Is Paper Girls on Amazon Prime worth watching? Should it return for a second season?
Despite not being my demographic, this writer enjoyed the Paper Girls comic book series. Before seeing the show, knowing that Brian K. Vaughan’s work was being adapted for streaming television on Amazon Prime Video was great. It’s one of his many works that deserve a live action project.
However, this writer didn’t expect for it to jump to streaming so fast. The final issue of the comic book series was released on July 31, 2019. Three years later, we have an Amazon Prime series. Having this developed and put on the streaming platform quickly is an accomplishment in itself.
***WARNING! SPOILERS FOR PAPER GIRLS ON AMAZON PRIME AHEAD!***
This was a project that a lot of TV fans may not have known about before it was released. Unlike The Boys or Invincible, it was surrounded by fans of the project. It also helped that Invincible had a 15 year comic run and The Boys had a reputation long before it ended. Paper Girls had neither of those to rely on. Especially longevity. It was a short run lasting only four years. That being said, there’s something to be said for getting in, and getting out.
While that’s all great, is Paper Girls worth watching?
Yes, It absolutely is.
You watch Paper Girls
If you watched the trailer (if you haven’t, it’s right above this paragraph), you noticed that Paper Girls has a Stranger Things vibe. The 1980s nostalgia was a dead giveaway. All of the music and clothing is right out of the 80s. However, unlike Stranger Things, this isn’t something that the show relies on. There are continuous jokes about the 1980s and things that don’t exist anymore, but it doesn’t get tiring. They also spend a good amount of time in their future confused about what they saw. A great example is Tif (played by Camryn Jones) saying, “They don’t even have phone books?!”
There’s a lot of emotional moments as well. Parts where the things go from being just a comic book show, to being looked at as something greater. Of course, there’s older Erin (played by Ali Wong). She wasn’t wasn’t living the life her younger self (Riley Lai Nelet) thought she would. It leads to young Erin hating her adult self and adult Erin being more disappointed for not in living up to her potential.
This writer’s nomination for best moment is watching Mac (Sofia Rosinsky) and her brother Dylan (Cliff Chamberlain). They had scenes that were tear jerkers. Mac learning that she dies at 16 years old was a gut punch to people who haven’t read the comic. Even then, knowing it was coming didn’t soften the blow. One good thing that came out of it was Mac’s illness driving him to become a better person. It’s a small consolation, but it’s something.
Source material and storytelling
If you’re a fan of comic book movies and TV shows, you know that source material can make or break a project. The heart of the stories and characters should remain intact. Without it, the project might as well be called something else (looking at you, Joker). When it comes to Amazon Prime Video comic book adaptations, the streaming platform is 3-for-3. They keep the important parts and adjust everything else.
The Boys, Invincible, and now Paper Girls have sped up the story to fit the show. Sometimes, this can hurt a project. Not in these cases. With Paper Girls, some of the things that happened occurred after the first volume. A good thing since the show may not have worked if it happened exactly like this comic.
Comic book projects almost always rely on action. The first season of Paper Girls isn’t like most comic projects. It leans on storytelling. There were some action scenes in the first episode. People died, got shot, and traveled through time. However, it stopped for a few episodes. That means the dialogue and story has to be intriguing. Thankfully, they were top notch and easy to follow.
When the action did happen, it was worth the wait. The giant robot fight in episode 5 is quick, but done well. There were real stakes to the battle and it didn’t finish with a happy ending. People are used to seeing the heroes overcome odds and defeat the bad-guy. Not in Paper Girls. Sad things happen throughout and the consequences are permanent.
Paper Girls is better than Stranger Things
Paper Girls is unlike any comic book show or movie you’ve seen. And, as much as people may compare it to Stranger Things, the shows aren’t that similar. Stranger Things does have some things in common with Paper Girls, among them being young people figuring out who they are and worried about what life will be like in the future. The latter is more intense because they actually see what they’ll become. However, Paper Girls doesn’t give the medicine with sugar in it. You’re constantly hit with moments that will make you feel for the characters in ways that Stranger Things couldn’t.
There’s a scene with young and adult Tiff discussing their future. Young Tiff was ashamed of her adult self. She had everything she wanted and didn’t follow through. Then adult Tiff hits her with a dose of reality, telling her she’s adopted. Tiff ends up being the last of the four to be hit with news about their future that makes them rethink their lives. Without the cast being phenomenal, moments like this would fall flat. And, since there’s a lot of them, it’s good that the acting is excellent.
Each of the main actresses in this project do a stupendous job. They’re called upon to show happiness, extreme sorrow, and everything in between. There are some veteran actors and actresses who can’t do it the way they are. It shows that all of them have bright futures ahead of them beyond Paper Girls. One full of awards and great roles between them.
Paper Girls’ grade
Grade: A+
This writer couldn’t be happier with Paper Girls. First, from a fan of the comics. The main characters’ personalities stayed close to the source material better than some shows. For example, there’s Mac. She was just as much of a jerk as she was in the comics. But, like the comics, there’s more to her story. There was a lot of growth in a short amount of time. The good thing is it didn’t feel rushed. Even if this writer never read the comic book, this would still be an A+ show. The story is perfect from start to finish with no lulls in between.
If you’re going into Paper Girls expecting non-stop action like The Boys or Invincible, you’ll be disappointed. If you like the characters, but want more fighting (and people riding on pterodactyls) check out the comic book. That will be more your speed. Now, if you want to see a great program with flawless acting, a perfect story, and lots of suspense, then this is for you. You won’t be disappointed and the finale will have you anticipating news about if season 2 is happening.
Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow for more news on whether Paper Girls season 2 will or won’t happen.
What do you think, readers? Did you enjoy season 1 of Paper Girls on Amazon Prime? Are you looking forward to another season? Let us know in the comments below.