A new teen drama, translated from its Portuguese-language title as "The Rowing Girl," arrived on Netflix on Thursday, September 10, blending competitive sports adrenaline with the kind of school drama familiar to fans of classic teen television.
The Canadian production was created by showrunner Vivian Lin, known for "Special Agents." It is an original story but draws inspiration from television hits such as "Gilmore Girls" and "Gossip Girl." The show's fictional setting, the coastal town of Eagle's Cove, was designed to evoke the small American seaside towns those earlier series made famous, echoing the fictional Stars Hollow of "Gilmore Girls."
What the story follows
The series centers on Teagan Tao, played by Miku Martineau, a talented 16-year-old athlete preparing for a promising future in individual rowing. Her plans collapse after a financial scandal involving her father forces her and her mother to relocate to the small town of Eagle's Cove, where she enrolls at the elite Easton Prep school.
Once there, Teagan discovers the school has no girls' rowing team. Rather than give up the sport, she becomes determined to rebuild her life by pushing her way into the school's traditional, and troubled, boys' rowing team, a decision that brings numerous challenges.
Cast and background
The cast includes Jessica Paré, known for her role in the acclaimed drama "Mad Men," alongside Sam Braun, Kyle Clark, Thomas Cadrot, Jude Wilson, Vincent Muller, Riley Davis, Connor Wong, Jarrett Carlington and Niall Matter.
"Gilmore Girls," which ran in the early 2000s, followed a mother and daughter in a quirky small town and became a touchstone for warm, character-driven teen dramas, while "Gossip Girl" centered on the social lives of wealthy Manhattan teenagers. Both shows are cited as influences on the tone of "The Rowing Girl."
What's available now
The first season is now streaming in full, with eight episodes ready to watch. No word yet on whether Netflix plans to renew the series for a second season.
