Ep 2. Being Popular

Being Eve is a teenage drama television series from New Zealand which follows the life of Eve Baxter, a 14-year-old girl trying to navigate the complexities of adolescence. In the second episode of season one, titled "Being Popular," Eve tries to find her way into the popular crowd at her school.

The episode opens with Eve hanging out with her best friends, Maddy and Grace. They are talking about the popular girls at their school and how they wish they were part of that crowd. Eve is particularly interested in becoming friends with Hannah, the most popular girl in school. Maddy tells Eve that the only way to get into the popular group is to start dressing like them and acting like them. Eve agrees to try this tactic, and the next day at school she shows up wearing a new outfit and trying to act more confident.

Eve manages to make inroads with Hannah and her friends, but she quickly realizes that being popular comes with its own set of challenges. She has to constantly worry about her outward appearance, and she feels like she is constantly being judged by her peers. Hannah also starts to put pressure on Eve, asking her to do things like skip class with her and lie to their parents. Eve is torn between wanting to fit in and not wanting to compromise her values.

Meanwhile, Eve's home life is also proving to be difficult. Her parents are going through a rough patch in their marriage, and her younger sister is constantly getting into trouble. Eve feels like she has no one to talk to, and she starts to feel isolated both at school and at home.

As the episode progresses, Eve learns some valuable lessons about staying true to herself and the importance of genuine friendships. She realizes that being popular is not worth compromising her values, and she decides to focus on deepening her relationships with Maddy and Grace, who have always been there for her.

The acting in this episode is superb, with Fleur Saville giving a particularly strong performance as Eve. The show does an excellent job of capturing the nuances of teenage life, with all its insecurities, peer pressure, and intense emotions. The writing is sharp and witty, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as well as heartfelt ones.

Overall, "Being Popular" is a must-watch episode for fans of the show and anyone who has ever struggled to fit in during their teenage years. It offers an insightful look into the complexities of adolescence and the importance of staying true to oneself.