Genera ion

{{Infobox television
, image = Generation (2021 TV series) Title Card.png
, genre = Dramedy
, creator = {{nowrap, Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz
, starring = {{Plainlist,
* Nathanya Alexander
* Chloe East
* Nava Mau
* Lukita Maxwell
* Haley Sanchez
* Uly Schlesinger
* Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
* Chase Sui Wonders
* Justice Smith
* Martha Plimpton

, composer = Zachary Dawes
, country = United States
, language = English
, num_seasons = 1
, num_episodes = 16
, executive_producer = {{Plainlist,
* Daniel Barnz
* Ben Barnz
* Zelda Barnz
* Lena Dunham
* Sharr White
* John Melfi
* Jenni Konner

, producer = {{Plainlist,
* Marissa Díaz
* Michael P. Cohen
* Paul F. Marks

, editor = {{Plainlist,
* Debra F. Simone
* Nena Erb
* Adam Burr
* Todd Downing

, cinematography = {{Plainlist,
* Sean Porter
* Xavier Grobet
* Laura M. Gonçalves
* Yaron Orbach

, runtime = 27–39 minutes
, company = {{Plainlist,
* We're Not Brothers Productions
* Good Thing Going
* Lake Theo
* I Am Jenni Konner Productions

, distributor =
, budget =
, network = HBO Max
, first_aired = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 11
, last_aired = {{End date, 2021, 7, 8
, preceded_by =
, followed_by =

''Generation'' (stylized as ''Genera+ion'') is an American dramedy television series that premiered on HBO Max on March 11, 2021. In September 2021, the series was canceled after one season.

Premise

Featuring an ensemble cast, the story centers on a group of high school students in Orange County, California who explore their sexuality in a modern world. This tests their deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community.

Cast

Main

* Nathanya Alexander as Arianna, the rich, foul-mouthed best friend of Naomi who hides her insecurities with bigoted jokes
* Chloe East as Naomi, Nathan's careless twin sister
* Nava Mau as Ana, Greta's aunt, who is taking care of her and her brother
* Lukita Maxwell as Delilah, Arianna and Naomi's activist friend
* Haley Sanchez as Greta, a shy lesbian with a crush on Riley
* Uly Schlesinger as Nathan, Naomi's neurotic twin brother who begins to explore his bisexuality
* Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Sam,{{cite web , last1=Petski , first1=Denise , title='Generation': Nathan Stewart-Jarrett Joins Lena Dunham-Produced HBO Max Series , url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/generation-nathan-stewart-jarrett-joins-lena-dunham-produced-hbo-max-series-1203023239/ , work=Deadline Hollywood , date=August 25, 2020 , access-date=January 16, 2021 the school's new guidance counsellor who forms a bond with Chester
* Chase Sui Wonders as Riley, a popular student and budding photographer who is best friends with Nathan.
* Justice Smith as Chester,{{cite web , last1=Ramos , first1=Dino-Ray , title='Generation': Justice Smith, Chloe East and 8 More Join Lena Dunham-Produced HBO Max Dramedy , url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/generation-lena-dunham-justice-smith-chloe-east-michael-johnston-uly-schlesinger-haley-sanchez-nava-mau-nathanya-alexander-lukita-maxwell-chase-sui-wonders-sam-trammell-hbo-max-1202744665/ , work=Deadline Hollywood , date=September 25, 2019 , access-date=January 16, 2021 a confident, openly gay student
* Martha Plimpton as Megan,{{cite web , last1=Petski , first1=Denise , title=Martha Plimpton Joins Lena Dunham-Produced HBO Max Pilot 'Generation' , url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/martha-plimpton-joins-lena-dunham-produced-hbo-max-pilot-generation-1202709827/ , work=Deadline Hollywood , date=September 3, 2019 , access-date=January 16, 2021 Naomi and Nathan's highly-strung, conservative mother

Recurring

* Sam Trammell as Mark, Megan's husband and Naomi and Nathan's father
* Anthony Keyvan as Pablo, a bad boy and Riley's ex-hookup who works at the aquarium
* J. August Richards as Joe, one of Arianna's fathers
* John Ross Bowie as Patrick, one of Arianna's fathers and a former evangelical
* Mary Birdsong as Mrs. Culpepper, the overly earnest head faculty member of the GSA
* Patricia De Leon as Sela, Greta's mother
* Sydney Mae Diaz as J, a bisexual stoner and philosopher who is friends with Chester
* Alicia Coppola as Carol, Riley's suburban, meddling mother
* Marwan Salama as Bo, an under-the-radar student
* Marisela Zumbado as Lucia, a confident, lesbian student
* Diego Josef as Cooper

Guest

* Tessa Albertson as Natalia, Naomi and Nathan's older sister
* Rachel Stubington as April

Episodes

{{Episode table , background=#FE9A2E , overall= , title= , director= , writer= , airdate= , released=y , episodes=

