PEN15: Season 1

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 60 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 60 Ratings

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Pen15: The Making Of Season 2

Now Playing: Pen15: The Making Of Season 2

Season Details & Credits

HULU | Season Premiere Date: February 8, 2019

Summary: The comedy co-created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle and Sam Zvibleman is set in middle school with Erskine and Konkle (who are clearly adults) as 13-year-olds.

Creator: Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle and Sam Zvibleman

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Dance
Air Date: February 8, 2019
tbd
S1:E9. Anna Lishi-Peters
Air Date: February 8, 2019
tbd
S1:E8. Wild Things
Air Date: February 8, 2019

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Darren Franich

Jan 28, 2019

An impossible masterpiece of teen TV that is authentically raw but also dreamily weird, a goof-off LOL comedy full of traumatic middle-school melancholy. Read full review

Jen Chaney

Feb 5, 2019

It is remarkable how easy it is to forget that Erskine and Konkle aren’t actually kids. ... The most joyful thing in PEN15 is the relationship between Anna and Maya, which is a refreshing testament to the role girls play in propping each other up during a period of life when every rug they’ve ever known is pulled out from under them with little warning. Read full review

Caroline Framke

Feb 8, 2019

Pen15 flips the adolescent script like this so many times with such clever insight that it can genuinely become disorienting after a lifetime of never seeing anything quite like it onscreen. It feels like watching a show entirely about the “freaks” from “Freaks and Geeks,” except it was explicitly written for and by women. Read full review

Bruce Miller

Feb 4, 2019

The two are great actresses--no matter how old--who can slip into another bracket and tell universal truths. PEN15 has more humor than you can imagine (wait until you see them in physical education classes) and a voice that deserves to be heard. Read full review

Collider Vinnie Mancuso

Feb 7, 2019

It’s not a show that you’ll immediately take to social media to discuss with countless other people. But in its own, completely different way, it will make you feel less alone. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Feb 6, 2019

Weirdly wonderful. ... All of the other kids in Maya and Anna’s middle school are played by real kids, which makes the pair’s acting feat even more impressive. They pass as 13-year-olds even amid a cohort of the real thing. ... There are countless moments of insight and comedy in the episodes, but they aren’t linked up dynamically. That said, the friendship between Maya and Anna offers a series of ups and downs that, while not particularly twisty, satisfy. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Feb 5, 2019

In its best moments, PEN15 is like a juvenile version of Broad City--creatively bold, out there and simple in its directness as it follows two best friends testing the bounds of friendship. ... But the downside is the repetitive sketch feel of the whole thing, which can wear thin over 30 minutes. Read full review

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User Score

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6.9

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User Reviews

scottkiddx

Mar 8, 2019

Here to add a new demographic. I'm an older age metalhead, I watched the whole season 3 times in one week. I think this is one of the best shows i've seen in many years. I rewound the Lunch/Dolls scene at least 25 times. A lot of laughs, sad scenes, everything was great. For all whoHere to add a new demographic. I'm an older age metalhead, I watched the whole season 3 times in one week. I think this is one of the best shows i've seen in many years. I rewound the Lunch/Dolls scene at least 25 times. A lot of laughs, sad scenes, everything was great. For all who made this, Thank you :)… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

LegendaryLass

Feb 10, 2019

An astonishing feat of nostalgia and modern comedy, PEN15 nails the realism and style of Eighth Grade while providing belly-bursting laughs. You forget you're looking at 30 year-olds playing 13 year-olds almost immediately, and Erskine brings the effortless charm and skill she showed inAn astonishing feat of nostalgia and modern comedy, PEN15 nails the realism and style of Eighth Grade while providing belly-bursting laughs. You forget you're looking at 30 year-olds playing 13 year-olds almost immediately, and Erskine brings the effortless charm and skill she showed in Hulu's Casual to every scene.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

j1train

Feb 13, 2019

Hilarious and confident cringe comedy. Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are incredibly convincing as 13-year-olds. Best new comedy of 2019.

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

danodog

Apr 19, 2019

Takes you back in time to 100% self-conscious grade 7 when your best friend was your universe. A great balance of laughs and tenderness at the same time. Nothing like it on TV.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jzathajenius

Mar 2, 2019

Thought the premise sounded weak but I was surprised how good this show was. Maya Erskine is the undisputed MVP of Pen15, she is phenomenal! Huge things in her future I'm sure. Not every episode hits the mark, but certain situations just feel real and authentic to both the growing pains ofThought the premise sounded weak but I was surprised how good this show was. Maya Erskine is the undisputed MVP of Pen15, she is phenomenal! Huge things in her future I'm sure. Not every episode hits the mark, but certain situations just feel real and authentic to both the growing pains of adolescence and to that 2000 era. Highly recommended.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

michaelinperson

Feb 10, 2019

PEN15 manages to wrap up everything that is about 7th grade, into 7th grade. It's incredible how our first impressions of these two cringe-y and sometimes unbearable bffs (played by grown woman) turn into our love and sympathy for them. The first few episodes of the show are, indeed, hard toPEN15 manages to wrap up everything that is about 7th grade, into 7th grade. It's incredible how our first impressions of these two cringe-y and sometimes unbearable bffs (played by grown woman) turn into our love and sympathy for them. The first few episodes of the show are, indeed, hard to get through, but over time, it gets easier to adapt, and is definitely worth watching through to the end.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

shoulderoforion

Feb 9, 2019

literally only made it through the first 3 minutes of the first episode. like nails on a chalkboard.

3 of 34 users found this helpful331

SEE ALL 14 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

87

Series Overview
Season 2.5

92
- Season 2.5 Overview
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
Season 2

93
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
Season 1

82
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E10. Dance
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E9. Anna Lishi-Peters
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E8. Wild Things
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. AIM
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. Posh
  Air Date: November 9, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E5. Community Service
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E4. Solo
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E3. Ojichan
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. Miranda
  Air Date: February 8, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. First Day
  Air Date: February 8, 2019