That Girl Lay Lay Review: Democracy Dies in Dancing

    

    “I’m Sadie’s Affirmation App!!!” That’s the catchy intro to the theme song of Nickelodeon’s two-season show That Girl Lay Lay, now streaming on Netflix. The plot follows two high school girls, Sadie and Lay Lay, as they navigate teenage life, family, and school. Here’s the twist: Lay Lay is an avatar from Sadie’s affirmation app who magically comes to life one day in Sadie’s room. Over time, Lay Lay discovers special powers loosely tied to phone app features—like “pause” mode, speed-up mode (think 2x playback), and even teleportation.

    That Girl Lay Lay is a typical modern teen sitcom, but it carves out an interesting niche. It’s not as music-heavy as Erin & Aaron or as sitcom-classic as Zoey 101. Lay Lay is a bold, blinged-out, musically gifted teen—far more outgoing than the shy, brainy Sadie. Sadie originally used the app (a ChatGPT-like voice tool) to boost her confidence and become more engaging. She’s got a quirky family too: her parents are an advertising jingle duo, and her 10-year-old brother, Marky, is a pint-sized financial whiz.

Democracy Dies in Dancing

    In one arc, Lay Lay pushes Sadie to step out of her comfort zone and run for high school president instead of her usual environmental rep role (a job that got her bullied anyway). Sadie squares off against her longtime rival, the “mean girl” Tiffany. Side note: Why are so many mean girls named Tiffany? Think Tiffany Rockler, Tiffany Richter, or even Tiffani from Adventures in Odyssey. It’s odd. Anyway, Tiffany, Sadie, and Lay Lay are fierce rivals.

    But when election day arrives, it’s a mess. The “debate” is just speeches to a crowd of, like, eight people. Tiffany has her loyal sidekick who does everything for her, but instead of a proper vote, Sadie dances, and the principal just hands her and Lay Lay the win. Huh? It makes zero sense. Democracy—among the 15 or so students at this supposedly huge high school—dies, and no one blinks. By all logic, Tiffany should’ve won.

    The local teen hangout is Boom Box Burger, a 90s-themed joint with a stage that’s the backdrop for many shenanigans. Lay Lay hosts rap battles, Sadie’s parents perform their (terrible) jingles, and Marky wheels and deals (sometimes scamming) there. It’s a fun spot—honestly, one of the show’s highlights. In a late episode, Sadie even meets one of her favorite rappers there. (Fun fact: Lay Lay’s actress is a real-life rapper, so hip-hop vibes run through the series.)

    Despite being a teen myself and an expert on teen life, I’ve never seen kids actually gather at one central hangout like this. Still, Boom Box Burger works as a quirky, nostalgic hub. The show isn’t religious, except for one episode: “Ha-Lay-Lay-Lujah.” The Alexander family (plus Lay Lay) attends their monthly church visit. Despite their spotty attendance, Sadie’s somehow in line to be a junior deacon. It’s a chaotic episode—the Boom Box Burger owner can’t count offering pennies, Lay Lay overheats and dives into the baptism pool, the pastor overacts, and the choir sings every word. Yet only about seven people (non-singers or pastors) show up. This series struggles with “extras”—big spaces like the school or church feel oddly empty. Lay Lay’s constant panic about people discovering she’s an app feels silly too. Who’d seriously think someone popped out of a phone?

    That Girl Lay Lay isn’t “woke.” No gay episodes, no trans characters, no blacktivisim, no “down with the patriarchy” preaching. It’s pro-women (the two leads are female), but the male characters hold their own. In season two, Lay Lay gets a male rival—and she’s the one in the wrong for hating him. Marky’s funny, smart, and plot-relevant. The dad can be goofy but shines as a loving husband and father, especially in his bond with Marky—helping with business ventures or recovering a lost toy. There’s a brief Kamala Harris nod (Sadie says she’s “inspired” by her videos), but it’s pre-election and a throwaway line.

    In conclusion, That Girl Lay Lay, is a fun show about a shy, smart teen and her extravagant, app-born bestie navigating high school. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s entertaining, with a solid mix of humor, heart, and hip-hop flair. The democracy-ditching dance win still bugs me, though.