outgoing young mom (Georgia). an adorable Northeastern town, pop culture chatter, and lots of junk food. But the resemblance ends there: This series is significantly more mature and faster paced. Within a short time after arriving in the fictional Wellsbury, Mass., 15-year-old Ginny (Antonia Gentry) loses her virginity, smokes pot for the first time, and shoplifts with new friends. She also intentionally burns herself and has scars from cutting. All the teens in the show seem to smoke pot (it's legal in Massachusetts, they point out) and talk about sex frequently. Words like "p---y," "bitches," "twats," "a--hole," "d--k," and "s--t" are used often. We also see mom Georgia (Brianne Howey) drink wine, smoke pot, use a vibrator, steal when her credit card is declined, and charm her way into a job in the single mayor's office. And in flashback, viewers see abuse that Georgia (then called Mary) escaped as a teen.
Community Reviews
Amazing Show!!
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What's the Story?
GINNY & GEORGIA begins after the sudden death of 30-year-old Georgia's (Brianne Howey) wealthy short-term husband; she leaves Houston with her 15-year-old daughter, Ginny (Antonia Gentry), and 9-year-old son, Austin (Diesel La Torraca), for a charming, upscale, fictional Massachusetts town. The family arrives like a storm: Georgia scams her way into a job with the attractive town mayor (Scott Portman from Friday Night Lights), Ginny finds a group of friends who lead her into a rapid series of sex- and drug-related firsts, and young Austin punches a kid who's bullying him, with his mother's help. How exactly did Georgia's husband die, what other secrets is Georgia hiding, and how will biracial Ginny thrive in their very White town?
Is It Any Good?
This manic, mystery-fueled mother-daughter drama reels in viewers with more sex, drugs, and violence in the first episode than we saw in seven seasons of the Gilmore Girls; we're not in Stars Hollow anymore. "Over the top" is an understated way to describe Ginny & Georgia, which goes out of its way to tell us "We're like the Gilmore Girls, but with bigger boobs." Before viewers are an hour into the series, the family meets Georgia's new neighbor/instant BFF Ellen (Jennifer Robertson, Schitt's Creek), her hunky stoner son Marcus and his twin (and Ginny's new BFF) Maxine, an instant crew of partying high school friends, the handsome mayor and his staff, Joe who runs the local restaurant/hangout, the gossipy PTA moms, son Austin's bully ... and we haven't even touched on the flashbacks to Georgia's violent past or Ginny's self-harm.
When the show allows for a little breathing room, viewers are likeliest to focus on Ginny, the most compelling character. Newcomer Antonia Gentry is reminiscent of Linda Cardellini's Lindsay in Freaks and Geeks: She's smart, she knows it, and she's yearning to be less of a "good girl." Ginny is also half-Black in a very White high school and town, and the writers lay the groundwork for her wrestling with her biracial identity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ginny's decisions throughout the show. Is she self-aware, or does she make choices based on the influence of others? How does Georgia's behavior affect Ginny's choices?
What positive aspects are there to the show's central mother-daughter relationship? What are the negative aspects?
Teens: Do you think this series paints an accurate portrait of teen life? Are the characters' troubles relatable to you? Why, or why not? What kinds of stereotypes does this show reinforce or challenge? How does what you see of teen life on television or in movies influence your own life? Parents: Talk to teens about the role models and messages in shows like this.
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 24, 2021
- Cast: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Scott Porter
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Gilmore Girls
Fun coming-of-age drama that's great for teens.
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Pretty Little Liars
Tantalizing mystery plays up glamour, sexiness in teen life.
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13 Reasons Why
Disturbing book adaptation sheds light on teen suicide.
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