Amazon Prime’s newest queer show, Overcompensating, is a nostalgic throwback, showcasing outdated queer tropes, poor representation for people of color, and edgy humor (derogatory). This coming-of-age series centered around college follows two best friends, Benny (Benito Skinner) and Carmen (Wally Baram), as they navigate the complexities of sex, identity, and community.
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Benny is an athlete and a business major with strict parents and a complex sister, Grace (Mary Beth Barone), who dislikes that he’s attending the same college as she is. Oh! He’s also gay but in the closet and spends the show’s duration disgustingly pandering to straight men to avoid detection. Carmen is just a girl from Jersey, desperate to fit in with her peers, and seeking peace after the tragic death of her brother. The hit show feels like a gay version of MTV’s Awkward, complete with the not-so-subtle secondhand embarrassment, monotone line delivery, and puzzling moments throughout the season.
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While it’s fantastic to have queer representation, the show has caused division within the queer community. Creator and lead actor Benito Skinner recently spoke out about the age discrepancies between the show’s characters and the cast. Many in the queer community are seeking mature comedies and media that focus on older queer individuals. Thankfully, the show isn’t focused on high school like many queer shows are at the moment, but it can still feel unrealistic to see 30-year-olds playing characters who are just fresh out of high school.
Not to mention, the community is comparing Overcompensating to FX’s Adults, which is currently stirring up controversy regarding a predominantly white cast, leaving people of color largely unrepresented except for one token character. It’s disappointing that we’re still seeing queer shows that feature no main or side characters of color, or queer characters of color, apart from one or two.
There was also a misogynistic moment where Benny calls his sister a “c*nt” to Carmen, which felt unnecessary. There’s already tension between the gay community and women, centered on gay men making misogynistic remarks and passing them off as just a “joke” or suggesting we’re on the same side. However, the term “c*nt” has always been offensive when used against women, despite its frequent usage in the queer community and how embedded it is in our culture, where it’s usually employed as a term of endearment. The joke was in poor taste, especially because Grace is merely misunderstood and tends to be more cynical and brooding.
Overall, the show is decently enjoyable, with humorous moments sprinkled throughout, featuring laughable characters like Hailee (Holmes) and queer inside jokes that surround pop culture. However, it needs to improve in the diversity department and move beyond the 2015 offensive, edgy humor.
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