Navigating adolescence in the fast-paced digital era is undeniably challenging. Everything happens at lightning speed, and these experiences can shape or shatter teenagers. Netflix’s latest series, Everything Now (Season 1), offers an interesting and fresh perspective on the lives of teenagers, mainly through the eyes of its protagonist, Mia Polanco, played by Sophie Wilde, known for her role in Talk to Me (2022). Sophie’s performance in the series is noteworthy as it unfolds over eight episodes, showing her life after a seven-month stint in rehab for body dysmorphia and an eating disorder.
Developed by Ripley Parker (daughter of Thandiwe Newton), Netlix’s latest series explores queer identity with pride and exuberance, utilizing anorexia as a compelling catalyst to explore the life’s of those in constant chaos within themselves. Blending the essence of Never Have I Ever, Heartstopper, and the drama of Riverdale, the series offers an authentic, surprisingly humorous portrayal of the challenges and victories of teenage life, all while addressing significant mental health issues.
With shows like Euphoria and Sex Education portraying teenagers dealing with multiple things simultaneously, Everything Now focuses on how someone with body issues and an eating disorder can find life overwhelming, especially when they are trying to keep up with everything. There is a fragile line between body dysmorphia and being thin, and it is a serious mental health issue that has a significant effect, particularly on teenagers and young women. The character introduced in the series makes it easier to understand how a 16-year-old is vulnerable to this condition due to societal pressures, unrealistic beauty standards portrayed in the media, peer pressure, and the desire to fit in.
As a teenager, one can have low self-esteem, and constantly comparing themselves with others can make them feel ashamed and worthless, lacking anything good in life. This obviously causes a chain reaction that further adds to the emotional distress, leading one to suffer from anxiety and even depression. Everything Now also makes a significant effort to show compassion to people who actually go through this mental issue, addressing sensitively that it is important to ask for help when needed and how early intervention can prevent long-term consequences.
Please remember, if you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it is crucial to call for help.
Coming back to the show, I will dissect each episode of Everything Now in this article, explaining what takes place in the series. Please note that the article is full of spoilers, so read it at your discretion.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 1 Recap:
Why was Mia in the rehab?
The show introduces us to a sixteen-year-old Mia, who has just been released from rehab after making progress with her eating disorder. However, once she steps into the outside world, she must follow certain standards to avoid returning to rehab. On their way home, Mia’s father, who appears to be someone to lean on during difficult times, tells her about a small gathering planned as a gesture for her return. However, Mia, who is mostly consumed in her own bubble and the narrative they impose on her, is not keen about meeting people whom she believes have often been disappointed by her. Upon entering the house, she is greeted by her brother, Sam, followed by her mother, Viv, with whom Mia shares an uptight relationship. Seeing a freshly baked cake tightens Mia’s stomach, and she excuses herself from the party to catch her breath. Later, she finds handwritten notes outlining her daily eating schedule and diet plan in her room. Despite her nervousness about returning, it seems Mia is still happy to be back where she always found comfort.
The following day, before heading to school, Mia’s parents give her a pep talk about the necessity of honesty for them to trust her. They even give her a new phone with no social media access for emergency purposes. On her way to catch the school bus, she meets Cameron, her first best friend, as she introduces us to her narration, who might have been the reason for her ending up in rehab. She then meets Becca and Will, ecstatic to see their friend back in the flesh. On their way to school, Mia learns that while she was away for seven months, a lot took place in her friends’ lives, including drinks, parties, and even relationships. While Becca feels they should share the gossip with her one step at a time, considering Mia is still recovering, Will is thrilled to see his friend back, looking better. Mia obviously finds this overwhelming, as she has a lot to catch up on, including everything that her friends have already become experienced in.
After finishing the first half of the school day, at the mess, Mia finds out that there is a special lunch cooked for her, keeping her diet chart in mind. While Mia mingles with her friends and learns more about them, Alison joins the gang at the table. Alison is someone who is more straightforward about what’s on her mind. She’s curious about Mia’s life back at the rehab and even asks if she is doing any better, considering how bad things were for her. Her words feel like a pinch of salt on Mia’s wounds, but Mia, who has normalized bitter words in her life, doesn’t get offended by Alison. It is when she learns about the party everyone is going to at Theo’s, the person Mia has a huge crush on. Wanting to be part of everything her friends are doing and prove that she can do anything, she walks straight to Theo and invites herself to the party, surprising her friends and even herself for her bold stance.
