Nostalgia is one of the most powerful emotions out there, and that's why I was so excited when I heard about Prime Video's latest drop, Lovestruck High. If you're not familiar with the reality show, which was definitely filmed through a rose-tinted lens, it's essentially the love child of Love Island and Mean Girls.
Lovestruck High follows a group of UK singles, all in their twenties, as they head back to school for a second time in an attempt to find 'The One'. For someone who usually is not interested in reality dating programmes, the main pull factor for me was the fact that Lovestruck High, the first three episodes of which were released on Wednesday, May 18, is narrated by none other than Lindsay Lohan herself.
Despite this weird yet excitable concept - noughties icon Lindsay Lohan narrating the activities of British twenty-somethings - I tried to keep my expectations low. There have been plenty of Love Island-esque shows launched in the last few years, and I have found it incredibly difficult to enjoy some of them, as many prove to be something of a cringe fest.
And, I won't lie to you, Lovestruck High is cringe, but school is meant to be cringeworthy and embarrassing, so it works. I was a bit wary of whether the location would serve its purpose - a Devon manor house remodelled to replicate a stereotypical American high school. The idea gave me the same vibes as those soft play days for kids which take place in a church, but the production crew managed to pull it off, in my opinion.
Now for the cast: it is weird to hear the contrast between Lindsay Lohan's raspy stateside accent against the accents of students - especially the proper Essex or Cockney-sounding ones. Speaking of the love-hungry students, one of them is from Bristol.
Model agent Theo, 21, is one of the students navigating the halls of Lovestruck High on the quest for love. One of my favourite things about the show so far is that it provides some refreshing representation - there are (at least) seven students who are interested in members of the same sex, rather than just one token LGBTQ+ member, which is standard for a lot of productions.
Like a lot of reality TV shows, Lovestruck High does feel a bit scripted, but I think this production style certainly fits in with the American vibe of the show, as high school has a reputation for being fake. That being said, there are definitely some very genuine, smile-inducing moments that really left me feeling gushy inside - which, not to be cynical, is quite rare.
It was such a heartwarming moment when Jody and Sin were having a heart-to-heart about Geoff assuming Jody's sexuality by asking her to the Homecoming dance. Although it was a bit frustrating for Jody that Geoff assumed she was straight, Sin's reaction to finding out that Jody was a lesbian too was so sweet, and really made me giggle - it was very wholesome.
There is so much great LGBTQ+ representation on Lovestruck High, and Jess asking Charlie to the dance was another peak moment. I love that the LGBTQ+ students play the same sort of role as the straight ones in Lovestruck High, rather than the producers incessantly focusing on the fact they are bisexual or homosexual to make the show look inclusive.
Lovestruck High seems to have done a better job than Love Island usually does in the diversity department, but there is room for improvement. I do think some trans representation could be nothing other than a good thing, too, as a lot of dating shows seem to be lagging behind a bit in that department.
Comedian Ria Lina steps in to play the role of Principal Nelson, the no-nonsense head of the school and self-proclaimed ex-cheer queen who tries to keep the students in check. Everyone can do an American accent, but not everyone can perfect it, and Ria's accent was a little questionable at times. However, it didn't feel out of place given the context of the show.
A lot of the cast members seem quite genuine, apart from the very slick Huss, who is an absolute player. Of course, this could be a dramatic device, and his personality could be totally scripted for the drama - which he certainly provides. But karma is real, and Huss is left date-less for Homecoming, although he seems to be in good spirits as he hands out measly portions of punch.
Speaking of Homecoming, it was so wholesome to see KT and our very own Bristolian cheerleader Theo's friendship blossom under the sparkly lights of the Homecoming dance. The model agent, who had experienced his fair share of dating disasters before enrolling at Lovestruck High, seems so down-to-earth and friendly, and it's always a joy to hear a Bristolian accent on screen!
In my personal opinion, Lovestruck High makes for some lighthearted viewing, and is definitely for the Gen Z viewers and Mean Girls fans among us. British teenagers in American-style settings have become all the range recently, especially with the likes of Sex Education, and this amalgamation is certainly one that had me gripped from start to finish.
Lovestruck High is now available on Prime Video.
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