Netflix may have struck gold with its new nostalgia-fest TV series "Everything Sucks!" The 10-episode long series tells the story of high schoolers living in Boring, Oregon, during the 1990s.Though the show falls into a bit of a trap with over-indulgence in '90s references, the fantastic character dynamics and engaging cast helps push "Everything Sucks!" into addictive TV territory.Why you should careNetflix trots out more new TV shows than anyone can rightfully keep up with these days. But "Everything Sucks!" set itself apart with shorter episodes (around 20 minutes each) and a great balance of levity and seriousness.Following vaguely in the footsteps of "Stranger Things," this new show tries to capitalize on a nostalgia while staying far away from the sci-fi/mystery aspect of the Upside Down and Eleven.Instead, "Everything Sucks!" is a touching and relatable series about the woes of finding your way through high school. The diverse cast tackles everything from a gay coming out storyline to the unexpected romance found between two single parents.What's hot"Everything Sucks!" mainly follows four characters: Luke O'Neil (Jahi Winston) and his single mom Sherry (Claudine Nako), alongside Kate Messner (Peyton Kennedy) and her single dad Ken (Patch Darragh).Luke is the type of freshman boy every adult wishes they knew in high school. He's smart, kind, loyal, and an endless source of entertainment.Paige comes to life as an introvert trying to navigate all the hellish ways high school seems to punish kids who are less inclined to socialize (or are forced into silence because of their sexuality).The show's soundtrack is wonderfully peppered with '90s hits. The use of Oasis's "Wonderwall" is a particularly poignant choice, and echoes the way Oscar-nominated movie "Lady Bird" brought Dave Matthews Band's "Crash" back into people's Spotify streams.The supporting cast of characters, especially Sherry and Ken, all shine and endear viewers to the family and friend dynamics at play. Running jokes (like the inappropriate jokes made by one of the morning announcement anchors) help thread episodes together seamlessly.What's not"Everything Sucks!" sometimes rams '90s references into scenes or storylines in a way that feels forced, but it's ultimately not a show-ruiner. Plus younger viewers likely won't notice or pick up on many references if they weren't entering high school around 1997.Instead, it's just added flavor to the show's fresh take on teen angst as well as the trials of being a single parent and trying to date.The bottom line"Everything Sucks!" is more than worth a weekend-binge, and is sure to spread among the Netflix aficionados as word-of-mouth picks up. You'll want to be ahead of the game when it comes to this enduring teen comedy.Grade: A-Watch the trailer for "Everything Sucks!" below, which is streaming now on Netflix.Sign uphereto get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Here's what might happen if North Korea launched a nuclear weapon
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