Ep 4. Solo

Maya and Anna are back with another hilarious episode of PEN15 season 1 episode 4 titled "Solo". In the previous episodes, we have seen Maya struggle with her crush on her classmate Brandt. In this episode, she struggles to express her feelings to him and often gets tongue-tied in front of him. Anna, on the other hand, is dealing with her parents' divorce and her father's new girlfriend.

The episode starts with Maya and Anna practicing for a class presentation that they are going to give in front of their class. Also, Maya is going through some changes as she has her first period. She is scared to talk about it with her mom and instead reaches out to Anna for help. Anna, who thinks she is a period expert, gives Maya some dubious advice and things go awry.

Meanwhile, Anna's mom, Kathy, is trying to help Anna cope with her dad's new girlfriend by letting Anna spend time with her dad in a solo capacity. But it turns out not to be as suitable as Kathy thought it would be as Anna's dad spends most of his time with his new girlfriend, and Anna feels left out.

Maya is also trying to find some time for herself, and she has the perfect opportunity to do so as her parents are having a dinner party. She decides to sneak out and go to the park to practice her guitar skills. While Maya is playing her guitar, she runs into Brandt, and the two share some awkward moments. This is her chance to finally tell him how she feels, but will she be able to muster the courage?

At the same time, Anna is distressed about her dad's new girlfriend and is feeling left out. She decides to take matters into her own hands and invites her dad to a movie night. She waits anxiously for him, but he fails to show up. Anna then talks to her mom, and they finally have a heart-to-heart that helps Anna to be at ease with her dad's new girlfriend.

Maya has a significant breakthrough in the episode, and we see that she has finally mustered the courage to express her feelings to Brandt. But as Maya confronts Brandt, things don't go as planned, and she ends up embarrassing herself in front of him. The scene is gut-wrenching, and we feel Maya's pain as we watch her heart break.

The episode ends with Maya and Anna sitting together and reflecting on their day. They express their feelings of frustration and sadness but end up laughing it all off. The two friends bond over their shared struggles and realize that they have each other and that's all that matters.

In conclusion, "Solo" is a heartwarming episode that perfectly encapsulates the confusion and vulnerability of adolescence. Maya and Anna take us on an emotional rollercoaster as they navigate their relationships with themselves, their families, and their crushes. The episode is brilliant in its nuanced portrayal of teenage life, and it will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost or alone. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for another side-splitting episode of PEN15.