Naomi is the perfect hero for a new generation

The CW’s newest superhero drama, Naomi, premiered on The CW on Tuesday. The season premiere, which has been met with across-the-board praise, established the show as a mystery-centric superhero show, unlike anything we’ve seen within the Arrowverse so far.

The show follows 16-year old Naomi McDuffie (Kaci Walfall) as she uncovers hidden superpowers and a much larger conspiracy within her military town.

Besides an interesting premise and a juicy hook, the series stands out in its portrayal of teenagers and Gen-Z culture. Gen-Z and its culture have become almost an enigma for TV writers, it seems. The shows that get it, get it; and the shows that don’t, don’t.

Naomi is a show that gets it, though in a more subtle way than some of the more recent Gen-Z outings we’ve seen over the past year.

HBOMax’s The Sex Lives of College Girls tried its hand at showcasing Gen-Z humor, and succeeded, even if some of the emoji-filled dialogue was a bit clunky at first. Though, to be fair, Gen-Z humor moves fast, with jokes and slang falling in and out of “style,” within weeks. This mostly has to do with TikTok and the trends that are born and die within a single week on the video platform.

To keep up, Naomi proves that the trick is simply not.

Naomi uses one Gen-Z slang word in the premiere: Stan. Though the term originated with the Eminem song of the same name, it was officially added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2017, making it a Gen-Z staple to describe a dedicated fan, even to this day.

Naomi refers to herself as a “Superman stan,” on her fan-site for the comic book character (not to be confused with Tyler Hoechlin’s Arrowverse Superman, who stars in Superman & Lois ahead of Naomi every Tuesday on The CW). The casual drop of that term establishes Naomi as a show and a character who is of this time, but not enough to date the show for any future viewers.

By not trying to include references to TikTok trends or jokes the internet has moved on from, the show allows Naomi to feel real and grounded as a teenager; she’s recognizable to those in Gen-Z, while still being relatable to those not within that generation.

Besides the subtle way Naomi establishes its lead characters as teens of the now, Naomi’s casually fluid sexuality brings the same Gen-Z energy to the premiere. It’s no secret that Gen-Z is the queerest generation ever, literally, and Naomi is no exception. In the premiere, the show establishes her relationships with three potential love interests: Her ex Nathan, her friend, and potential crush Anthony, and her friend Lourdes, who has a crush on her.

During a scene at the dinner table with her parents, Naomi says that she’s keeping her options open for all three of them, not wanting to settle down at just 16. The casual way Lourdes’ crush on Naomi is a non-issue for both her parents and Naomi herself is beyond refreshing, ensuring audiences almost immediately that this show will most likely be void of coming out stories or potentially homophobic plot-lines.

In addition to the references and fluidity that just feel Gen-Z, the show also doesn’t look down upon its teenage characters.

In the premiere alone, each of Naomi’s teenage main characters is all taken seriously, and not made to be the butt of jokes simply for their age. The series respects each of its characters and allows the audience to respect them too; even when they’re breaking into local car dealerships or skipping debate practice to get a glimpse of a Superman stunt.

Overall, the series does a fantastic job of walking the line between portraying Gen-Z to the best of its ability, while still keeping the series fresh and relevant for any audience. It’s always wonderful to see a series embrace its teenagers wholeheartedly, but even more so when it’s clear that, even if the most recent TikTok trend isn’t incorporated, the heart and soul of Gen-Z is there instead.

Naomi airs on The CW Tuesdays at 9/8c and Wednesdays on The CW App.