American Princess premieres June 2nd on Lifetime.
[Ed. Note: Being that TV and City is on a bit of a hiatus, this article has not been edited.]
By Ariba Bhuvad
From the Orange Is The New Black creator Jenji Kohan and series creator Jamie Denbo comes the adorable, fun-loving series, American Princess. The story follows a character named Amanda, played by Georgia Flood, who is used to her lavish Upper East Side style but suddenly finds herself smack dab in the middle of a Renaissance Fair when things don’t go according to her life’s plan.
On the day of her wedding, Amanda catches her fiance cheating on her, and suddenly life isn’t about Instagram likes and obsessing over the number of followers you have. Many will be surprised to learn that American Princess is based on an experience in creator Denbo’s life and many of the characters based on the people she worked with. It’s a love letter of sorts to the Renaissance Fair community, and it’s one that many of us have likely never thought about it.
In the four episodes given to critics to review, I was enamored with this world because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. At times, the episodes got a bit slow and mundane, and perhaps even a bit weird, but it somehow managed to pull me right back into the emotion of it. Learning about different communities that exist is always an educating and thrilling experience, and I believe American Princess does a wonderful job of doing just that.
Kohan pulled this off with Orange Is The New Black in a way that we could all relate and connect to the characters in a situation we may not necessarily be in or have ever been in. Whether or not you have worked at a Renaissance Fair or even attended one, American Princess will bring you into the heart of this beautiful community and make you feel invested in their day-to-day lives. I absolutely love that Denbo brought her real-life experience to the series because it makes the show extremely authentic. It’s not a narrative pulled out of thin air or based on a fictional setting, the Ren-Fair community is indeed a real thing, and American Princess depicts it in a humbling, hilarious way.
At times, I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters, which simply may be because I’m not someone who has been a part of this world. I do feel like this will be an obstacle for other viewers because, at times, the series goes off into its own world without regarding the perspective of the viewer. It certainly doesn’t take away from the experience, but it is something that would pull me out of the world from time to time.
If you’re a fan of the Renassaince Fair or even been involved in this world, this series is certainly for you. And if you’re on the opposite side of things, then you will enjoy getting insight into a different type of world and be reminded that no matter where you’re from, what social class you fall under, or who you are as a person, there is always room to grow and learn from new experiences.
I give American Princess a B-.
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