I Am Not Okay With This is set in the same universe as The End Of The F***ing World

27 February 2020, 13:13

By Katie Louise Smith

Both shows were created by Jonathan Entwistle who made the decision to set them in the same fictional timeline.

If you’re sitting there wondering why I Am Not Okay With This bears a striking resemblance to your other favourite time period-ambiguous teen Netflix series, The End of the F***ing World, then you aren’t the only one.

From the lighting and the costumes to the music, the two shows are like brother and sister – and there’s a pretty specific reason for that. (And no, Netflix didn’t just rip off a successful format and turn it into an American ‘remake’.)

Creator of TEOTFW, Jonathan Entwistle, is also the co-creator of I Am Not Okay With This. And, according to the production notes for the series, he decided to set the events of IANOWT during the same fictional timeline as season 1 of TEOTFW.

If you look closely enough to the series, you’ll be able to find an easter egg featuring James and Alyssa.

I Am Not Okay With This: All the The End Of The F***ing World easter eggs. Picture: Netflix, Channel 4

While I Am Not Okay With This is set in Pennsylvania, it appears as though the news of the two teens from the UK on the run from the police managed to reach the US headlines.

According to the production notes, a newspaper can be seen detailing the escapades of James and Alyssa back in the UK.

There’s also a nod to the acronym 'TEOTFW' on Syd’s notepad while she’s clearing her desk in episode 3.

'TEOTFW' can be seen written on Sydney's note pad. Picture: Netflix

The entire series is also littered with references to classic John Hughes movies, like Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. There's also some nods to Stephen King's Carrie, thanks to that blood soaked prom dress we see in the trailer.

Following the footsteps of Riverdale, Sex Education and the many many many shows that have paid homage before it, episode 5 of I Am Not Okay With This is also one big tribute to The Breakfast Club.

No doubt there's plenty more hidden easter eggs and references lying right in front of our eyes too. BRB, off to go and clock some more.