Netflix's 'Crew Girl' Capsizes: YA Drama Slammed by Critics
Netflix's new YA series "Crew Girl" follows Teagan Tao as her life derails, forcing her into the competitive world of boys' rowing. Despite strong rowing scenes and important representation, the show is criticized for its lack of realism, choppy dialogue, and reliance on tired teen drama tropes, preventing it from truly connecting with modern Gen Z audiences.
Vivian Lin’s latest Netflix YA series, “Crew Girl,” immerses audiences in the demanding world of competitive rowing. The show centers on 16-year-old Teagan Tao (Miku Martineau), a single sculler whose life dramatically changes when her affluent hotelier father, David (Byron Lawson), is caught embezzling funds from clients and flees to avoid arrest. This leaves Teagan and her mother, Ella (Jessica Paré), blindsided and forces them to relocate from their luxurious Los Angeles life to Ella’s humble hometown, Eagle’s Cove, a fictional coastal town in Massachusetts.
The series begins with Teagan’s celebratory rowing race, abruptly interrupted by her father’s departure and the FBI’s arrival. Six months later, with limited resources, Teagan and Ella settle into Ella’s childhood home. At Easton Prep, Teagan attempts a fresh start, quickly befriending Juliet Morny (Olga Petsa) but also encountering the school’s resident antagonist, Britney Garner (Sage Linder).
Teagan’s aspirations for rowing are initially thwarted when Coach Matt Hayden (Thomas Cadrot) informs her that Easton Prep only has a boys’ crew team. Undeterred, Teagan asserts herself, ultimately becoming the team’s coxswain. In this crucial non-rowing role, she is tasked with steering, managing race strategy, and motivating the eight-man crew. The team includes rival cousins Josh (Sam Braun) and Ryder Regis (Connor Paton), scholarship student Cam Dillinger (Kyle Clark), and Britney’s twin brother, Bronson “Baloo” Garner (Jude Wilson). Initially, the boys exhibit a “redpill-coded frat bros” demeanor, and Teagan must earn their respect to secure wins and persuade the school administration to consider forming a girls’ team.
Despite its premise, “Crew Girl” faces several criticisms. Reviewers note a lack of realism, choppy dialogue, and monotonous themes, causing the show to