written by Lorraine Mazza
blog layout by Amanda Vontobel
There are many great reasons to watch “Anyone But Me”, the riveting new web series written and produced by Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward. The writing is clever and the storyline flows easily. You get a lot of information in each episode, yet there’s a little bit of a cliff hanger at the end of each one. The characters are warm, likable kids with huge hearts and more than likely, many layers that will be revealed as the series goes on. And the chemistry between Vivian (Rachael Hip-Flores) and Aster (Nicole Pacent) is undeniable from the first moment they appear on screen.
That moment is where the series starts, showing us Vivian and Aster sitting on a bench in Battery Park. In voice over, we hear Vivian say she is moving out of New York City to suburban Westchester with her Dad (Dan Via), a retired firefighter on disability due to a respiratory illness he suffered in the 9/11 attacks. Vivian reluctantly tells this to Aster, her girlfriend who is not taking the news too well. They will both have to adjust to not being able to see each other as quickly as a subway or cab ride over.
When Vivian arrives at her new home to stay with her Aunt Jodie (Barbara Pitts), a new world of insecurity hits her. She doesn’t seem to know how to be herself here in suburbia, it’s such a different world than city life. Once at school, she befriends Archibald (Joshua Holland), a comic book artist who keeps to himself, and has feelings for a classmate Elisabeth (Alexis Dominique Slade). Vivian confides in him about being gay, but only because he asks if she has a girlfriend back home. The bond they share is genuine and I suspect they will be helping each other through a lot of tough times to come. We also see that Vivian is living next door to her childhood friend, Sophie (Jessy Hodges). Sophie and her boyfriend Jonathan (Mitchell S. Adams) seem to be going through the typical “he wants to have sex but she doesn’t” story, but you soon get the feeling there is much more to it than that.
Season 1 introduced us to all of these characters and set the pace for the storyline to open up in many different directions. Vivian and Aster’s chemistry only gets better as the episodes go by, but we have also started to see some potential issues rising. Aster is not happy that Vivian has not yet told her aunt or many friends at school that she is gay. She’s trying to be patient, but feels like they’re going backwards, since they were so open and free in the city. Season 2 brings even more potential tension into the mix, as we see Aster slowly starting to reveal some inner demons as she starts seeing a therapist. Aster’s parents are splitting up, the parents that pretty much neglect her and seem to accept her being gay just because it’s politically correct to do so, not because they care about her and who she is. But is this all that Aster has on her mind? Time will tell. And Sophie is starting to reveal some interesting layers as well. I have a feeling Vivian is going to have to deal with a lot more than just adjusting to life in the burbs as the rest of Season 2 goes on.
The basic premise of the series may sound juvenile and cliche, especially since it is based on teens. But it is not just a teenage show, by any means. It can (and should) be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates great writing, perfectly crafted story lines that keep you craving the next episode, and astounding acting from two very promising young actresses (Rachael and Nicole). It also promises to tackle many of the perhaps cliche, but still important issues facing both teens and adults today in a way that does not come across as condescending. This series definitely has all the makings of a success, and has already won numerous web awards in just it’s short life. Season 2 is about half way through, but you can still watch Season 1 online. You can also order Season 1 on DVD which includes extras such as interviews with the cast and commentary from Susan and Tina. Get all the info and more here AnyoneButMeSeries.com and follow the series on twitter.
Rachael Hip-Flores winning her Streamy Award for Best Actress in a Drama
