Zoey’s may be a show about a girl with the superpower to hear people’s thoughts through song, and that’s great and wholesome in its own right, but what if I told you that Zoey’s is also a show that embraces the classic television tropes we all know and love, but executes them better. In fact, it does so with more grace, tact, nuance, and most importantly, maturity, then a lot, if not most shows on television.
And Zoey’s does it all while singing and dancing. It’s impressive how much they accomplish in the span if 45 minutes. Which is why it’s heartbreaking to hear of its cancellation from NBC after the season two finale. So, here’s why fans are rallying around the #SaveZoeysPlaylist cause, and desperately want to see it saved:
Spoilers ahead!
Grief
They let you (you being the audience and/or Zoey) sit with the bad feelings in grief or otherwise, feel better, accumulate lighter days, but then bring you back to that place where you remember, and suddenly it doesn’t feel okay again.
The very cliché “grief isn’t linear” more often than not negates the very nature of a television formula. Making Zoey’s honest portrayal of grief revitalizing for the genre.
It’s something I’m not used to, letting characters marinate in their grief. Allowing it to be character motivation during multiple episodes and plot points.
And yet, Zoey’s finds a way in making it so the audience doesn’t resent that we aren’t moving on from it. The care placed on the story is appreciated and valued, mostly for its honesty.
Love Triangle
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is how you handle a love triangle. We all roll our eyes collectively at the idea because most shows fumble them badly. But with Zoey’s, they gave her a chance to be with both Max and Simon then picked one.
Zoey and Simon’s breakup was not fueled with antagonism. It was a mature portrayal of two people who still cared a lot about each other, but recognized that they got what they needed from the relationship, and had closure.
But most importantly, the end for them romantically didn’t leave Simon pining for Zoey. Simon was given autonomy in his choices and feelings and wants to move on too.
It was great to watch because more often than not a love triangle is life long contract for three characters during the span of a TV show. And for once, Zoey’s made me glad it happened. They explored the messiness there, and got out stronger on the other side.
Mo and Every Other Extraordinary Person
Zoey’s truly cares about every character and their journey. And that level of concentration is generally lost. What’s going to happen to Leif and Tobin? What about Emily and David? Maggie?
We can’t forget Zoey’s best friend Mo, whose confidence brightens this world, while simultaneously, and not contradictory, whose vulnerability strengthens its voice. Mo represents standing up for yourself in who you are. He teaches Zoey, and us, to do so. And we can’t lose that!
Zoey’s is just doing it better. They’re having better conversations. And every episode they do it while singing you song. So come on network executives, save this show! We have so much more to cover after that amazing season two finale. Hear the fans collective heart songs, it’s worth it.
