Imagine being a 16-year-old girl, transplanted to a new high school in a sprawling new city, and unsure of your sexual orientation. It’s a scenario that isn’t terribly uncommon in real life, but it’s rarely explored on television.
That plot is now at the center of the new series, South of Nowhere, debuting on The N network on this Friday, November 4th.
The show follows the Carlin family, who has moved from a small town in Ohio to Los Angeles. The three Carlin children, Spencer, Clay and Glen are thrown into the fast-paced mix of a Los Angeles high school and their individual (and collective) journeys of self-discovery are kick-started by this exciting and unsettling change of location.
Spencer Carlin (Gabrielle Christian) is a thoughtful and down-to-earth 16-year-old girl who tries to find her footing at the new school by trying out for the cheerleading squad. Her brother, Glen (Chris B. Hunter), is a basketball champion whose joins and upsets the power structure of the current team. Her other brother, Clay (Danso Gordon), is a smart but naïve black kid whose life in Ohio with his adoptive white family has kept him fairly sheltered from the kind of overt racism rampant in Los Angeles. Their parents, emergency room doctor Paula (Maeve Quinlan) and social worker Arthur (Rob Moran), are somewhat oblivious to the culture shock their kids are experiencing.
But the family is closely bound, and we see them eating (and praying before the meal) together and actually talking about their lives with one another.
In the season premiere, Spencer meets (cute) rebellious rich girl Ashley (Mandy Musgrave), a tough-talking and mature sixteen year old with a brazen disregard for conformity. When the two of them hang out in Ashley’s bedroom and share an accidental but lingering touch of hands while lolling on the bed, Spencer notices a picture of Ashley in an intimate pose with another girl.
They don’t discuss the touch or the picture, but a new vibe is afoot in their relationship.
At school the next day, Spencer nervously tries to avoid Ashley. Ashley calls her on it and Spencer admits the dodge, and their budding friendship survives its first test. Later, bitchy head cheerleader Madison mocks Ashley and warns Spencer to stay away from her lest people think they are lovers.
Spencer stays loyal to Ashley, but she is still clearly conflicted about her own feelings. Without specifically mentioning the issue of sexuality she discusses her confusion with her dad. He tells her that this time in her life is all about trying new things, and being willing to make some mistakes. He assures, “Anyone who knows who they are at this age has made their decision way too quickly. Just be yourself.”
When Spencer wisely asks, “What if being myself isn’t what people expect of me?” Her father assures her, “That’s what makes people great. The unexpected.”
Spencer’s entire family is mired in the crisis of the move. Her mother is so busy with emergency trauma at the hospital that she is spending less time at home with husband and family, and Arthur is quietly unhappy about it.
Clay seems to be experiencing a different high school life altogether. Unable to get into the classes he needs for college and beaten up by the jealous thug boyfriend of a girl Clay meets, his first day of school is a tough preview of what life in Los Angeles may hold for him. Impressed by Clay’s refusal to back down in the fight, socially-conscious Sean takes an interest in him and is shocked at Clay’s lack of awareness when it comes to race politics.
Life is easier for Glen, who is enjoying notoriety as the new basketball sensation. But his competitor for the starting spot on the team, Aiden (Matt Cohen), isn’t about to relent his position on the team. Their mutual animosity is heightened by Aiden’s obvious attraction to Spencer. To complicate matters, Glen has his eye on Ashley, but is shocked when told “She used to date Aiden. Then she changed teams. She got into girls.”
Glen is quick to bring the subject of Ashley’s sexuality to the dinner table. He tells his parents that he heard that Aiden, “turned her gay.” His father corrects him, “Son, people don’t turn gay. They either are or they aren’t.” But his religious wife begs to differ, “That’s just one opinion. Let’s just hope and pray that his girl finds her way.”
Spencer has listened in silence but finally pops, “I think God is a little too busy to worry about which two people like each other.” Glen adds, “Mom this girl is too beautiful to be gay. She’s probably just experimenting.”
Her mother’s response gives Spencer a hint at the disapproval she herself might one day face, “Life is not an experiment. You get one shot at it, and if you’re not careful you’ll experiment yourself to the grave. Spencer, I think you should find some new friends. This girl Ashley sounds like she could be a bad influence on you.”
Thus the ground is laid for Spencer’s journey through the rest of the season, as she struggles to understand her sexuality and her relationship with Ashley in the context of conflicting social pressure at school, and at home.
The show is well-written, and the storyline for each of the lead characters is compelling. While the life of the Carlin family seems idyllic, the differing philosophies of the parents is setting the stage for bigger conflicts down the road. It’s particularly interesting to see how differences of race and sexuality among family members have the power to divide when ignored or mishandled.
Gabrielle Christian and Mandy Musgrave are likeable lead characters and have an easy chemistry with one another. Both play their characters as bold and mature, yet uncertain of their true selves. Having two positively portrayed queer characters on primetime television is likely to make a big impact on queer, questioning, and straight teens alike.
The show pays respect to its teenaged viewers by portraying the young characters as relatively informed about gay topics, even if still conflicted about them. But this isn’t surprising when considering The N’s stated mission to “be the authentic voice of teens and to help them figure out their lives.”
According to The N’s publicity materials, it aims to arm teenagers with “information to help them meet the challenges of adolescence.” The N promotes “tolerance and respect for others, and helps kids build self-awareness and acceptance.”
South of Nowhere is a big step in that direction. Regardless of your age, the season premiere–directed by Donna Deitch (Desert Hearts, Common Ground)?is not to be missed.
South of Nowhere airs on Fridays at 8:30pm on The Noggin. Visit our South of Nowhere section for more information and episode recaps.
