--- title: "PEN15: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/pen15/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/pen15" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # PEN15 (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 9 reviews: 8 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like PEN15, and they like it for the same reason: Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, both adults, play their thirteen-year-old selves among a cast of real children, and the reviews agree the gimmick stops feeling like one very quickly. The praise clusters on the two lead performances, which critics describe as fully committed rather than a comic turn, and on the writing’s honesty about how awkward, over-confident and insecure a teenage girl can be at once. Several also single out the period detail, with the year 2000 rebuilt in costume, set design and dialogue. The reservations are few and fairly consistent. The Hollywood Reporter, the one mixed review, finds the premise a sketch stretched to series length, and Paste, otherwise warm, says something similar. IndieWire is cooler than the rest without being negative. Nobody dislikes it; the argument is over whether one good idea can carry a whole series. ## Variety — Caroline Framke Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. The critic finds the Hulu comedy a minor miracle for its insightful take on the awkward, over-confident and insecure experience of being a teenage girl, which is rarely depicted so accurately on screen. It stands out for flipping familiar adolescent tropes in clever ways while focusing on the geeks from a female perspective. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/tv/reviews/pen15-review-hulu-1203131491/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2019. PEN15 is an irresistible millennial coming-of-age series that blends brutal honesty with gentle poignance in its portrayal of middle school friendship and awkwardness. The adult casting of the leads succeeds brilliantly in capturing preteen behavior and nostalgia for the year 2000. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/pen15-hulu-review.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. The critic praises the series as a warmhearted yet terrifyingly well-observed comedy about being uncool at school that transcends its central gimmick of adults playing 13-year-olds. The lead performances by Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are singled out for their full commitment and convincing portrayal of teenage selves, delivering more heart than schtick. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/08/pen15-review-hulu-adolescence-comedy) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2019. The series combines the pathos of Eighth Grade with the outrageousness of Big Mouth into a ridiculous yet truthful comedy. Adult actors playing teenagers allows for scenarios that could not be filmed with actual teens. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/pen15-hulu-review-lonely-island-maya-erskine-anna-konkle-1202041625/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2019. Incredible performances by the adult leads playing 13-year-olds make the series intriguing and relatable, especially for its commitment to realism in awkward middle-school moments. However, it ultimately feels like a sketch stretched into a full series, making the whole experience less inviting. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/pen15-review-1182452/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. PEN15 delivers a bittersweet, age-bending triumph that captures the excitement and terror of early teen desire with honesty and humor. The creators elevate their self-portraits into tragicomic masterworks through sharp, stammering dialogue. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2019/02/tv-review-pen15/) ## Collider — Vinnie Mancuso Rating ★★★★. 7 February 2019. The series is a big-hearted ode to the awkwardness of middle school that feels authentic and specific. It excels through its attention to period detail in writing, directing, and set design. [Read the review](https://collider.com/pen15-review/) ## Den of Geek — Nick Harley Rating 4/5. 31 January 2019. PEN15 is a nostalgia-filled adolescent comedy that excels in its cringe-comedy and heartfelt exploration of growing up. The adult leads' commitment to playing 13-year-olds alongside real kids sells the gimmick and the show's mix of laughs and poignancy. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/pen15-review-spoiler-free/) ## Paste — Amy Glynn Rating 7.5/10. 6 February 2019. The show captures middle school in all its disgusting, giddy glory through the bold choice of adult leads playing 13-year-olds. It is deft and funny with moments of surreal brilliance, though it sometimes feels more like a sketch show than a fully realized series. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/pen15/pen15-hulu-middle-school-comedy-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/pen15.md