Prime Video has a solid track record when it comes to Young Adult content, having released several noteworthy series such as The Wilds (canceled), My Lady Jane (canceled), and, of course, The Summer I Turned Pretty. Given that these series typically have short seasons and are released annually, I’m always on the lookout for the next promising title — hopefully, one that won’t face cancelation! (Give me season 3 of The Wilds)!! Now, Prime Video has released a new Spy YA series, Classified.

So, Classified follows Ella (Imani Pullam), a young woman from Oakland, Ca, who finds herself in a challenging situation. After an incident at a protest, Ella is confronted with a difficult decision: face jail time or move to Johannesburg, South Africa, to live with her father, stepmother, and brother.

Now, Ella finds herself not only in a new city but a whole other country and continent! Typically in a young adult series, Ella would’ve gone to live with her father in Texas and she’d be learning about life on a farm. So, I love that we’re exploring a whole other world through Ellas’ eyes. On top of the culture shock, the extra layer of fun of Classified comes from her stepmother, Dianne (Christine Horn) who happens to be high up in the FBI. Dianne enlists Ella to help her talk to the son of a big bad they’ve been chasing.

With the intriguing addition of a “spy” element, Classified diverges from the conventional high school drama trope. This addition introduces a captivating layer of danger that adds to the overall excitement of the series. However, while the premise is engaging, I found that the pacing of each episode feels quite long at times. This is my main issue; despite the thrilling elements the overall story seems to drag. I found myself spacing out until the next important moment multiple times.

That said, I do think Classified is worth a watch. Make sure to check out now on Prime Video!