What happens to Mia at Theo’s party?
Back at home, we see Mia making a bucket list that mentions typical teenage goals such as first kiss, house party, alcohol, sex, etc. It is when Becca joins her, and while getting ready for the party, Mia pleads with her how to kiss, instantly checking her first kiss off the list. Mia tells her parents she is going to the movies with her friends; she then joins the others outside Theo’s place, thus entering a phase she has never experienced before. At the party, Alison coerces Mia into having her first shots to get her buzzed for the night. Mia, overwhelmed with the fast-paced experience, takes the shots, astonishing everyone. Later at the party, we see her enjoying the night, dancing by herself, and getting drunk.
Meanwhile, we also learn that Cameron apologizes for not visiting Mia at the rehab. Still, Mia is furious about him ratting her out to her parents about everything she went through. After Mia goes inside, we see Cameron calling Becca out of the bushes, clearly establishing that they do not want Mia to learn about their hookup. Returning to the party, Mia sees a girl dancing, completely sweeping her off. Theo comes to greet her, and he offers her water to mellow down her drunken spirits. However, drunk Mia makes a quick move and kisses him on his lip, not thinking anything. Unfortunately, things don’t go as she imagined – feeling embarrassed, she pukes right in front of everyone and faints, thus stopping the party.
The ending of Everything Now (Season 1) episode 1 shows Mia being taken to the hospital and her friends waiting in the lobby. After joining them back, she makes Becca, Will, and Cameron promise not to tell her parents about this incident, which may lead her back to rehab. When Becca inquires why Mia went hard on the first day of school, she shows them the bucket list and tells them that she wants to keep up with them and feel included in their experiences. Mia’s friend changes the name of the bucket list to Mia’s fuck it bucket promising to help her tick off everything she wants to experience. The episode ends with four of them walking out of the hospital while Mia is severely hungover.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 2 Recap:
Why does Alison help Mia?
Episode 2 picks up the day after the party, with still-hungover Mia receiving comfort from her friends and making plans to tick off the following items on the ‘fuck it’ list. At school, Mia gets another pep talk from her teacher about her bravery in going to great lengths to set things right and that she must not stop herself from continuing her progress. Later, we find Mia hiding from everyone with Will during PE class when Theo asks Mia out after school, exciting Mia for the upcoming date. Meanwhile, Cameron and Becca continue to hook up in hidden corners of the school. It’s clear that the two have feelings for each other but are uncertain about committing. Upon seeing a ‘mayday’ response from Mia, they decide to join her friend separately, where they all discuss what the first date should be like.
Unable to find the right outfit for the outing, Mia visits a store at the mall, where she stumbles upon Alison, who almost immediately starts picking out dresses for her. However, Mia’s lack of confidence, pessimistic nature, and fear of mirrors make her anxious, leading her to leave the store. While waiting for her mother to pick her up, Alison approaches her and hands over a bag with a newly purchased dress inside. Surprised by the gesture, Mia learns that Alison understands she has been through a lot and encourages her to look forward to good things. Mia wants to express her gratitude by taking Alison for coffee, but Alison politely declines, learning that Mia is going on a date and feeling excited for her.
Why does Mia leave the pub while meeting Theo?
Later, while getting ready, Mia’s father boosts her confidence, encouraging her to make the best effort to try new things. In a heartfelt scene, her mother introduces the idea of safe sex to her while emphasizing the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people. Right before heading out to meet Theo, Mia meets her friends, who hype her up about the date night. In a brief moment, we see Cameron and Becca tease each other, subtly reading if they should commit to each other and stop lying to Mia about their ongoing status. At the pub, Mia meets Theo, and they exchange awkward small talk. While Theo uses the restroom, Mia asks the bartender if she can change her alcoholic drink into a diet coke, but Theo returns, making her feel internally anxious about the repercussions later.
