Sex, drugs, teen angst, and high school drama are all recurring themes in recent coming-of-age television shows like Euphoria, Heartbreak High, and Skins.
But the cast of Year Of, the latest teen drama series on the rise Staninsist that the show cannot be compared to others.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia to celebrate the release of the series, stars Samuel El Rahi (Mo), Joshua Hewson (Gus), Tharanya Tharan (Priya), Ira Dawson (George) and Samson Alston (Tully) explained how different the show is comes from the Emmy award-winning HBO drama Euphoria.
‘It’s raw. It’s grungy in the best way,” says Alston, noting the stark difference in storyline.
Year Of revolves around a group of friends living through their senior years at Jubilee High School (the same school from the hit series Bump), as a tragic event changes their lives forever.
The cast of Stan’s Year Of insists the coming-of-age show is nothing like other teen dramas. Pictured (back left to bottom right) Joshua Hewson, Ira Dawson, Samuel El Rahi, Tharanya Tharan and Samson Alston
Year Of revolves around a group of friends living through their senior years at Jubilee High School (the same school owned by Stan’s Bump), as a tragic event changes their lives forever.
But it also follows the lives of their parents and teachers through divorce, loss and heartbreak.
“You have the young adult storyline, they go through all these events into adulthood. And then you have that mature, technical storyline that makes up the whole series,” Alston added. “And I think that’s what sets it apart from all the other young dramas.”
El Rahi agrees, adding, “I think you just have to look at it, separate your understanding and just look at it from an objective perspective.
‘It’s raw. It’s grungy in the best way,” Alston (bottom right) said of the Stan series
Euphoria is more saturated, as supersaturated. But [Year Of] feels like you’re moving along with the show… It’s raw and authentic. And that’s what we need to bring Australia in.
“Even in the really deep, dark, depressing moments [of Euphoria]. They sort of made it to make it look like something desirable?’
Tharan elaborates on Year Of’s stylistic themes in comparison to other teen dramas, noting that the series is easier to relate to from an Australian perspective.
The series also stars newcomers Isabella Graiche, Nicholas Cradock and Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn, plus Danielle Cormack, Sarah Armanious, Samuel Johnson, Christian Byers and Matt Nable who play the parents and teachers.
Year Of is set in the future world of Bump, featuring Gen-Z children and families from diverse backgrounds brought together by tragedy
“I think you just have to look at it, separate your understanding and just look at it from an objective perspective,” said El Rahi (top right)
“I think Euphoria did a wonderful job of portraying how the teenager feels inside as he goes through that experience. Especially with like, the cinematography and the costume and the makeup,” she says.
“But it’s still very stylistic, and it’s very different. With Year Of you don’t feel like you’re watching a show. It feels like you’re there and experiencing it with these characters.’
The series also stars newcomers Isabella Graiche, Nicholas Cradock and Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn, plus Danielle Cormack, Sarah Armanious, Samuel Johnson, Christian Byers and Matt Nable who play the parents and teachers.
Year Of is set in the future world of Bump, featuring Gen-Z-like children from wealthy families to lower and middle class families who are bonded by tragedy.
The Stan Original Series Year Of doesn’t premiere until June 9 Stan.
The Stan Original Series Year Of will premiere on Stan only on June 9