SyFy’s monster of the week series, Lilly and Astrid Save The World is here! And what a silly, campy, fun ride it is.

LILLY AND ASTRID SAVE THE WORLD

https://youtu.be/ADylqFqnPzs

Best-Friends Astrid and Lilly are your typical outcasts at Pine Academy, but fortunately, they have each other. After a night of particularly brutal bullying, as well as being dubbed the “pudge patrol”, the girls go out to release their anger. Unfortunately, they unknowingly cast a spell opening a portal to a terrifying and quirky monster dimension. Now, they are the only people who have the power to vanquish the monsters and collect the items needed in order to repair the tear. Along with their self-proclaimed “Giles”, Brutus, and their wacky superpowers, Astrid and Lilly are set for the adventure of a lifetime.

Janna Morrison and Samantha Aucoin take on the lead roles of Astrid and Lilly. The actresses are incredibly charming and their friendship is relatable, as well as believable. I honestly think these girls are currently having sleepovers at each other’s homes. Morrison and Aucoin handle the camp and comedy with ease, while also portraying relatable outcasts who are just trying to navigate high school the best they can. 

I’m a huge fan of a monster of the week show. I’ve seen every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Smallville multiple times. And Astrid and Lilly Save the World belong right alongside them. I LOVE the monsters in this world. They’re the perfect mix of terrifying while also being hilarious. Seriously, the first monster we meet is a tall, pale, emo-monster who drinks the tears of the sad. It’s perfect.

BREAKING THE OUTSIDER MOLD WITH PLUS SIZE REPRESENTATION

ASTRID & LILLY SAVE THE WORLD — “Tontoom” Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) Jana Morrison as Astrid, Samantha Aucoin as Lilly — (Photo by: Alex Stead/Blue Ice Pictures/SYFY)

Teen Television is commonplace for the nerdy kid to find someone who they relate to. Whether it was Screech Powers on Saved by the Bell, to my favorite animated cynic Daria, and the more current Rue Bennet on Euphoria, not being the popular kid is more relatable than their popular counterpart. 

While the majority of outcasts are portrayed by people who, when you remove their glasses, look like Hollywood Stars, Astrid and Lilly destroy the mold. While the leads are also beautiful, and charming they are also plus-size. When was the last time you saw two plus-size leads in anything? Personally, as a plus-sized woman myself who was also a plus-size teen, I appreciate this long-awaited representation. 

Something else that makes it special is the way the characters and jokes are written. While the show does acknowledge Astrid and Lilly are plus-size it’s not exploited every episode for jokes or make it the focal point. Instead, they are just girls who exist who have plenty of other things going on in their lives…like killing monsters and figuring out their love lives.

Astrid and Lilly Save the World premiered on SyFy January 26th, 2020 with new episodes every week. Stay tuned to THS for more reviews and make sure to check out our Q&A with the stars!