In college, you can do anything – redefine who you are and find a group of people who appreciate you for you. But when Benny, a college freshman, arrives at Yates University, he’s not quite ready to change who he’s always been. Benito Skinner’s Prime Video hit, “Overcompensating,” takes its viewers on a journey through Benny’s college years, balancing his desire to fit in with his need to be himself through comedy and nostalgia.
Throughout his childhood and high school experience, Benny overcompensates; from deepening his voice to being the star quarterback of the football team, he does everything he can to play the part of a hyper-masculine, popular jock, and throughout high school, it works. His lifestyle in the closet does come at a cost: Benny’s internalized homophobia defines his relationships and his sense of self, hurting himself and others along the way. When Benny arrives at college with the weak support system of his moody sister, Grace, and her douchy boyfriend, Adam, he tries to fit in and find his place. Adam is his first friend and his first window into what college life could be: not too different from high school. In an effort to find friends and fit in, he reluctantly goes home with Carmen, a quirky, awkward, nice girl, trying to find her place in college, too. Though Carmen doesn’t become Benny’s lover, she does become Benny’s best friend. This unexpected friendship becomes the focal point of the season, allowing Benny to have a person with whom he can be his new, authentic self.
Not only does this show’s plot hook the viewer, but so do its guest stars. Megan Fox, spotlighted throughout the season, plays a fictional version of herself. Her character is Benny’s imaginary friend-type support system, shown in a poster. Bowen Yang, featured exclusively in episode 6, plays a married gay man in a complicated, yet unconventionally hilarious, open marriage, where he meets Benny on Grindr.
One of the main reasons the show gained massive publicity was a viral clip of Charlie XCX, one of the most celebrated pop stars of the 21st century, who unforgetfully screams, “Do you think I want to play [f-ing] ‘Boom Clap’ in a [f-ing] college?” Though her presence in the show might seem random, the star’s plotline, along with both Fox and Yang’s, fit perfectly into Benny’s coming-out story and the show, message and vibe it is going for.
Bennito Skinner did not pull this story out of thin air. Skinner heavily based Benny’s story on his own. He knew, more than anyone, “that the specifics were going to be the moments where people could look on screen and [feel seen].” Skinner is a comedian and TikTok star, and after being encouraged by his agent to write something, he knew it had to be both meaningful and contain his humour. Skinner rooted his story in the concept of performative masculinity —a considerable part of his journey coming out of the closet. He wanted to center the show around a time when he “stopped overcompensating so much,” and he landed on moments with his female best friend in college, explaining why the friendship between Carmen and Benny takes center stage. Skinner’s writing process is not only thoughtful but also deeply rooted in his personal struggles and self. The authenticity of the story explains why so many have resonated with it on such a profound level.
But when is overcompensating meant to be set, and for whom is it intended? Like the vulture article titled, “When Is Overcompensating?” points out, the show is “…simultaneously 2015 and 2025 and everywhere between all at once.” The 2010s nostalgia and cultural references make sense because the show is tightly tied to Benny’s story of growing up and attending college during this era. Millennials report that pop culture references throughout the show, like Britney Spears’s “Lucky era”, Glee and Twitter-type social media give major 2010 to 2016 vibes, making many of them feel more connected to the show as an ode to their prime. However, the use of very recent technology and niche references that can only be understood in 2025 suggests that the show is not intended to be a strictly accurate representation of the millennial period. For a show that centers around coming out and the experience of queer people in America, the time period feels vital to many for context. Many view the show’s inability to stay consistent with the timing of cultural references as unthought-through or even lazy. The vulture article ends with a question, “Can you please tell me which one this show is about?” almost begging for an answer, which may have been stopping the writer from enjoying the show.
For me, the show didn’t quite land the same. I, as Gen Z, watched it with my aunt, a millennial. When we finished bingeing the show, we both had the same major takeaway: we loved it. Benito’s decision not to pick an exact time period for his show to take place was not an accident, and it was certainly not due to laziness. It was a creative decision to show that Overcompensation could be, and intends to be, a story that resonates with everyone. Skinner shows that the experience of a closeted person is not devalued by the political or cultural environment of the time period. Sometimes, it takes thinking outside of the usual constraints of television timelines for as many people as possible to understand, enjoy, and resonate with the show.
“Overcompensating” perfectly captures its target audience while showcasing original comedy and a quintessential college experience. It uses its time period to bring in big stars and create viral moments for numerous supporters. The show represents the importance of supporting young people in the LGBTQ+ community who feel insecure or judged when they come out. It gives many youths recognition for their emotions about friends and family approval and disapproval, and helps them understand how feeling insecure is okay and perfectly normal. “Overcompensating” is significant because it turns coping mechanisms into art and shows the audience why they may need to feel performative for other people through Benny’s eyes. The show has officially been renewed for a season two, and I, for one, am excited to see the next part of Benny’s story unfold and the new stars that join the story along the way.