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 1
, Title = Pilot
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 11
, ShortSummary = In a flash-forward, Naomi helps an unseen friend give birth in a bathroom stall at a mall. Three months earlier, Chester arrives at school and is reprimanded for violating the school's dress code. He is taken to Sam, the new guidance counselor, who tries to connect with him but Chester is resistant. Nathan, a closeted bisexual, uses Riley's phone to invite Chester to Riley's party. Nathan and his twin sister Naomi have a turbulent home life due to their uptight mother Megan, who is stressed due to planning the wedding of their older sister Natalia. Nathan takes a picture of Naomi's hickeys and jokingly threatens to show their mother; she in turn blackmails him by taking a photo of him sexting a guy, though Nathan denies being gay. At Riley's party, Nathan briefly hooks up with Naomi's boyfriend Jack but feels guilty about it and then ruins his first meeting with Chester. Greta leaves her aunt, who is taking care of her and her brother and goes to the party where Riley attempts to get her to open up. After putting Nathan to bed following the party, Riley jumps into the pool and floats at the bottom.
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 2
, Title = Dickscovery
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 11
, ShortSummary = Three months into the future, Naomi rushes around the mall trying to find supplies to help her friend give birth. In the present, Greta accidentally sends a string of awkward messages to Riley. Sam confronts Chester after he sends him a picture of him rooftopping though Chester tells him there is nothing to worry about. In an attempt to keep him distracted, Sam advises Chester to join the GSA and he agrees under the condition that Sam joins too as a faculty supervisor. Nathan panics about Naomi finding out about him and Jack after she notices a birthmark in the picture she took of his phone. Arianna encourages Naomi to lose her virginity to Jack before being forced to attend a GSA meeting after making homophobic jokes in front of her dads. A lockdown causes Chester, Nathan, Riley, Greta, Arianna, and Sam to be stuck in the GSA meeting, and Naomi in the bathroom while on the toilet. While initially flippant about the situation, Chester grows increasingly hostile and confesses to Sam that he has an irrational fear of death after his mother died of cancer, leaving him to be raised by his grandmother. Greta and Riley grow closer when Riley opens up about her anxiety and Greta explains that her mother was wrongly deported. Naomi sees Jack's birthmark while hooking up with him in the bathroom and realizes that it was him sexting Nathan.
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 3
, Title = Toasted
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 11
, ShortSummary = In the flashforward, Arianna arrives at the bathroom and it is revealed that Delilah is the one giving birth, though her friends are unaware of who the father is. Riley invites Greta to get high at an aquarium, exciting Greta though she is deflated when she finds that Chester has also been invited along. She is upset when she sees Riley hook up with one of the employees and begins to bond with Chester. Riley tells them that they can crash Natalia's rehearsal dinner to get free food. Naomi has begun ignoring Nathan, though Megan orders them to act civil so as not to embarrass the family at the dinner, which is held on a docked boat. At the dinner, Nathan and Arianna get high and begin to bond. Megan forces the twins to give a toast and Naomi fills hers with insults towards her brother. An intoxicated Nathan apologizes to her during his and reveals his bisexuality to the shocked wedding party. Natalia berates him for ruining the dinner and Megan dismisses Nathan's declaration about his sexuality, though Naomi forgives him. An embarrassed Nathan jumps overboard but is rescued by Chester.
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 4
, Title = Pussy Power
, DirectedBy = Channing Godfrey Peoples
, WrittenBy = Sharr White
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 18
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 5
, Title = Gays and Confused
, DirectedBy = Chioke Nassor
, WrittenBy = Lena Dunham
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 18
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 6
, Title = The Wheels on the Bussy
, DirectedBy = Chioke Nassor
, WrittenBy = Max Saltarelli
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 25
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 7
, Title = Desert Island
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = Eli Wilson Pelton
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 3, 25
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 8
, Title = The Last Shall Be First
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay, t=Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz and Christina Nieves, s=Christina Nieves, tfirst=y
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 4, 1
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 9
, Title = Deepfake
, DirectedBy = Catalina Aguilar Mastretta
, WrittenBy = Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 6, 17
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 10
, Title = Built for Pleasure
, DirectedBy = Catalina Aguilar Mastretta
, WrittenBy = Christina Nieves
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 6, 17
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 11
, Title = Absolute Zero
, DirectedBy = Andrew Ahn
, WrittenBy = Michelle Denise Jackson
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 6, 17
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 12
, Title = The High Priestess
, DirectedBy = Andrew Ahn
, WrittenBy = Max Saltarelli
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 6, 24
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 13
, Title = There's Something About Hamburger Mary's
, DirectedBy = Anu Valia
, WrittenBy = Sono Patel
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 6, 24
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 14
, Title = Click Whirr
, DirectedBy = Anu Valia
, WrittenBy = Sharr White
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 7, 1
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 15
, Title = L'Amour
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = Sono Patel
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 7, 1
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber = 16
, Title = V-Day
, DirectedBy = Daniel Barnz
, WrittenBy = Zelda Barnz & Daniel Barnz
, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 7, 8
, ShortSummary =
, LineColor = FE9A2E

