Notes

PEN15 Merchandise Review
Hulu's Emmy award-winning comedic re-enactment based on Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine’s 7th grade years has been a great way to catch up. PEN15 is a comedy about coming of age that's unlike anything else you've ever seen. The show's two lead adult characters play middle school students, while the rest are played by actual young actors.

There's a lot going on in this comedy, and it's all incredibly believable. The show's characters, especially Maya and Anna, are well-developed, with underlying issues of race, social status and privilege that the show doesn't shy away from.

Erskine as Konkle also address racially charged topics. This is an impressive feat for such a show. It's easy to forget the painful, awkward, and embarrassing moments of childhood or adolescence.

One of the most memorable scenes in PEN15 involves a pool party that Maya and Anna attend. The girls are dragged into the fray by their peers, and they're immediately slammed with shame. They start to question if they're actually different, if their naive, gleeful girlhoods have changed since they were in middle school.

It can be tough to be just a kid. And it's even more difficult to be a young woman. PEN15 sees best friends Maya (and Anna) navigate a world full of embarrassing microaggressions, sexuality, white guilt, and sexuality while also fighting internal battles about their identities.

As if all that wasn't enough, the girls must deal with Maura, a toxic new girl in class. Although the girls initially find Maura charming, their friendship quickly turns into a battle between them and her smugness. Obnoxiously utters words like "fool," and "loaded," and is a nuisance to her parents. She believes she is more valuable than other kids due to her snazzy toys, home intercom system, and her inexplicable behavior.

This is a lot of work for any teen. But it makes for some great scenes in PEN15. The show's teenage actors are all extremely talented and their banter is genuine. This is not something that is easy to pull off on TV.

The second season is full of serious developments. Maya, Anna and their privileged teenage years are redeemed by the sexy and famous people they have become. This season is a lot more confusing than the first, but this is where the show shines.

Although it is awkward to see a pair of adult 30somethings dressed in middle school clothes, Melissa Walker, costume designer, makes it possible. From PEN15 merch to Anna's boy-cut shorts, here's how Walker brought the outfits to life.

If you want to bring back a part of your past, there is no better way than to have a fashion expert on your side. You might not want to give up this skill, as it is so crucial to a true portrayal of your youth.
Website: https://www.pen15merch.com