When High School (often stylized as high school) premiered on Amazon Freevee (now Amazon Prime Video), it promised a raw, unfiltered look at the lives of Tegan and Sara Quin. Based on the memoir of the same name by the twin sisters behind the iconic indie-pop band Tegan and Sara, Season 1 is not just a musical origin story. It is a masterclass in adolescent agony and ecstasy, specifically regarding the chaotic, electrifying, and often devastating world of high school relationships.
While the show is set in the mid-90s, its exploration of first loves, jealousy, identity, and heartbreak feels painfully timeless. For fans coming for the music, they stayed for the stunningly authentic portrayal of queer teenage romance. Let’s dissect the tangled web of relationships and romantic storylines that define High School on S01.
What sets High School apart is how it handles the queerness of these relationships. There is no grand "coming out" episode. There are no traumatic confrontations with parents over sexuality (though there are plenty of other parenting issues).
Instead, the romance is treated with normalized realism. The drama stems from the feelings—the anxiety of a first kiss, the awkwardness of physical intimacy, and the fear of saying "I love you"—rather than the gender of the partners. This allows the show to focus on the nuance of the relationships themselves, rather than the politics of them. Download -18 - High -School- On Sex -2022- S01 ...
For Sara (played by Railey Gilliland), the romantic storyline is a frenetic, high-stakes awakening. Her relationship with Gabby is the emotional core of the first half of the season.
Sara’s narrative captures the specific intoxication of falling in love for the first time when you have no roadmap. Unlike the casual dating often portrayed in teen shows, Sara’s feelings are life-altering. Her relationship with Gabby is tender but fraught with external pressures—the confusion of sexuality, the secrecy required from parents, and the instability of teen life.
This storyline is crucial because it isolates Sara. As she dives deeper into the relationship, she begins to pull away from her twin. The romance serves as a wedge, highlighting the growing disparity in the twins' emotional maturity. Sara learns the thrill of intimacy, but also the crushing weight of a partner who may not be ready to match her intensity. When High School (often stylized as high school
Before we talk romance, we have to talk about the show’s most important relationship: Tegan (Railey Gilliland) and Sara (Seazynn Gilliland) . The series brilliantly captures the silent divorce that happens between twins in high school. Their estrangement isn’t loud; it’s the quiet act of choosing different lunch tables.
What works so well is the lack of villainy. Sara isn't "mean" for pulling away; Tegan isn "needy" for holding on. Their separate romantic journeys serve only to widen this chasm. Every time one sister falls for someone, it feels like a betrayal to the other. The show’s best moments aren't the kisses—they are the long stares across a crowded room where the sisters see each other becoming strangers.
High School Season 1 is not for everyone. If you need plot propulsion or villain-of-the-week drama, look elsewhere. But if you want a quiet, unflinching look at how first loves and first fractures happen simultaneously—often in the same cramped bedroom—this is essential viewing. What sets High School apart is how it
The show understands a crucial truth: In high school, every relationship feels like a referendum on your entire self. Tegan and Sara’s separate romantic journeys are not escapism; they are a mirror held up to the terror and ecstasy of wanting to be known. It’s messy, it’s slow, and it’s achingly beautiful.
Rating: 4/5
Best for: Fans of Eighth Grade, Lady Bird, or anyone who still remembers the exact texture of their first heartbreak.