High school is a perfect setting for a sitcom. They have rules and regulations that force arbitrary storylines into existence. When someone acts like an idiot, it's age-appropriate. Writers can basically spell out the theme as a "class assignment" and it's totally acceptable. And since most sitcoms have a lesson learned by the end of the episode, why not set the show in a school environment?
High school is a time of awkwardness and growth, which is perfect for both humor and storytelling - the whole point of stories is to watch the main character grow in some fashion, and the whole point of awkwardness is to eventually be able to use that quality to make someone laugh (Zach Galifiniakis agrees). Some of the most popular shows of all time are high school sitcoms. Or soaps. High school soaps are popular too.
Awkward. is a high school sitcom that's actually amazing. It's smartly written, funny, and full of characters that are easy to care about and sympathize with. Jenna, the main character, has made a few terrible decision in the third season and can turn a little dramatic, self-absorbed, and whiney at times - but then again, she's a high school student who dreams of becoming a writer, so that makes sense. She's also insightful and, for the most part, a very compelling character who is very easy to relate to.
One of the major issues I have with Awkward. is that one of their best, funniest, and most unique characters is often missing for episode at a time so that Jenna can deal with relationship drama. Ming's storylines with the Asian Mafia at school are so weird and so out there - especially with "grandmaster Chess player" Becca, who stays five steps ahead of Ming in order to maintain her social status as Queen Bee of Chinatown - that I usually wish we could spend entire episodes on those interactions and leave the whining Jenna does about Matty on the side.
Most recently, Ming is torn away from her love Fred Wu because Becca found out - and Becca, Fred's jealous ex-girlfriend, is definitely not okay with it. Becca masterminds a plan to get Fred kicked out of his new school (she got him kicked out of theirs when they broke up) and he has to go to Idaho to live with his cousins. This is the last straw for Ming, who punches Becca in the face on school grounds. The rest of the Asian Mafia? They sign affidavits saying Becca ran into a door. MING WINS AND MING WINS BIG.
For a character who's been put on the backburner for almost the entire show despite being the most fascinating of her trio of friends (Jenna is interesting but self-absorbed and I am so not into the Collin romance thing; Tamara could be used in smaller doses - her phrases can be clever but she slips into twee-annoying turf fast), it was refreshing to see her have such a victorious moment.
This is my (surely little-seen) call for more Ming in Awkward. MORE MING. IN AWKWARD. NOW.
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