_Just Another Girl on the IRT_ has a scrappy, energetic charm that makes it hard not to root for. Ariyan Johnson is magnetic as Chantel, a motor-mouthed Brooklyn teen with big dreams and zero filter, owning every scene with breezy confidence. Her cheeky fourth-wall asides land effortlessly; however, when things take a sharper turn, and her world is thrown off-kilter, the rawness of the performances suddenly feels more fragile. Still, there’s a gutsy honesty throughout—a fierce, funny, and quietly radical take on Black girlhood and ambition, balancing humour and rawness to keep you entertained and emotionally connected.

Go to full review