Intheeighthandfinalseason,ourbelovedBridgetonteenstacklenewchallengesashighschoolerssuchas:driving,drugs,sexualinexperience,enthusiasticconsent,pornandtheteenagemind,cancelculture,theirchangingbodies,and(intheend)fearoftheloomingfuture.Throughitall,friendshipisthecornerstoneforsurvivingthistimeoflife–whetherone’spubertyisjustbeginning,likeforNickwhogetshisfirstgrowthspurt,ornearitsconclusion,likeforamaturing(andprematurelybalding)Andrew.Attheheightoftheseason,whenmanyofourcharactersareincrisis,Compassion(personifiedasanewcreaturevoicedbyHollyHunter),emergesasacrucialwayforward.Ultimately,though,thisseasonisabouttheimportanceofstickingbyandsupportingyourfriends,especiallywhenlifegetsoverwhelmingandmessy.Intheend,ourkidsstepintotheharrowingunknownofthefuture,madelessafraidofwhat’stocomebecausetheyhaveeachother.
