Are you still able to remember your high school life? Maybe you enjoyed spending time there with friends, or perhaps it wasn’t a happy time for you for various reasons. As for me, I’d love to go back to high school because my final year was during COVID. I wish I could have spent more time with the people I knew. Anyway, without talking more about myself, let’s take a look at why Don’t Even is different from other high school TV series.
For the main character Violet, it’s a rough start after a humiliating valedictorian speech. Determined to make up for it, she and her best friend Harley set out to have an unforgettable summer before adulthood takes over. Their journey is full of awkward, funny, and heartfelt moments as they try to make their last teenage days count.
That’s the heart of Don’t Even, a new Indigenous coming-of-age comedy streaming on Crave. Set in Winnipeg during the late ’90s, the show is created by Anishininew comedian Amber-Sekowan Daniels and directed by Heiltsuk and Mohawk filmmaker Zoe Leigh Hopkins. It invites us into the lives of Violet and Harley, played by Leenah Robinson and Victoria Gwendoline, as they figure out life, friendship, and growing up.
The ’90s setting adds a nostalgic touch, reminding us of a time before smartphones when life felt a little more adventurous. “The ’90s have this cool vibe,” Daniels explains. “Winnipeg hasn’t changed much, so it was easy to bring that era back to life.” Watching the show feels like stepping into an old memory, with dreamy scenes of downtown Winnipeg and its surroundings.
What really stands out is the humor. Daniels’ sharp and honest writing makes us laugh at the awkwardness of growing up, while still letting us feel the emotional depth. “I wanted to show young Indigenous women as real, layered people—funny, complex, and imperfect,” she says. Hopkins agrees, saying the show balances heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud comedy, sometimes all in one scene.
The visuals feel like an indie film, with Hopkins using a natural, flowing style that lets us see the world through Violet and Harley’s eyes. For Hopkins, who was a teenager in the ’90s, the story felt personal. “I saw pieces of my own life in this,” she says.
At its core, Don’t Even is about the messy, magical parts of growing up. It shows us how imperfect people can find their way, stumble through mistakes, and still create something meaningful. “That’s what growing up is,” Daniels says, and the show makes us believe it.