Just then, Theo’s other friends join in, bursting Mia’s illusion that Theo might be attracted to her. When she sees Alison among the group of friends, she leaves instantly. Alison follows her, and Mia shares that she was foolish to think that someone as nice and normal as Theo would see her the same way. The ending of episode 2 of Everything Now (Season 1) shows that after seeing Dolly Parton’s face on a bus, she remembers her friends are at a karaoke bar and decides to visit them. She finds out that the girl she saw dancing at Theo’s party is actually a fellow schoolmate who also works with Will at the grocery store. The two hit it off instantly, and the episode ends with Mia falling in love with Carli.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 3 Recap:
Mia is confident she is in love with Carli and will do everything possible to experience this new feeling. As the third episode begins, she explains five things no one tells us while growing up. It includes when you fall in love for the first time, you tend to revolve your life around this special person. You would do everything to make coincidences happen, and your universe will suddenly be divided into two categories that may weigh heavily on the person you have fallen for. You would also want to share your moments with them more than ever, and, last but not least, you will never be as subtle about things as you think you are.
How does Mia reinvent herself?
Wanting to spend more time around the presence of Carli with the hope for her to be noticed, she goes to Cameron, asking him to help her find things that would basically reinvent her. After checking several extracurricular options, Mia finally decides on drama classes after noticing Carli’s name on the submission form on the school notice board. In the drama class, when the teacher introduces impromptu scenes and pairs Mia and Alison, Carli jumps into the scene to boost Mia’s confidence. Will notices that Mia likes Carli and instantly hands her a few Shakespeare books, especially Romeo and Juliet, to prepare a monologue assigned in the class for the next session.
In this episode, we see Becca struggling to keep up with her projects while battling double thoughts about Cameron. She also misses hanging out with Mia, who has been occupied with her pursuit of reinventing herself to become visible enough for Carli. When Becca confronts Mia about the sudden change, Mia snaps, saying it is not wrong if she is unavailable. While Mia reads her book, Carli walks up to her, and the two chat about the monologues they need to prepare for the next drama class. Later, while rehearsing her monologue, Carli advises Mia to tweak it depending on her feelings.
What does Mia find out about her friend Becca?
Meanwhile, we also see Mia trying to be a wingman to Will after learning that he might be hooking up with his boss; however, things go differently when Mia talks to the manager. Back at home, when Sam tells his father that Mia has been skipping her breakfast yet again, her father gets furious about her missing her doctor’s appointment. However, Mia calls out everyone at home for allowing her to be on her own and not always watching her moves. On the other hand, Becca and Cameron decide to end their fling despite having feelings for one another.
The ending of episode 3 of “Everything Now” shows Mia delivering a heartfelt monologue focusing on her feelings towards Carli; however, when she learns from Will that Carli is aware of her past, she feels dejected, narrating how a person can never reinvent oneself despite making all the efforts to get out of their past. The episode ends with Mia meeting Becca to hang out together like before. However, things soon turn different when Mia finds out that Becca and Will have been together after seeing a text from Will to Becca with a picture of them lying on a bed, which seems to be taken right after an intimate moment.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 4 Recap:
Why does Mia start behaving erratically with everyone?
Episode 4 is about Mia ticking off the next experience on her ‘fuck it’ list. While her friends suggest that ‘having sex’ should be her priority, Mia is more interested in ‘breaking the law’ instead. After learning that her best friends were hooking up behind her back and Will hiding this from her, Mia is internally fuming. Becca gets the keys to a house (her mother is a real estate agent), and everyone decides to play a drinking game called Double Dip. While playing the game, where everyone dares others, Mia kisses Cameron instead of Carli to see if Becca would react. In the heat of the moment, Mia declares to call everyone from school for a party to check off ‘breaking the law’ from her list.
At the party, Mia gets drunk and starts acting out, prompting Will to confront her about her erratic behavior. However, she gets mean to him for lying about Gareth. Meanwhile, Carli tries to approach Mia, but she thinks Carli is only interested in her out of pity. Becca sees Mia going way out of her way and calls her out, getting angry that Mia is selfish and doesn’t care about others and their feelings. The two fight when Becca tells her she is tired of being the caregiver but starts getting panic attacks. The two soon make up after letting their honest feeling for one another. However, on their way back inside, they see Cameron kissing Carli. Episode 4 ends with Mia comforting Becca, Will meeting Theos and sharing his secrets, and Cameron and Carli supposedly ending up together. The episode concludes with Mia unexpectedly sleeping with Alison, thus ticking off two experiences from her bucket list.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 5 Recap:
The episode picks up with Mia accidentally declaring in front of everyone that she slept with Alison. Soon, Alison and Mia start hanging out together, when one day, Mia notices her mother meeting another man, making her angry. To get her mother to confess the truth, the girls hang out with Viv on a ‘girls’ day’ at a spa resort. While getting pedicures together, Alison points out blood stains on her robe, prompting Viv to help Mia. In a beautiful moment, when Mia is panicking and feeling ashamed about not doing things right, especially concerning her struggle with anorexia, her mother explains that she shouldn’t beat herself down, as getting her periods is a sign of her being healthy.
