Netflix has recently come out with a new show, “Grand Army,” it’s described as a drama and coming of age, “Grand Army” focuses on the struggle of teens at public school. The setting is New York City (NYC) at one of the state’s biggest schools— Grand Army.

The pilot opens in a locker room with a group of girls rapping “Bodak Yellow,” by Cardi B. The opening lets the viewer become introduced to some of the students of Grand Army: Joey Del Marco, Lelia Zimmer, Gracie, Dominique Pierre and her friends. Despite the wholesome opening, a terrorist attack in downtown NYC leads to the school going into a lockdown where the plot thickens as we meet Tim Delaney and his sister, Anna, along with his friends George Wright, Luke Friedman, Jayson Jackson and Owen Williams.

With side characters Victor Borin, Siddhartha, Rachel Finer, Flora and Meera Pakam and more, we are thrown into the season with Grand Army balancing the trauma of the attack, questioning sexuality, sexual assault, anxiety, depression and racism in school. 

The students face their own personal problems— Lelia dealing with the anxiety of being a freshman and figuring out herself, Joey Del Marco dealing with fetishization and assault making her question her feminism and Siddhartha questioning his sexuality and wondering if he should come out.

The struggle continues with Owen and Jayson questioning the diversity and equality of their school as black men with the stereotypes that come with it. Dominique then has a journey of love and combating overwhelming financial issues.

The show is originally based on an off-Broadway play discussing antifeminism and rape culture at school; however, it was transformed by Netflix to discuss the issues black people face today, depression in teens, LGBT rights and fake feminism.

The show is enjoyable but deserves trigger warnings, like rape, racism, sexual assault, post-traumatic stress disorder and more, on certain scenes. The show is viewer-discretion advised, keeping watchers comfortable. At the end of the season, we are left wondering when it will be renewed— hoping season two will be just as good a season one. “Grand Army” is the perfect show for any teen that wishes to relate or see their struggle on screen.