So Anyone But Me may be ten years old, but it is still as relevant as ever. It was the first web series I ever watched and, let me tell you, my baby gay self was obsessed.
Anyone But Me follows Vivian (Rachel Hip-Flores), a teenage girl from New York City, who is dating Aster (Nicole Pacent), a confident city girl in her own right. The couple face their first major hardship as Vivian has to move out of the city, due to how her father’s health deteriorates following his role as a fire fighter during 9/11. The narrative arc over the three seasons follows Viv and Aster as they navigate the trials and tribulations of dating long distance, first love, heartbreak and self-discovery.
Anyone But Me was created by playwright Susan Miller and her creative partner Tina Cesa Ward, features a guest performance from How To Get Away With Murder veteran Liz Giles, and has won countless awards including four Indie Series Awards. Most importantly, Anyone But Me has stood the test of time. The importance of a show like this, especially at the time it which it was initially released, cannot be understated. I met one of the shows stars, Nicole Pacent, at Clexacon UK on the 3rd and 4th of November. Nicole is openly bisexual and thus understands the need for queer representation. She shared with me that she still receives messages from people who have watched, or are just discovering, the series telling her how it has changed their lives, helped them come out, or helped them accept themselves; proving again just how vital accessible queer representation can be, especially for those of us who are struggling.
As one of the shows leads, Nicole also happens to be a standout performer throughout the entirety of the three seasons. She has a natural talent that makes you forget she’s acting. Nicole’s gift along with a variety of other great performances, including that of the shows lead Rachael Hip-Flores, lend themselves to the authenticity of the series on a whole. Alongside the timeless narrative of teen love, this may explain why Anyone But Me still holds just as much weight ten years later.
For those of us coming to terms with our sexuality in the mid-2000s, Anyone But Me was a beacon of hope. It helped pave the way for all the incredible web series we have today, from All For One to the smash hit web series-turned-movie, Carmilla. I recently sat down and re-watched Anyone But Me from start to finish and I found that I was just as in love with the show, it’s charm, and it’s characters as I was when I was 15 years old. Anyone But Me will always hold a special place in queer fandom as a breakout web series that dealt with all the hardships of being a teenager in love and I personally will forever be thankful for it.
- Sara.
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The entire three seasons of Anyone But Me are available to watch for free over on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEC0Z9cNoBuHR38J9bKn4wg