Ep 4. Stan by Me

Sydney is back and she’s angrier than ever. Just think of a hurt and heartbroken teenager, but loaded up with superpowers. Episode 4 of I Am Not Okay with This has Sydney fighting her way with her anger issues, and to top it all off, she’s going through a significant loss.

As viewers may remember, Sydney went off the deep end in episode 3, unleashing her telekinetic powers on a tree. She’s still dealing with the consequences of that little outburst, with her hand swelling up to three times its normal size. It’s not just that, but the fact that one of the individuals she’s supposed to be ‘saving’ doesn’t quite understand how to work with her ability.

To top it off, Sydney can’t stop obsessing over a girl she’s crushing on, and her ex-best friend Dina is finally starting to notice. Meanwhile, Stanley is still being bullied relentlessly by the school’s resident jerk, Bradley. Sydney has been using her powers to intimidate Bradley on Stanley’s behalf but is starting to realize that she might have opened up a door she can’t simply close.

Stan by Me, Episode 4 of I Am Not Okay with This, showcases how Sydney is looking for a way to understand herself and her powers. She spends a lot of time pouring over medical studies and experimenting on Stanley. All while Stanley is oblivious to her intentions and is trying to help her in his usual, quirky way. Their relationship is blossoming, but it’ll be hard to see where it goes in the future episodes.

As Sydney curls up at home, dealing with everything going on in her life, she’s visited by a personification of her anger (yes, you read that right). If you’re a fan of horror, this is the episode for you. Sydney’s infatuation with her powers has taken a turn for the worse, with her running away from the things she’s capable of doing and instead embracing her anger.

The visitor is Sydney’s wake-up call. It’s easy to think that your emotions are your own and that nobody else understands what you’re going through. Sydney’s visitor is a living, breathing representation of her rage and frustration, and it’s hard not to see it as a symbol for what Sydney is running away from.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. During the episode, Sydney starts to see the potential for her powers, beyond the destructive elements. She starts to see how she could use them to her help and that maybe, just maybe, she could use them to make the world a better place. And, in the ultimate plot twist, she finds solace from an unlikely source with whom she opens up and learns from. It's hard not to root for Sydney when she starts to see the bright side of her situation and starts to embrace what makes her different.

By the end of Episode 4, it’s clear that I Am Not Okay with This is a show that isn’t afraid of darkness. While the show may have lighthearted moments, it also has a lot of grit. The show deals with a wide range of emotions and situations, and it doesn’t shy away from the darker elements of life. The show is genuine and true, and it’s hard not to feel invested in the lives of Sydney and Stanley.

In short, the episode is an excellent addition to the series, with a great mix of horror, humor, and emotional depth. The show's pacing remains steady, and the acting is solid. Audience members will find themselves laughing at various points while feeling sympathy for Sydney's struggles, and that's a hard balance to strike. If you’re looking for a show that doesn’t shy away from the weird, the awkward, and the difficult moments in life, then I Am Not Okay with This is a must-watch.