The Guardian's TV critic reviews Sterling Point, a new coming-of-age drama on Prime Video from the creators of Gossip Girl and My Old Ass, praising it as unexpectedly compelling escapist television. Set on a picturesque Canadian island, the series follows Annie, a type-A 17-year-old New Yorker who discovers family secrets and inherited property after her estranged grandfather dies, prompting her to investigate her late mother's past. Despite the reviewer's initial scepticism that it would be a formulaic high-school drama, the show is described as transcending genre conventions with warmth, humour and a genuinely intriguing mystery.

Annie's journey takes her to Sterling Point, where she joins a close-knit group of free-spirited teenagers, including Oona, Ellis, Rory and Ramona, whose relationships and secrets drive the plot alongside swimming, boating and budding romances. The review highlights the show's authentic portrayal of gen Z and gen alpha characters, noting their emotional literacy and fluid approach to sexuality and gender, reflecting real-world statistics that more than one in five gen Z individuals identify as LGBTQ+. Comparisons are drawn to other coming-of-age titles such as The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Half of It and Booksmart, with the show praised for its sharp, contemporary dialogue and layered characters.