TV OBSESSIVE: Jane Takes On Ghostly Cyberbullying
August 24, 2022
"Olivia (Madelaine Petsch) has her heart set on attending Stanford University. She’s a senior at a private high school, captain of the debate team, and has her every move planned down to the minute. Her dedication to schoolwork and her obsession with Stanford are in part because of her best friend Jane’s (Chloe Yu) recent suicide. Her mental wellbeing is further impacted by the news that Stanford has deferred her. Olivia’s panic attacks grow increasingly out of control, with frightening consequences.
While Petsch may not look like she belongs in high school anymore, she has a complete understanding of the pain of being a teenager. Perhaps it is because of her years as fan favorite Cheryl Blossom on Riverdale that Petsch is so readily able to dial into the dramatics of a high schooler. It’s more than just adolescent moodiness that Petsch channels in Olivia. She’s able to portray how high-stakes everything feels when you’re young. Grades, college acceptances, and the loss of friends all feel like the end of the world, but in reality, this is just the beginning for young people."