What does Mia learn about her parents?
Despite realizing that her mother shows Mia the warmth and care she looks forward to, another moment makes her snap at Viv when Alison shows a text on her mother’s phone from the man they saw her with. Back at home, Mia finds her family having a sit-down and soon learns that her parents are getting divorced and her father is moving out. They waited to tell her everything until she was out of recovery, making Mia furious. Meanwhile, we also learn that Becca is pregnant, as we see her reading about abortion. She finally comes clean to her mother, and instead of getting upset, Becca’s mother supports her choices. Episode 5 ends with Theo confessing to Will that he likes him and Cameron and Carli hanging out together as a couple, despite Carli still having feelings for Mia.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 6 Recap:
In Episode 6, the focus shifts to the people around Mia, providing much-needed depth about them. To begin with, we see how Alex, Mia’s brother, has been dealing with everything on his own: Mia and her secrets, her parents getting separated, and the constant peer pressure he has to face daily. To top it off, he experiences embarrassment when his friends leak his intimate photo to the school group, thinking he is chatting with his crush, Issy.
Does Alex tell the truth about Mia to the doctor?
When Mia’s doctor summons the family for a group meeting, Viv and Richard are at odds about their approach to handling the ongoing circumstances. In a brief moment, we witness Alex imagining losing his calm, venting his frustrations about how the family expects him to hold back his feelings and keep their secrets, assuming his life is perfect. Despite his outrage, he keeps his emotions in check during the meeting, telling the doctor that he is doing fine when asked how he is coping with Mia’s recovery.
While Richard has started living separately with his new girlfriend, the rest of the family heads back home. There, Alex comforts Mia, who struggles with things she used to excel at – battling anorexia. Despite realizing that Mia has relapsed and started skipping meals, Alex chooses not to report his sister’s condition to Viv. Instead, he allows Mia to experience her emotions and supports her. Episode 6 ends with Alex taking Mia to his favorite ‘thinking’ spot, where the siblings forgive each other after a heartfelt conversation about the challenges in their lives. Mia encourages Alex to text Issy and be honest about his feelings.
Everything Now (Season 1), Episode 7 Recap:
The show fast-forwards a bit, with everyone excited about Mia’s 17th birthday. Even though Cameron is dating Carli, he wants Mia to help him understand what Carli really thinks about him. We know that there’s tension between Carli and Mia. However, because Mia is in her head so much, Carli can’t make any apparent moves unless Mia allows her to. On the other hand, Becca is dating another guy, and Will is cringing about Theo’s obsession with him.
While everyone is happy to see Mia making progress, oblivious to her reality, and keeping Mia’s bucket list in mind, Alison plans Mia’s theme-based birthday at the club. In a brief moment, we see Cameron struggling to stay calm about Becca dating another guy and eventually lashing out at her in front of everyone at school. On the other hand, Alison wishes to be more than just a high school fling and invites Mia to her family vacation. We also see Carli going through some stress because of her alcoholic mother, but the show represents her mental state on a very surface level (despite showing a very wise character!)
What happens at Mia’s 17th birthday?
On Mia’s birthday, her father gifts her a bag. However, when he mistakenly mentions that he picked the gift with his girlfriend, Mia becomes infuriated, indicating that she is still coming to terms with her father leading a different life with someone else. While her mother tries her best to show affection towards Mia, it is evident that it is not enough for either of them. Mia is taken aback at the party by how Alison invited everyone from the school, making her feel overwhelmed. While Cameron continues to push Mia with his agenda for Carli, Will hides from Theo, and at the same time, we see Cameron trying to understand Becca dating a guy she barely knows. When Mia sees an Instagram post about Alison sharing a photo of them with the caption ‘brave survivor,’ it irks Mia, making her burst out at Alison about how everyone might have come to her birthday party out of pity, which is the last thing she wanted.
