Throwbacks: As Told By Ginger (Season 1)

Growing up in the 90s we had the big three for children’s television: Nickelodeon, Disney, and Cartoon Network. I was always a Nickelodeon kid, until about middle school when I started watching some more of the “young adult” Disney shows like Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place.

By now it should be obvious that I love throwbacks, so when I saw As Told By Ginger on Paramount+, I knew it was time. I actually did another rewatch back in college when I found the entire series uploaded on YouTube. Something to do my homework to, ya know? But anyways…it’s time…again.

There was something about As Told By Ginger that always felt so relatable as a girl growing up in the 90s. The storylines felt so real and the animations were so right for the 90s. Watching it back now, her house, the school – it was all so accurate and well done. It felt homey and welcoming, nothing flashy, just right for us normal girls. And in 22 minute episodes, they often managed to teach hard lessons that sometimes I wonder if they really hit back then, as hard as they do now. You’ll see what I mean below 😉

Growing up, which of the big three did you watch more of? Do you remember As Told By Ginger? Do you think little you picked up on a lot of the messages? Did you cry as much as I did??? Leave your comments below!

For this post, and since I’ve been loving the series so much, I decided to do a review of each episode. Click the arrow next to each episode for more!

(S1E1) Episode 1: “Ginger the Juvey”

theme song was a hot start, and i already know i’ll be singing this for days now. sorry to everyone around me

we’re at lucky jr high and Courtney overhears the squad (Ginger Macie and Dodie) talking about after school pedis and sloppy janes so obviously our resident rich girl wants to take a walk on the wild (poor) side and see how the other half lives.

so while Ginger Macie Dodie sit in Ginger’s bedroom with the ice cream wall paper and purple horse bedsheets (and a random mobile hanging from the ceiling with shapes???), Miranda and Courtney mirror the at home pedicure in Courtney’s bedroom with the circular bed that we all wished we had at some point in our lives (right? just me? moving on). would just like to point out the lava lamp in the corner. even Courtney wasn’t safe from 90s bedroom decor xoxo

mid pedicure, Miranda decides it’s a great time to start planning Courtney’s not-so-surprise party and Courtney tells Miranda to include Ginger on the guest list (much to Miranda’s displeasure). Courtney then practices her hottest “what a total and complete surprise!” party reaction and her little brother Blake spies on all of this and takes it back to his elaborate treehouse that looks more like a normal person’s house house.

cut to Ginger’s little brother Carl who’s laying on the floor of a doghouse with a bunch of dentures and the jar with the eyeball (“petrified eyeball” as they refer to it) as decor. Carl’s best friend, and Dodie’s little brother, Hoodsie, is there with him while they try on the dentures (gross).
Blake tries to blackmail Carl for info on the party but gives up the info before even naming his price (the petrified eyeball). Carl does the damn thing right and gets Ginger’s curling iron in exchange for the news that Ginger is going to be invited to Courtney’s party which Dodie deems the best news ever.

one thing that was always really cool about the show is how they actually wear new outfits as opposed to the cartoons where the characters wear the same outfit always. so the next day at school, Ginger’s wearing brownish maroon pants with a dark pink long sleeve and a light pink vest. cute!
not so cute: Miranda reminding Ginger how hard it’s going to be for Ginger to get Courtney a good gift for the party. hand painted barrettes just won’t cut it this time, Ginger!

we meet Darren for the first time and Miranda takes the crew to a bank to show them what Courtney wants: more money perhaps? an interest yielding IRA account linked with free checking? maybe that’s just Macie. no, it’s the enter sign outside the bank. which Ginger would have to STEAL. Miranda tells her she has until 4 15 to decide…not sure what happens after that. maybe she’ll turn Ginger into a pumpkin.

so our Ginger is left with a decision: steal the sign and risk prison, or show up with a lame gift and never be invited to a party again (which is basically like prison). jr high dilemma at its finest.

Ginger decides to steal the sign, so after her mom leaves for work, Darren makes out with Carl’s doorknob i.e. picks the lock with his headgear so they can raid Carl’s closet for black shirts and beanies. are you really partaking in a heist if you’re not dressed the part?
despite no one being home, they climb out the window instead of using the front door – i guess to keep the delinquent momentum going, get into character, etc etc.

Miranda’s at the party and calls her officer dad to let him know there’s a robbery taking place. Ginger and gang gets arrested right as Ginger’s stealing the sign. they drive by the party, handcuffed in the back of the cop car so the whole party caught a glimpse of Ginger the Juvey!

oh and even though Ginger couldn’t close the deal on the sign, Blake does manage to steal the petrified eyeball from Carl’s doghouse. a parallel where at least one succeeds!
the final scene is Ginger in her bedroom, writing in her diary – a scene as i recall, we see more than once on this show

THOUGHTS: a good episode to bring you into Ginger’s world, introduce you to the show and give you a dose of the high school antics to come! overall i give it a 9 out of 10 – i know there’s better episodes out there but for the first episode of a show, it does a great job