It still hurts. For anyone who spent seven episodes watching Sydney Novak struggle with the literal and metaphorical "blood" of puberty, the cancellation of I Am Not Okay With This wasn't just a corporate decision. It felt like a betrayal. We were left on a literal watchtower with a blood-splattered protagonist and a mysterious shadowy figure, only for Netflix to pull the rug out from under us forever.
The show was more than just another "teenager with powers" trope. It was a gritty, awkward, and painfully relatable look at grief. Sydney wasn't a superhero in training. She was a girl in a dying Pennsylvania town who happened to be able to flip school buses when she got angry. Honestly, we’ve all been there—minus the telekinesis.
What Actually Happened with I Am Not Okay With This Season 2?
You’ve probably heard the standard line: "COVID-19 killed the show." While that’s technically true, it's also a bit of a simplification. The scripts for the second season were actually finished. The production was ready to go. Director Jonathan Entwistle, who also gave us The End of the F*ing World, had a clear vision for where Syd’s story was headed.
The problem came down to the math. Because of the pandemic, the costs of safety protocols, travel, and scheduling delays ballooned the budget. Netflix looked at the projected cost versus the viewership of the first season and decided it wasn't worth the investment. It sucks. It’s the cold, hard reality of the streaming era where "good" isn't enough; you have to be "global phenomenon" cheap or "prestige" expensive.
The Source Material vs. The Screen
A lot of fans don't realize that the show is based on a graphic novel by Charles Forsman. If you’re looking for closure, you might find it there, but be warned: it is significantly darker. Like, way darker. In the book, the ending isn't a cliffhanger. It’s a definitive, tragic stop.
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The showrunners intentionally veered away from Forsman’s bleak ending to give Sydney a chance at a multi-season arc. They wanted to explore the "shadowy man" and the mythology of her father's past. By softening the edges of the source material, they created a character we actually rooted for, which made the cancellation sting that much more. Sydney in the show is prickly, sure, but she’s human.
Why the Aesthetic Worked So Well
Part of what made I Am Not Okay With This feel so unique was its timelessness. You see VHS tapes and old cars, but people have cell phones. It exists in that weird "mid-Atlantic" aesthetic that Entwistle loves. It feels like the 80s, but the problems are very modern.
The soundtrack played a huge role in this. Having Graham Coxon (from Blur) handle the music gave it a lo-fi, indie grit that matched the overcast skies of Brownsville. It didn't feel like a polished Marvel movie. It felt like a garage band. That authenticity is why people are still discovering it on Netflix today and getting mad all over again when they realize there’s no Episode 8.
The "Shadowy Figure" and Unanswered Questions
Let’s talk about that finale. Sydney has just... well, she blew up Brad’s head. It was messy. It was public. She runs to the watchtower, and a man appears out of the mist. He tells her, "They should be afraid. Let's begin."
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Who was he?
Rumors and interviews with the creators suggest this was meant to be a mentor—or a captor—linked to her father’s history. Her father didn't just die by suicide; he was haunted by the same "curse" or "power" that Sydney has. Season 2 would have likely delved into a secret history of people with these abilities, turning the show from a small-town indie drama into something much more expansive.
Acting That Deserved Better
Sophia Lillis and Wyatt Oleff have incredible chemistry. We knew this from IT, but here it was refined. Oleff’s portrayal of Stanley Barber is a masterclass in "weird kid" charm. He’s the only one who sees Sydney for who she is and doesn't run away.
- Stanley’s fashion sense was a highlight: The blue prom suit, the records, the confidence.
- Sydney’s internal monologue: It gave us access to her "thigh acne" and her deepest insecurities.
- The relationship with Dina: It captured the terrifying shift from "best friends" to "I think I’m in love with you."
The nuance they brought to these roles is rare in teen TV. Usually, everyone is played by a 25-year-old with perfect skin and a six-pack. Sydney looked like a real kid. She was oily, she was frustrated, and she was tired.
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Where Can You Go From Here?
Since we aren't getting more episodes, how do you fill the void?
If you haven't read the Charles Forsman graphic novel, start there. Just be prepared for a different tone. It’s published by Fantagraphics and is relatively short. It won't give you the "Shadowy Man" answers, but it will give you a version of an ending.
You should also check out The End of the F*ing World on Netflix if you haven't. It’s the spiritual sibling to this show. Same director, same vibe, but it actually got a conclusion. Also, look into Wayne (originally on YouTube, now on various platforms). It captures that same gritty, "us against the world" energy.
The legacy of I Am Not Okay With This is a bit of a cautionary tale for the streaming age. It reminds us that even great art can be a victim of a balance sheet. But the seven episodes we do have? They’re pretty much perfect. They capture a specific moment of adolescent rage that most shows are too afraid to touch.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Read the Original Comic: Purchase the Charles Forsman graphic novel to see the raw, unfiltered version of Sydney's story.
- Follow the Cast: Sophia Lillis and Wyatt Oleff have moved on to great projects; following their careers is the best way to support the talent that made the show special.
- Support Indie Creators: The show's failure to continue was a budget issue; supporting smaller, independent coming-of-age films helps prove to studios that there is a market for this specific tone.
- Watch "The End of the Fing World"*: If you crave the specific directorial style of Jonathan Entwistle, this is the definitive companion piece.
The show may be dead, but the "Sydney Novak" archetype—the girl who is just done with everyone’s crap—lives on.