Production

Development

''Generation'' was first announced in September 2019 with a pilot order. The pilot is written by Daniel Barnz and his daughter Zelda Barnz. Daniel Barnz also directed the pilot. In December 2019, the series was officially ordered to series. The series is created by Daniel Barnz and Zelda Barnz. Executive producers include Daniel, Zelda, Ben Barnz (who is Daniel's husband and Zelda's other father), Jenni Konner and Lena Dunham. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Good Thing Going Productions, We're Not Brothers Productions and, I Am Jenni Konner Productions. On September 14, 2021, HBO Max canceled the series after one season.{{Cite web, url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/generation-canceled-hbo-max-one-season-zelda-barnz-and-her-father-daniel-barnz-lena-dunham-1234833719/, title='Generation' Canceled By HBO Max After One Season, work=Deadline Hollywood, first=Nellie, last=Andreeva, date=September 14, 2021, access-date=September 14, 2021

Casting

In September 2019, Martha Plimpton, Justice Smith, Chloe East, Michael Johnston as Ollie, Nava Mau, Haley Sanchez, Uly Schlesinger, Nathanya Alexander as Arianna, Lukita Maxwell and Chase Sui Wonders were cast to star while Sam Trammell joined the cast in a recurring role that same month. In August 2020, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett was added to the main cast. In October 2020, Anthony Keyvan, Diego Josef, J. August Richards, John Ross Bowie, Mary Birdsong, Patricia De Leon, and Sydney Mae Diaz were cast in recurring roles.{{cite web , last1=Petski , first1=Denise , title='Generation': Lena Dunham Series Adds Seven Recurring To Cast , url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/generation-lena-dunham-series-recurring-cast-anthony-kevya-diego-josef-j-august-richards-john-ross-bowie-mary-birdsong-patricia-de-leon-sydney-mae-diaz-1234598905/ , work=Deadline Hollywood , date=October 16, 2020 , access-date=January 16, 2021 In December 2020, Alicia Coppola, Marwan Salama, and Marisela Zumbado joined the cast in recurring roles.{{cite web , last1=Petski , first1=Denise , title='Generation': Alicia Coppola, Marwan Salama, Marisela Zumbado To Recur In Lena Dunham's HBO Max Series , url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/generation-alicia-coppola-marwan-salama-marisela-zumbado-recur-lena-dunhams-hbo-max-series-1234652146/ , work=Deadline Hollywood , date=December 8, 2020 , access-date=January 16, 2021

Filming

Filming for the pilot began at South Pasadena High School in September 2019. The series continued filming at the location during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Release

The series premiered on March 11, 2021 with the first 3 episodes available immediately.{{cite web, title='Generation': Creators And Stars Talk 'Euphoria' Comparisons & Ripping Open Stereotypes With "Incredible Specificity" – TCA, url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/generation-hbo-max-creators-stars-talk-euphoria-comparisons-stereotypes-incredible-specificity-1234691204/, last=Del Rosario, first=Alexandra, work=Deadline Hollywood, date=February 10, 2021, access-date=February 10, 2021 The season was divided into two 8-episode parts, with the first part ending on April 1, and the second one premiering on June 17 the same year.{{cite press release , title=HBO Max Dramedy GENERA+ION Returns June 17 , url=https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/ca/media-release/hbo-max/hbo-max-dramedy-generaion-returns-june-17 , work=Warner Media , date=May 26, 2021 , access-date=June 17, 2021

On August 17, 2022, it was announced that HBO Max would be removing several series, including ''Generation''.

Reception

Reviewing the series for ''Rolling Stone'', Alan Sepinwall gave a rating of 3/5 and said, "''Generation'' arrives at a moment when TV has no shortage of shows about, as Megan sarcastically describes it, 'this secret life of teenagers' hoo-hah.' It's lighter than some of its peers, but still self-conscious... Still, there's promise here." Saloni Gajjar of ''The A.V. Club'' gave the series a B- and wrote, "once these teens start interacting with one another in a much more grounded manner, ''Genera+ion''{{'s strengths emerge, as it dives meaningfully into serious issues meaningfully without getting too dark."

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 74% based on 27 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "''Genera+ion''{{'s salacious flourishes can feel more try-hard than authentic, but this inclusive portrayal of Gen Z shines when it identifies the universal pains of being a teenager." Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 60 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web, url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/generation/season-1, title=Generation: Season 1, website=Metacritic, access-date=March 12, 2021{{cbignore

References

{{Reflist

External links

* {{IMDb title, tt11454722

{{Daniel Barnz
{{HBO Max

{{authority control

2020s American comedy-drama television series
2020s American high school television series
2020s American LGBT-related comedy television series
2020s American LGBT-related drama television series
2020s American teen drama television series
2021 American television series debuts
2021 American television series endings
English-language television shows
HBO Max original programming
Teenage pregnancy in television
Television series about teenagers
Gay-related television shows
Television shows set in Orange County, California
Television shows filmed in California
Bisexuality-related television series