Growing Up Awkward

Navigating the transition from high school to college and discovering yourself can be, well, awkward.

Last season, the Palos Hills teens of MTV’s Awkward were graduating high school, with a few uncertain about their future.

The second half of MTV’s final season premiered March 15, and it picked up one year after graduation, with curious tension between Matty (Beau Mirchoff) and Jenna (Ashley Rickards) due to their break-up; and Sadie (Molly Tarlov) and Tamara (Jillian Rose Reed) have become BFFs in New York - a dynamic that threatens Tamara’s friendship with Jenna.

Reed says fan reaction to the surprise bond between Tamara and Sadie has “been pretty mixed.”

“There’s a lot of people who are totally in support of Tamara and Sadie, especially because they’re two characters that they’ve loved for so long, and the dynamic is just so explosive,” Reed explained. “And then there’s some people who are really worried about it. Some people are concerned that this means it’s the end of the friendship for Jenna and Tamara.

"I don’t think there’s anything that can split Jenna and Tamara up, and I definitely don’t think that it’s going to be Sadie. I’m really excited for fans to see what happens through the rest of the season and actually go on that ride with us because the truth is, when you do graduate high school and you go off to college, you do make new friends, and you have to figure out if you can and if you want to keep those old high school friendships.”

The return episode set up some interesting dominos, which Reed says she’s excited for fans to watch unfold, as there are “definitely some surprises” in the upcoming episodes about “Characters who didn’t go to school, who have taken some time off. So you get to see what exactly they did through that year to get them to where they are now,” she said.

With Jenna now on a path of self-discovery while working at a popular internet media company in New York, Mirchoff explained how Matty spent the summer before college, and why the series returns with him not fully immersed in his element.

“I think he had these preconceived notions of what college would be. When he went to Berkeley, he was anticipating this kind of renaissance period, and that he’d be liked by all, and school would be easy,” Beau said.

“However, that’s not the case. He’s struggling in soccer. He’s struggling academically, and to find friends. His whole world has been flipped upside down and he wants some semblance of normalcy. So he absconds back to Palos Hills to find solace.”

After four-and-a-half seasons of watching OCD Tamara trying to fit in with the cool kids, this last season finds her flashing her confidence like a badge of honor. Reed explained how spending the summer in NYC after high school served as a catalyst for Tamara to explore “who she was and who she wants to be.”

“The difference between New York and L.A. is major, so I think for a young girl who doesn’t really have herself figured out yet, going to another coast and living a life that’s so different really does change you,” she explained.

“I remember me after high school. I didn’t know what I wanted to do either,” Mirchoff said in response to the challenges teens face transitioning from high school to college life. “I thought I would go to school and everything would be great and then I kind of had this epiphany that that’s not what I wanted to do, or what I wanted to study. It’s always kind of a learning experience, and you kind of have to figure things out as they arrive.”

So, does Tamara have any high school regrets?

“I would say her biggest regret would probably be, not understanding that she’s enough. And that’s actually a storyline that we go through this last half that you’ll see. Tamara really understanding that she doesn’t have to be anyone but herself, and I think that’s extremely relatable. A lot of girls feel that in high school. If she could change one thing, it would be her confidence and knowing that she’s perfect the way she is.”

Essentially, Tamara’s struggle with self-doubt defines the overall message of Awkward.

“Yeah! I think the overall theme of this series is, ‘who am I?’ And that is true to what high school is, figuring out who you are,” Reed added.

Fans will also learn soon enough just why Matty and Jenna called it quits. “Matty gets his feelings hurt. He puts himself on the line and he isn’t received in the way he was hoping. He kind of has to flee with this tail between his legs,” Mirchoff explained.

“What I loved about Matty from the onset was, he wasn’t a cliched jock. He was very nuanced and he had problems and insecurities that he had to overcome. The writers wrote me such great things to do as an actor,” Mirchoff reflected. If this truly is the end of the beloved MTV series, he also wants fans to know how he envisions Matty’s future.

“He gets his college degree. He finds a lady, it could be Jenna if they find each other later in life. I think they both should go their separate ways for a solid decade. I think Matty would love a family, and to have a couple dogs and kids and have just a normal life. Maybe he’s a teacher, or coaches his kids’ football team, and works to live instead of living to work.”

Reed and the rest of the cast also play up this current generation’s obsession with social media, and highlight the pressure high schoolers feel living in this selfie-obsessed digital age, which Reed says is not just a teen issue.

“Social media has kind of taken over our lives, and while it’s fun and exciting, it can be very damaging. I speak a lot about the pressure that teenagers face nowadays.

"I’m actually a part of a campaign called Breaking the Chains, which focuses on shedding light through art on the effects of eating disorders, and a lot of that for young kids is focused on social media and what they think they need to appear like. It really is a big issue.

"These teenagers are living on social media, so we need to figure out how to make that a healthy and safe base for them,” Reed explained.

Aside from keeping up with family and close friends via Facebook, Mirchoff admits social media doesn’t play a huge role in his personal life. “That’s why I’m not popular, cause I’m not huge on social media,” he joked, adding: “I think it’s important to interact with fans and to give people a taste if what you’re doing in life and to promote various jobs you’re doing is fun for fans.”

Despite conflicting reports, Reed confirms that the Awkward adventures may have come to an end, unless fan demand calls for MTV to greenlight another season.

“If the viewers still want to go on this journey with us, then we’ll continue to make the journey happen for them. As long as people are still watching and our ratings are still as great as they have been, I feel like there’s no reason not to continue the show. We do wrap the season up very nicely, so if it is the end, you will get closure to everything you want.”

While Mirchoff says his Awkward experience can best be summed up with the following three words: “joy, gratitude and challenging” - Reed describes her five years with MTV as “one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.” She also described Awkward’s significance in MTV’s legacy.

“The show Awkward in general will go down in history with MTV because it was one of the first scripted series that MTV had in this new generation,” she said. “So I feel like this show will kind of live forever in that sense, which is exciting for me.”

Awkward airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on MTV.