The third season of Girls5eva is now streaming on Netflix.
By Greg Wheeler
Girls5eva, the little-seen comedy that could, has returned for a third outing. Under the creative helm of Meredith Scardino, the show’s first two seasons premiered on Peacock, where the Tina Fey-produced zaniness didn’t make much noise. Its junior installment has jumped to Netflix, no doubt in hope of a huge viewership boost. While the new episodes continue to offer strong character development, social commentary, and a few catchy tunes, they fall short of matching the quality of its predecessors.
At the conclusion of season 2, the girl band experienced significant heartbreak and embarked on a new musical venture. The current season explores their journey as a band while navigating personal challenges. Girls5eva has some successful gigs in Fort Worth before relocating to the Ozarks. However, their decision to stand up for their dignity leads to severe consequences, leaving them unemployed for an extended period. During this time, Dawn, Summer, and Gloria discovered that Wickie had squandered all their earnings on a book for a massive Thanksgiving performance at Radio City Music Hall.
In addition to their professional struggles, the series delves into the personal vulnerabilities of the group, particularly focusing on Summer and Wickie. The question arises: will Girls5eva face disbandment once again, as they did in the past, or will they handle the situation with maturity this time?
In the third season, three characters are fleshed out very well. Wickie is depicted as suffering from digital dementia, fully immersed in her virtual world and often disregarding the feelings of others. She is pretentious and competitive, losing sight of balance in her pursuit of success. Through Wickie’s character, the writers convey a message about the dangers of losing oneself in the virtual world and the importance of being aware of one’s actions in both virtual and real life. Summer is portrayed as a relationship chameleon, often molding herself into an exact copy of her romantic partners, leading to an identity crisis. While looking up to someone as a role model is natural, forging one’s own path to success using talents rather than merely imitating others is crucial. Lastly, a new character really makes his mark. Gray Holland is a Harry Styles-type, and his portrayal showcases the darker aspects of fame, with his struggle to find personal space and genuine friendships being one of the season’s standout scenes.
Episode 5 stands out with its intact and engaging screenwriting compared to the others. Dawn’s heartfelt moment, where she opens up about her feelings regarding performing on stage, is particularly memorable. However, beyond these aspects, the show falls short. Gloria’s character adds little to the screen, and the initial episodes are both boring and unappealing. While the comedy occasionally entertains, the overall show lacks entertainment value. Despite featuring a couple of standout songs and the screen presence of Sara Bareilles and Thomas Doherty as the aforementioned Gray, the series ultimately falls short.
I give Girls5eva Season 3 a C+.
TV and City 