Andi Mack

    What to say about Andi Mack?  In all honesty, I don’t know.  It’s definitely a different kind of kid’s show, dealing with teenage motherhood to begin with; then moving onto other situations, such as one of the main characters being gay.  These are not topics generally seen on shows aimed at a younger audience.  Yet, Andi Mack talks about these situations, and others.  They do it with a maturity that makes the show enjoyable for older viewers, but also a lightness to make the show not too serious for others.  It is truly a show for all ages.

    On her thirteenth birthday, life for Andi Mack (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) changes forever.  She is excited her older sister Bex (Lilan Bowden) is in town, but does not know Bex has arrived for something other than Andi’s birthday.

    Bex has returned home to tell Andi she is her mother, not her sister.

    This information shakes Andi’s entire world, as it would for any person.  What should she call the people she always saw as her parents but are really her grandparents?  When someone tell her what to do, who should she listen to?  Whose rules is she supposed to follow?

    With home now a confusing place, school is one of the safest places for Andi to go to.  Her best friends Buffy Driscoll (Sofie Wylie) and Cyrus Goodman (Joshua Rush) are there.  As is Andi’s crush, Jonah Beck (Asher Angel).

Three Best Friends/Artwork by Kate Dorsey

    To become closer to Jonah, Andi joins his Ultimate Frisbee team.  Bex encouraged Andi to talk to him, and now, with the team, they are becoming friends.  The problem is, Jonah has a girlfriend who is in high school, Amber (Emily Skinner).

    Even though they barely know each other, Amber is not nice to Andi.  She suspects Andi has feelings for Jonah, and sets out to make Andi’s life miserable whenever possible.  It is a good thing Amber is in high school.  With the others in middle school, it gives Amber less time to be a pain to Andi and her friends.

    Andi isn’t the only person trying to figure out relationships.  The overly competitive Buffy keeps butting heads (and enjoying it) with, Marty (Garren Stitt), a boy others think she likes.  It is something Buffy denies, but when later Marty disappears from her life, and then reappears with a girlfriend, Buffy has to think about how she truly feels about him.

    Like Andi, Cyrus’ relationship problems have to do with Jonah.  He really wants to be friends with Jonah, but is very awkward acting like the stereotypical guy.  Fortunately, Jonah sees the humor of the situation and accepts Cyrus for who he is, even after Cyrus reveals he is gay.

    At home, it takes a while for things to settle down.  Bex and her mother, Celia (Lauren Tom), are constantly butting heads.  Eventually Bex moves out, taking Andi with her.  It’s definitely a change for everyone, but a change Celia understands needs to happen.  As is introducing Andi to her father, Bowie Quinn (Trent Garrett).

    Bowie did not know about Andi, but he has never stopped loving Bex.  The problem is, Bex does not think she is worthy of his love, and keeps turning down Bowie’s efforts to get back together.  When Bowie starts dating another woman, Andi is not happy.  She becomes concerned Bex and Bowie will never become a couple again.  This is something Andi really wants to see happen, especially if it means they will get married.

    As I mentioned, there are a lot of series subjects in this show (some I did not mention were Jonah’s panic attacks, family money concerns, and a mother in the military), but they are handled maturely and lightly at the same time.  Yes, there are things to be worked through, but with everyone putting in the effort, and loving everyone for who they are, it all works out in the end.

    Actually, there is an important lesson to learn from this show.  Friends do not have to be exactly the same.  Andi, Buffy, and Cyrus are three different people, coming from different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, religions, and interests.  Yet, they are three friends who are always there for each other.  The differences do not matter.  They like each person for who they are as a person.  It is a philosophy and way of life they apply to all the people they encounter.  Even when one of the characters finds they don’t like someone, the dislike stems from something the person has done, not because they are different.  Andi, Buffy, Cyrus, and their friends show differences don’t matter.  It’s how we treat each other that does.  Something very important to remember.