Rewatching Season 1 as an adult feels completely different than watching it when the show first aired.
Every scene between Archie and Ms. Grundy makes me uncomfortable, not because it’s a “forbidden romance,” but because I can’t stop seeing the reality of what’s happening. She’s an adult. She’s his teacher. She’s in a position of authority and trust. Archie is a teenager.
What strikes me the most is how the show initially frames their relationship with so much tension and chemistry that it almost seems to expect the audience to root for them. But the older I get, the harder it is to ignore the massive imbalance of power between them. Archie may think he’s making his own choices, but he’s still a kid, and she’s the adult who should know better.
I honestly think if the genders were reversed, there would be far less debate about how disturbing this storyline actually is. A male teacher having a secret relationship with a teenage girl would immediately be recognized for what it is.
Instead of seeing a tragic love story, all I can think about is how Ms. Grundy completely failed in her responsibility as a teacher. Every rewatch makes me less sympathetic toward her and more frustrated by how lightly the situation was treated.
Am I the only one who watches these scenes now and thinks, “Why am I supposed to find this romantic? She should be getting arrested.”? 🤷♀️