Over the previous few years, there’s been a ton of conversations about illustration within the media. That is actually true for LGBTQ+ illustration, particularly for younger folks trying to see themselves. The brand new raunchy comedy sequence Overcompensating simply arrived for these with an Amazon Prime subscription. And I’ve acquired to say, it is a hilariously correct depiction of what it is like to return out of the closet in school.
Overcompensating is tremendous binge-able, because of its brief runtime and endlessly charming solid. That actually applies to star and creator/creator Benito Skinner, who expertly brings us again to the school expertise. The awkwardness of attempting to make associates and be your genuine self was palpable, particularly with the added stress of being closeted. And that is an expertise that may hit near house for numerous queer folks on the market who went away to varsity.
In some ways Overcompensating appears like one other raunchy comedy within the vein of Animal Home or American Pie. However regardless of the laughs (of which there are numerous), the coming-of-age story and chemistry between Benny and Walla Baram’s Carmen is touching. And after bingeing Season 1, I would like a minimum of a number of extra seasons. For my part, Overcompensating is without doubt one of the greatest Amazon reveals streaming proper now.
Whereas I personally got here out only one 12 months earlier than school, I felt Benny’s identical stress to slot in and make associates, particularly with my male classmates. And I noticed as 12 months after 12 months new freshman took their first 12 months of faculty to seek out themselves and methodically come out to these round them. This can be a season-long journey all through Overcompensating, and by the tip he is nonetheless instructed a number of folks that he was queer.
The authenticity additionally actually touched down in Episode 7 “Welcome to the Black Parade”, the place Benny and Grace go house for Thanksgiving with Carmen in tow. Thanksgiving is a quite common time for younger LGBT+ people to return out to their household, and that positively hung within the air all through the episode. Particularly a scene the place he is alone together with his mom (Connie Britton) towards the tip of the episode. However in the long run he wanted extra time, and Overcompensating not dashing the character (or the story) was actually refreshing.
However whereas I discovered Overcompensating‘s tender moments to be very transferring, in the end its an outrageous school comedy, which is fueled by low-cost vodka and beer. The solid is de facto firing on all cylinders, and options roles from iconic comedians like Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Tommy Do, and Caleb Hearon. And that is to say nothing of the shock visitor stars like Charli XCX, Megan Fox, and Grease legend Didi Conn. Critically give me extra episodes yesterday.
Overcompensating is streaming in its entirety on Amazon as a part of the 2025 TV premiere listing. On the time of penning this story we’re nonetheless ready on a renewal announcement