Seeing Mia upset, Carli takes Mia to a secret room, and the two share a kiss that Cameron witnesses, making him upset. When Alison looks for Mia and sees Cameron upset, she learns about Mia and Carli. On the other hand, Will unknowingly hurts Theo while talking to Becca about how he is not serious about the relationship. The episode ends with Mia walking back home, only to realize how things have always pointed south for her because of her actions and struggles to keep herself together in difficult times.
Everything Now (Season 1 Finale) Episode 8 Recap:
A look back on Mia’s journey as an anorexic and her struggles
Before we dive into the final episode of Everything Now, it is essential to understand what drives Mia’s inclination towards an eating disorder. Seeing her family as the perfect example of everything she wished she could be but couldn’t – made Mia obsessive about distancing herself from the world’s idea of perfection and creating a new definition of her own. While we see that each individual in the show struggles with something personally, Mia, on the other hand, feels that she doesn’t deserve anything perfect, pushing her to punish herself, leading to her eating disorder. The angst of seeing her parents split, the betrayal of her friends lying to her about their life, or not being able to share her truest feelings with someone who lights her up makes Mia relapse again as we see her struggling to keep her emotions in balance. The idea of shame, followed by pity, and the pain of not being able to perfect herself in something she thinks she is really good at also add weight to her misery.
Everything Now (Season 1 Finale) Episode 8 Ending Explained:
Why does Mia run away from her house?
The final episode is all about opening up about the secrecy. While meeting Dr. Nell during her appointment, Mia meets Jenna’s mother and learns about her friend’s suicide. Back home, when Viv goes through Mia’s stuff, she finds the pile of skipped meals, leading Mia to run away from the house. She meets Carli, and the two venture on a day’s adventure to check off the remaining items on the bucket list. On the other hand, we see Becca, Cameron, Will, and Theo, along with Alison, volunteering at the old age home, and we can sense the tension among all of them, which will inevitably lead to a predictable outburst.
Does Mia get better?
Upon learning about Mia’s stunt of running away from Viv, Cameron and Becca go out to find their friend. Meanwhile, Alison gets drunk with an old lady who helps her process the heartbreak Mia caused her, and Will tries to make amends with Theo for not being serious about the relationship due to his insecurities. When Carli realizes Mia has relapsed and her sudden plan to tick off everything from the bucket list is a trigger response from learning that her friend Jenna died by suicide, who was also battling an eating disorder, she makes Mia understand that running away will not help her. Carli advises Mia to seek help when there is a chance. She takes Mia to Dr. Nell, where Mia comes clean about her behavior and struggles. Dr. Nell explains that her coming to him is the first step to recovery despite her hardships. He emphasizes that although the road will be difficult for her, she must not let her inner demons stop her from trying.
At home, Viv and Rick have a fight where he blames her for being absent from Mia’s life, especially when she was struggling. However, we see Viv being vulnerable for the first time as she fears for her daughter. Cameron learns about Becca’s abortion and finally shares that he loves her and wants to be more than a friend to her. After learning that Mia has approached Dr. Nell for help, the family gathers, with Rick embracing apologetic Mia and telling her that he is proud of her. Unbeknownst to the family, Rick is in a relationship with Jenna’s mother.
In the end, we also see that when Cameron doesn’t get any response from Becca about his confession, he ends up sleeping with Alison. Later, Cameron meets Mia, and the two forgive one another for their past differences; however, we see Cameron is guilty of stepping into another mess that could be a devastating move for both Mia and Becca concerning him. Mia meets Carli, who tells her that despite having mutual feelings for one another, Carli cannot get involved with Mia unless they both grow up emotionally. Mia writes an apology letter to Alison, who tears it up out of anger. Episode 8 of Everything Now ends with Mia apologizing to her friends for being absent and not trying hard to be there for them. They forgive her and make plans to create a group bucket list together. The final scene shows Mia leading a normal life, but will she relapse again? Perhaps she will if she allows her trigger response to control her life, or probably not if she emerges to be stronger than before.
