Amazon Prime Video's original series Sterling Point has become the platform's number one hit worldwide, and it may have solved a persistent problem in teen and young adult television: unnatural dialogue.
The eight-part drama, created by Megan Park, follows 17-year-old Annie (Ella Rubin), a type-A eldest daughter who parents her father and brother. Annie and her brother Connor (Keen Ruffalo) were adopted at birth, and their mother died shortly after. They were raised in New York by their father Steven (Jay Duplass). When their maternal grandfather, Gordon, dies, his will reveals they have a claim to his land in Canada, in an area called Muskoka. Determined to reconnect with her mother's past, Annie sneaks away for the summer, only to discover a sister she never knew existed.
Refreshing Originality and Believable Characters
The show stands out as an original series in a sea of IP adaptations, and it comes from the creator of the emotional hit My Old Ass, starring Aubrey Plaza. But beyond the layered plot, the characters and their interactions make the series compelling.
Many YA shows suffer from cringeworthy dialogue, from Ginny and Georgia to XO, Kitty, Heartstopper, and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Sterling Point, however, feels natural. The chemistry between Annie and her estranged sister Ramona (Amelie Hoeferle), along with locals Oona (Bo Bragason), Ellis (Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie), and Sully (Nikko Angelo Hinayo), is palpable. Each character has a distinct personality, from outgoing cake decorator Sully to reserved and moody Ramona.
Creator's Approach to Authentic Dialogue
Megan Park has spoken about the importance of believable dialogue, giving her cast freedom to adjust their lines. Speaking to Yahoo, she said: 'it kills me when it feels like it's not exactly how a real human being would talk'. She added: 'I give the actors a lot of freedom. You know what the scene's about. You know your character. If you wouldn't say it that way, say it how you feel like your character would say it. Or if … I made a millennial joke, make it a Gen Z joke. … I really want them to weigh in on all of that every step of the way. But also, you don't want it to seem like you're trying to be trendy at the same time; you just want it to feel like normal people talking.'
Park's approach avoids the pitfall of being too 'trendy', which quickly dates many shows. The result is dialogue that feels like a fly-on-the-wall conversation, with sharp wit and forward-thinking sensibilities without being preachy.
Sterling Point is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now.
