Five Netflix teens who are ahead of their age
Netflix doesn’t conform to said rules, nor do its characters. That’s probably the reason why they stay with us longer even after the credits roll.
We have seen characters who solve crimes while birdwatching, vanquish supernatural forces while munching on Eggos, and jump timelines to save the world. But on today’s list, we have a bunch of Netflix teens whose ages don’t define their brilliance or wisdom.
These characters don’t need school to sharpen their skills. They already have plenty. However, these Netflix teens are best known for putting their brains to use to save the day, regardless of how worldly or otherworldly the threats.
If you’re already brainstorming, you must have gotten a hunch of what we’re getting at. So, today, let’s meet five Netflix teens who are far ahead of their age.
Five Netflix teens who are ahead of their age
Dustin Henderson from Stranger Things
Remember the bike-riding gang of teenagers who greeted us back in 2016? If it weren’t for them, we’d probably be devoured by the Upside Down by now. But if it weren’t for this particular Netflix teen from Stranger Things, Dustin Henderson, the show wouldn’t possibly have stretched five seasons long because otherwise, Hawkins wouldn’t have made it alive. The reason we believe Dustin is far ahead of his age has a lot to do with his IQ, which is anything but ordinary for his years.
When it comes to problem-solving skills, he is always one step ahead. However, when it comes to science and technology, he can easily give the most learned scientists a run for their money. He hasn’t learnt loyalty from textbooks. It’s inherent. Although teenagers are mostly impulsive and erratic to some extent, Dustin is not short of rationality. He always has a voice of reason.
Enola Holmes from Enola Holmes
Sometimes, intelligence runs in their blood. That’s the case for the Holmes sister, Enola Holmes, from the Netflix movies. The Enola Holmes character is visibly more mature beyond her years. And despite her homeschooling by her mother, she’s adept with everything a young woman in Victorian England isn’t. Whether it’s her knowledge in science, skills in martial arts, or the power of observation, everything that makes Enola Holmes who she is has been self-made.
Like her brother Sherlock, her problem-solving skills are applaudable. But she’s just as able in the concept of deduction. Although she’s just a teenager, she can solve cases that the oldest sleuths in suits and boots cannot. So, if you ever confront her, don’t mistake her for just another ordinary child.
Maeve Wiley from Sex Education
Maturity isn’t defined by age. And Maeve Wiley from Sex Education is just the perfect example. Having been brought up in a difficult household, she has had the taste of freedom early in her life. But being independent in one’s teen years is not just a source of liberation. Instead, it’s an additional responsibility to ensure they stay afloat. Unlike her peers, she has to work to sustain herself, which is why she agrees to help Otis Milburn out with his sex therapy sessions.
Although she has a hard shell and a sharp tongue, these characteristics are born out of her circumstances. But what’s far from an accident is her intelligence, merit, sense of responsibility, and resilience. She’s that no-questions-asked friend who would show up for her friends every time. Despite her abandonment issues, she’s a prodigy who knows exactly what she’s worth.
Ginny Miller from Ginny & Georgia
While Ginny Miller is an intelligent and well-read student, she’s also the wiser one in her chaotic household. Like Maeve, she’s a skilled writer and someone with more responsibility than the older ones in her family. The Ginny & Georgia character has constantly borne the burden of moving to new places.
So, stability is not something she has seen. But she is the only stabilising force in the unit. Ginny has been subjected to unlikely challenges, including those of mental health, but she doesn’t lack awareness. She has the maturity to love Georgia and even protect her to an unimaginable extent, in spite of the questionable choices and secrets she holds to her chest. Sometimes, it’s really hard to figure out who the mother is and that alone makes Ginny far ahead of her age.
Wednesday Addams from Wednesday
Wednesday Addams is not someone you mess with. Just because she wears a pigtail and goes to school, don’t think she’s any less from the gory reputation the Addams family hold. Sure, she’s not like the others. Her deadpan charm and morbid wit set her quite apart, even from the rest of the outcasts. But even without the power of telekinesis, she’s a force of brilliance to be reckoned with.
The Wednesday character is blessed with the virtue of intuition. Most interestingly, she’s always on point. Even when experienced law enforcement cannot uncover the truth of the crimes, Wednesday can. She showcases a distinct kind of independence which you’ll never find in any other characters. And like any good sleuth, she loves literature, giving her the upper hand to solve any riddle that comes Jericho’s way.
