Grand Army is a new drama series on Netflix that premiered on October 16, 2020. The series follows the lives of 5 high school students: Joey Del Marco, Dom Pierre, Sid Pakam, Jayson Jackson, and Leila Kwan Zimmer. The students attend Grand Army High School, a fictional high school in Brooklyn. The series highlights the student’s struggles with race, identity, and trauma.  

Grand Army features a diverse cast of characters most teens can relate. With POC (People of color) and LGBTQ+ characters who face and struggle with their identity in a world where being different may not always be the greatest thing. 

Indya Brown, a Sophomore at Oakdale High School stated, “I thought that Grand Army was a great example of our own school. From racial discrimination to gender discrimination. It was an overall great show to watch.”.

When asked which character Brown related to most she responded, “I related to Jayson the most. He tries to speak on injustice continuously and often feels he can never do enough. It shows how silenced we as African Americans feel. He was always put in a difficult spot. I also related to Owen because I felt as if sometimes in school I get judged by the color of my skin rather than who I really am.”

Brown voiced that she would recommend the show to a friend: “I would definitely recommend the show to a friend. It has so many deep messages in it that could open up many eyes.” 

Overall, Grand Army is a well written show that brings awareness to issues that students face in schools. Whether it is resilience in the face of adversity, fighting for what you believe in and advocating for others, or the struggle that is completing assignments on time. There is a little something for everyone.