I have to be honest; I didn’t have high expectations for The Paper Girls but wow… It is impressively good.
The show starts off a little slow and confusing, but you just have to sit through that, by the third or fourth episode you really get to connect all those confusing dots. I almost gave up after episode 2, but I decided to give it another shot and I’m glad I did.
I never read the comics, but I did research it a little before I started watching the show. And what I’ve read makes it seem like the show didn’t change much of the lore. Sure they toned it down to fit a wider TV audience and some comic elements can’t be translated to the TV – which is understandable.
The better part of the show stays true to the source material, which is awesome. It’s not some hashed show that makes you feel like you wasted a part of your life. It does however end on a major cliffhanger, which I guess was necessary if they want to adapt most of the comics.
The casting is also amazing. All four of the young actors carry the show. The writers definitely handle some pre-teen issues very well. The adult cast serve in a more supporting role, which allows the young girls to shine.
I know the show will be compared to Stranger Things, but to me it’s more in line with Future Man which is one of my favourite time travel shows. Paper Girls handle the time travelling theme well, even though they don’t visit a lot of timelines.
It has a nostalgic feel since most of the show takes place in the 80s and 90s. Other than that there’s also a fight between two giant robots in the 90s and that reminds me of a little show called Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
The show is fun, it’s beautiful, and it has dinosaurs, giant robots, VHS tapes, and a lot of confusing storylines. It is an amazing ride, especially in a time where most shows need to go over the top to draw in an audience. This show is simply true to its identity, and I love that.
In the early morning hours after Halloween 1988, four paper girls are out on their delivery route when they become caught in the crossfire between warring time-travelers, changing the course of their lives forever.
My Verdict
The show isn’t perfect and I don’t want it to be. I just want a comic book show with its own identity and that’s exactly what it is. You just have to sit through the initial confusion; I promise it’ll all make sense at the end. The show is definitely worth the watch and even a re-watch.
My Rating: 8.9 out of 10.
Please support my trip to Comic Con Africa if you can. Just click here and fill out the sponsorship form.
