‘Paper Girls’ Recap: ‘Weird Al Is Dead’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Paper Girls’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we are young, the future weighs heavy on our minds and rightfully so. After all, our parents inform us early on that time will fly by and youth will quickly give way to our teenage years. Wherein college awaits us and then adulthood, where the future becomes the present. Which means we have to quickly begin to ponder upon tomorrow and what kind of career we want and what schools will suit that best, and well, we go hard regarding such important thoughts. Since so many of the nights where we think about the future, we ponder upon endless scenarios before our thoughts turn to questions regarding what kind of person we will become and what we will stand for in this life, and of course… that allows for our imagination to run wild and ponder upon that in greater detail.
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To the point where we wonder what it might be like, to traverse time and potentially meet our future selves. So, we can see how many of our goals we managed to achieve and hear what wisdom we can impart upon ourselves. But of course, we know that such an encounter simply cannot be, and we go on with our lives and hope we can live up to our own expectations. However, the potential of that meeting is so powerful and so fascinating… that it is the kind of notion that outright haunts say, creative minds. Since a writer can envision such a meeting and it just so happens, that the writer’s room of Paper Girls on Prime Video… opted to explore just that, and well, ‘Weird Al Is Dead’ poses the possibility that such an encounter might not be as wondrous as we initially hope.

For 1988 Erin and 2019 Erin, had the chance to chat and visit while the Paper Girls enjoyed a little downtime in Erin’s family home. Wherein young Erin came to learn that life had not been kind to her future self and more or less quashed any youthful ambitions. To the point where it was obvious that Future Erin had basically settled and was carrying with her a lot of trauma and well, that revelation and the eventual fight these two individuals had regarding choices made… allowed for some powerful and poignant moments to play out. The kind that reminds us that the world can be cruel and tough and our sheltered standing in our youth, doesn’t prepare for us for that or the reality that trauma will shape us and change us. But at the same time this fascinating segment of the story also takes that reality to task. By pointing out that isn’t always healthy to compromise and it’s never healthy to let trauma take control. Setting the stage for potential growth for Future Erin and her younger self.

However, while it was incredible to see that play out and explore it in such detail, there was so much more that this episode had to offer. Since it also took the time to explore the flip side of traveling to the future and the joy it might bring some. For Mac made it clear that being in 2019 was a blessing in her eyes, since she was now free of the trappings of the past and the stigma surrounding her family, and it was fascinating to see someone find pleasure in being free from their present. Plus, this story also set the stage for bigger moments down the line. Since Prioress continued the hunt for the girls, even going so far as to learn more about KJ by invading her 1988 home and interrogating her parents, and of course… 2019 Erin might be far more useful than she believes. Since she figured out how turn on the device from the far future and learn a bit about its incredible benefits.

If anything, this was just… an incredible episode when all is said and done. One that was the perfect blend of science fiction and meaningful commentary on life. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt, that there was fun to be found in this story as well, since there were some delightfully comedic moments present, with the phone store and Erin’s crush on the guy that works there leading to some great laughs. Not to mention, this episode also found a way to remind us of the innocence of our teenage years and how we could always find fun in those days, regardless of what was going on around us and well… it really is the humanity that sells this story and sucks us in and well, now that the stage is set for more trouble from the future… it will be interesting to see how everyone maintains their humanity as Prioress closes in. Until next time.

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