Not only would this be wrong but wholly inaccurate, as Paper Girls (the comic of which actually pre-dates the Netflix juggernaut by a year) is its own original entity that shares only the most surface and fleeting similarities with that other Reagan-era series. Simply put, Paper Girls is smarter, weirder and more fun than Stranger Things. Together, the four young women find themselves thrust into a time-hopping adventure that sends them into 2019, where they encounter adult versions of Erin and Tiffany (portrayed by the always excellent Ali Wong and Sekai Abenì), as well as separate factions in an eras-spanning war that resulted from the discovery of time travel in which those who dare to exit their own timelines face immediate execution at the hands of the Prioress (an excellent Adina Porter, best known for her role on True Blood) and her superior, the enigmatic Grandfather (Jason Mantzoukas, bringing a sinister edge to his typical humorous scenery-chewing). Together, the girls attempt to stay alive long enough to make it back to their home time. Given the comic’s dense narrative, one would be forgiven if they thought that the showrunners — including Christopher C. Rogers and creator Stephany Folsom (who left the series during the first season’s production) — wouldn’t dare to add any more material. Audaciously enough, they do just that by introducing the characters of Larry (Nate Corddry), a time operative with his own agenda, and Dylan (Cliff Chamberlin), Mac’s once-hoodlum brother-turned-doctor who is surprised to see his little sister for reasons that are obvious to anyone familiar with the show’s source material. None of this material feels extraneous however, and the additions lead into big comic moments seamlessly. Humanity was the focus of Brian K. Vaughan’s writing in the comics, and if anything that is only enhanced here. To paraphrase one of the book’s most touching moments, these aren’t just paper girls, they’re friends. Over the course of these initial eight episodes we get to watch their relationships evolve in an honest way. Whether bonding over the shared trauma the characters are experiencing, or dealing with the tumult of puberty (the topic of one’s first period was never been tackled with such candid grace on TV before) or discovering same-sex attraction, Paper Girls always feels genuine. This is no small feat in a story that threatens to overwhelm the viewers with chrono-centric info dumps from, um, time to time. The theme of what time does to us and our dreams recurs throughout these eight episodes, with the girls having to come face-to-face with the consequences of decisions they have yet to make that have shaped their future selves. It’s a fascinating aspect of the series that implores the viewer to analyze how their 12-year-old self would feel about where they wound up. The ability to generate deep rumination about one’s life is a staple of great science fiction, and it is something that Paper Girls excels at. Less successful is the stiff direction of the pilot, an hour of television that has the burden of introducing our characters and throwing them into a conflict. Unfortunately, the debut episode is the weakest of the bunch, somehow anchored by both too much exposition and a lack of explanation as to what the hell is happening. One wonders how those unfamiliar with the Paper Girls saga will respond to this initial outing and its shortcomings. Those tuning in expecting pop culture references a la the previously mentioned Stranger Things might be a bit disappointed as Paper Girls is way more interested in setting up its own detailed mythology. That said, there are some “Running Up That Hill”-esque needle drops here and subtle homages to everything from Flight of the Navigator to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Despite some slight shortcomings, Paper Girls is a series that manages to be a satisfying adaptation of its printed self while also taking the story to bold new places. You can expect to see lots of folks saying that Paper Girls delivers in the days ahead, and you know what? Cliched though it may be, that declaration is true. This is a series that deserves to be as beloved as Stranger Things. It is certainly as great.
