I Just Binged 'Overcompensating' and Now I See Why Everyone's Obsessed (Even If I'm Still Confused)
If you haven't heard yet, there's a new series called Overcompensating—and honestly, it wasn't even on my radar until TikTok did its thing. Between all the clips floating around and the mini think pieces popping up, curiosity got the best of me. I hit play… and I'm glad I did.
Overcompensating, which dropped on Prime Video on May 15, follows Benny—played by Benito Skinner (aka Benny Drama)—a closeted queer college student doing everything he can to hide his identity. His tactic? Lean hard into exaggerated masculinity. Think frat energy dialed up to eleven. And while that might sound like it could lean cringe or cliché, it actually doesn't. The show is smart, hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt.
Jackie Brown/Prime
What really sets Overcompensating apart, in my opinion, is that it doesn't try too hard. So many shows struggle to hit the sweet spot for millennials, Gen Z or even Gen Alpha without coming off as forced or cartoonish. But this one nails it. The humor feels organic and the characters are grounded (even in their ridiculousness)—probably because it's loosely based on Skinner's actual college experience. You can tell it comes from someone who gets it.
That said, the show isn't without its quirks. Some viewers have pointed out it's hard to pin down exactly when the story is supposed to take place. One minute Benny's referencing George of the Jungle and Britney Spears's 'Lucky,' putting him squarely in the early 2000s, and the next Charli XCX shows up performing one of her 2017 hits. The timeline's a little fuzzy—but honestly? It doesn't take away from the story at all. It just adds to the surreal, slightly nostalgic vibe the show plays with.
And let's talk about the cast. Alongside Skinner, you've got Adam DiMarco (yes, from The White Lotus), Owen Thiele, Holmes, Kaia Gerber, Lukas Gage and James Van Der Beek. Guest stars? Connie Britton, Megan Fox, Bowen Yang and more. Then there's funny guy Jonah Hill, who helped executive produced the show. The show is stacked both in front of and behind the lens.
So, if you're in the mood for something hilarious, a little messy and genuinely original, give it a go. You'll probably end up watching the whole thing in one sitting.
All 8 episodes of Overcompensating are streaming now on Prime Video.
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