Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
For some reason (a determined, outspoken female lead), Netflix’s latest original series Girlboss has gotten off to a bit polarizing start. Hitting the streaming platform today, it has already raised some strong opinions across the internet. Sure, that’s been known to happen, but there’s not a whole lot to dislike about this one in particular.
Based on the book #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso, the half-hour comedy has got Pitch Perfect and 30 Rock writer Kay Cannon behind it, and that’s a major plus. Britt Robertson stars as the vintage fashion entrepreneur with a mouth that’s got no filter in sight. She might not make a perfect first impression, but you’ll be on board by the end of the first episode. Yes, she’s brassy and ambitious and funny, with the show proving to be an incredibly fun watch, especially for young women who are getting the mixed messages of Girls to Famous in Love thrown at them.
While each episode oozes with a #bossbitch attitude and revolves around girl power, part of being an empowered woman is recognizing a good guy who’s worth your time when you see one. Which brings us to drummer/band manager/love interest of the show, Shane, played by Johnny Simmons. Certainly much will be said about Robertson’s Sophia, but how will Simmons fare from the show?
It’s a safe bet to guess that if you don’t already have a crush on Simmons, you will after watching Girlboss. He’s been acting in mainstream projects for over 10 years, starting with a role as Steve Carell and Lauren Graham’s son in Evan Almighty. He can also be seen in quirky films such as Jennifer’s Body, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and he played the kid who made a video of himself jumping on the bed while on drugs in 21 Jump Street. Some of his finest work can be seen in Drake’s video for “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” and he also starred in Damien Chazelle’s short film for Whiplash, before Miles Teller moved into the role for the feature film.
So why isn’t Johnny Simmons mentioned when young actors such as Teller or an Ansel Elgort or even a Dave Franco are? Like, was this dude on the shortlist for the Han Solo movie? While largely avoiding the Twilights and Divergents of the world, he’s made interesting career decisions, weaving horror and indie films throughout his comedy roles, and largely using social media in a much more subversive and less thirsty way than some of his peers. Which is precisely why Girlboss is such a great move for him.
Hell, when we first meet his character, he’s drumming away and gives Sophia a flirty smirk. Shane is beyond adorable, and the show acknowledges this by putting him in just boxers in the first episode. And he’s not just cute on the outside: Shane tolerates Sophia’s eccentricities and makes himself available just enough to be sweet but not smothering. The show does a great job of balancing his time on screen, giving her a nice relationship on the side of what really matters, her business. But go ahead, watch episode 3, where the two spend an entire dreamy day strolling around town, with Shane in a chic leather jacket and spiky hair, and do your best not to swoon away.
The fact that Netflix is the home of Girlboss is a major plus for Simmons and his admirers, old and new. Also on the platform are Dreamland, where Simmons stars as a piano player who begins an affair with an older woman, and The Late Bloomer, where he plays a guy whose testosterone kicks in just a few years later than most young men. The Phenom is also available for streaming on the site, where he stars as a Major League baseball rookie opposite Ethan Hawke and Paul Giamatti. All three films were released in 2016 and went disappointingly unnoticed, but make for a perfect watch during a Netflix night in.
Having Simmons around in Girlboss scratches the rom-com itch and lets him make his mark in the time he’s given, while not taking away from the scrappy and motivated message of the show. Sophia doesn’t need a man to help her, but sometimes it’s just nice to have a cute (and talented) guy around anyway. From shy guy to total stud, Simmons has done it all, and there’s plenty more of that smile available to stream — sometimes it just takes the help of a Girlboss to point it out to the world.
