“Overcompensating” is one of the funniest series of the year

Overcompensating, a new Prime Video title, is revolutionary because it’s not revolutionary at all. Let us explain. Inspired by real struggles experienced by its creator and lead, comedian, creator, and podcaster Benito Skinner, the eight-episode show takes two major topoi—one from storytelling and one from the cinematic genre (later adapted into a series)—and places them in a pop, modern container that erupts into a cultural landscape tailored to our times. On one hand, there’s the story of a boy, Benny, the golden boy who moves from the safety of his high school football team in his small Idaho hometown to the bigger, more dangerous world of college, where no one is what they are, but rather what others want and expect them to be. For example, there isn’t a single person who knows that Benny is gay. Not even the protagonist can be sure. By hiding his secret, the boy will try to follow all the possible labels just to continue being considered, if not the coolest guy on campus, at least not the lamest. The same attempt is made by young Carmen, played by comedy writer Wally Baram, who is dealing with a loss that left her alone in the world and will try to fill that void with her new college life.

On the other hand, Overcompensating introduces themes of homosexuality, feeling like outsiders, and the desire to integrate into a web of expectations (which belong to every single character, not just the two leads) within the realm of slapstick comedy, often rooted in the teen movie genre. College is treated almost as a genre of its own, full of secret clubs and top grades to achieve, wild parties and required classes, with gowns that—even if not used for an Animal House-style party—evoke a very specific imagery that the series makes a point to honor. Thus Skinner, who also brings into the cast his collaborator Mary Beth Barone from the Obsessed and Ride podcasts and even reserves a cameo for none other than Charli XCX (a close friend of his boyfriend Terrence O’Connor), enriches his portfolio by drawing from his social media character Benny Drama and blending it with the eponymous 2018 stage show, giving this mixture a new form.

In an industry increasingly capable of offering a contemporary view on topics like adolescence and the immediate aftermath, Overcompensating chooses to return to the tropes that made similar titles true classics (not coincidentally, we find James Van Der Beek of Dawson’s Creek in a small role), while still perfectly aligning with current times and cleverly avoiding any pre-written formulas. The series doesn’t have—at least not solely—the intention of being a lens on progressivism or societal advancement, but rather tells the story of a traumatic moment such as discovering and revealing one’s true self to a community whose reaction is uncertain, especially because we ourselves don’t know how to handle it. The Prime Video show is closer in spirit to something like Glee—which is referenced and clearly part of the cultural magma bubbling beneath the series, albeit without the songs—rather than Sex Education, where, despite each character’s problems, there is greater awareness and reformist intent around certain themes. This is partly because Skinner broadly recounts his own story, what he personally lived through, reminding us that no matter how innovative films or shows can be, real life doesn’t always keep pace. And partly because the construction of the college pyramid in Overcompensating conveys a desire to draw heavily from the productions that may have accompanied its creator through his formative years.

With explosive humor and a simple yet direct writing style, the Prime Video series is a hilarious snapshot of the basic human need for acceptance and love, told with that touch of absurdity that always shows up when we try too hard to achieve something or to build a persona that doesn’t really belong to us. These characters start out as stylized types (the guy trying to be the alpha with his pack behind him, the perfect girl focused only on appearances, the wild one obsessed with sex) and then explode with unexpected punchlines and irresistible performances. It’s a fun ride that entertains and makes you feel at home, among characters you feel like you know, stories you’ve already seen but can’t resist, and memories of those times when you didn’t feel like enough—sometimes eased by the presence of your best friends.