Netflix's 'The Body' Serves Up Queer Y2K Drama
The 8-episode series, created by Quinn Shephard, follows a group of Catholic school girls on a dance team as they navigate faith, identity, and desire in 2004
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Geena Meszaros signs with Anonymous Content for management.
Story published. The 8-episode series, created by Quinn Shephard, follows a group of Catholic school girls on a dance team as they navigate faith, identity, and desire in 2004
Netflix's new series 'The Body' is a queer, genre-bending YA drama that satirizes faith and religious institutions. The show, created by Quinn Shephard, is set at a Catholic high school in the Northeast and takes place in 2004, starting on Halloween. The series follows a group of girls on a dance team called the Lions, including main characters Anya Butler, Elise Zakaria, Lisbeth Anderson, and Grace Franklin.
The series has received mixed reviews, with some praising its campy, entertaining take on the sapphic genre and others criticizing its flaws and uneven performances. The show stars Kristina Bogic, Sara Boustany, Geena Meszaros, and Sofia Wylie, a cast of mostly up-and-coming actors.
The story begins with the Lions, the school's all-girls dance troupe, holding emergency tryouts after their star dancer breaks her ankle. The team needs to fill her spot, and among the auditioners are Lisbeth Anderson, who is new in town, and Grace Franklin, the niece of the school's head, Father Sam Franklin. The series explores themes of friendship, desire, identity, and belief systems, often using satire to critique religious institutions.
## What it's about The Body is a twisted coming-of-age narrative that pays homage to the 2000s, specifically films like 'Bring It On,' 'Jennifer's Body,' and 'Mean Girls.' While those movies dealt in subtext, this series is deliciously and unapologetically queer. The show's use of satire and camp makes it an entertaining watch, but its flaws and uneven performances have been criticized by some reviewers.
## Why it matters The Body is one of the most sacrilegious shows in recent memory, and that's part of what makes it fun to watch. The series tackles themes of girlhood, identity, and desire in a way that is both authentic and unapologetic. While it may not be to everyone's taste, particularly those who are deeply religious, the show's willingness to take risks and push boundaries is admirable.
The series has 8 episodes, and its creator, Quinn Shephard, is also known for her work on 'Under the Bridge.' Shephard's experience in creating LGBTQ+ content is evident in The Body, which is a queer, genre-bending YA drama that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
