COLUMN: Netflix’s ‘Minimum Wage’ showcases Gen-Z humor that isn’t cringe-worthy
I first watched Netflix’s “Minimum Wage” adaptation completely unaware of theoriginal web series. Posted over two years ago by the “American High” YouTube channel, this series has jumped onto the Netflix scene in a way that kept me enthralled by the chaos present from its humble roots.
Yet such a short-form series focusing on out-there humor rather than plot depth is destined to lack a strong structural backbone.
The web and Netflix series follow the same protagonists, with each production maintaining a mockumentary style. However, this new Netflix series expands each episode’s duration and budget, holding on to the original’s sketch-comedy and improv while surpassing itsunder $2,000 budget.
The show begins by introducing us to the crew of seven teenage employees working at a local pizzeria. Led by teenage manager Grace (Grace Reiter), the barely qualified employees must navigate awkward customer interactions, keep up with the store’s demands and deal with their own personal lives simultaneously.
The pilot made me think the show would focus on one continuous journey to fix the store’s many quirks. The audience sees a limousine dramatically pull up to the store before the man inside walks up to the register. This man, Mr. Sylvester (Randall Park), turns out to be the franchise manager coming to check on the only location producing him financial loss.
So, with the massive dilemma of whether he should sell the store or not, one would think the series would follow these teenage employees as they try to solve that problem. Instead, the following episodes focus more on personal battles of wit between each coworker and petty disputes over things like prank callers.
While I enjoyed the series overall, I felt that this first episode set me up to expect something different than what the rest of the series ultimately delivered. And the question of whether their store will be shut down doesn’t get mentioned beyond the premiere, as Mr. Sylvester lives in the pizzeria basement, sulking over his divorce.
In praise of the series, “Minimum Wage” isn’t a cringy reenactment of what older generations believe Generation Z humor is. I enjoyed how the cast truly consisted of mostly Gen-Z comedians; it felt like they were more in tune with what is truly funny and what’s not.
Often, in newer films and series, like “You” or “72 Hours,” it feels like the introduction of a younger character acts as a moment to criticize the “new age” or even poke fun at the older generation that the movie is for. So, having a series centered on young individuals but at the same time not making them the butt of every joke, felt refreshing.
The series shifts its focus away from the characters’ age by emphasizing social dynamics and each character’s reactions to social situations in their personal and work lives, which often overlap. Instead of age-based humor, the series uses much more enjoyable situational humor like when they see their two teachers sitting at a table, assuming their deep conversation is an affair.
Another example is in episode three, “Breakup,” a customer breakup creates a gendered dispute between the whole crew, with each woman taking the woman’s side and each man taking the man’s side. When it is revealed that the girlfriend cheated, Grace and Julia (Julia DiCesare), the only ones aware of the truth, attempt to hide this fact from the boys.
The entire dilemma felt like a sarcastic play on how many other women, including myself, often take another woman’s side first. Yet, after knowing the truth, I no longer shared the same feelings as Grace and Julia.
Humorously, however, none of the employees looked like teenagers (and most of the cast is in their 20s), which made the whole ordeal that much more nonsensical.
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I especially enjoyed Grace Reiter’s indifferent delivery as the manager, who, although in charge of the entire business’s operation, has little clue how to run it. Due to her character’s attempt to control her slacking crew of fellow teenagers as their manager, there is some tension between her greater, yet still insufficient, level of professionalism and the rest of the crew’s carelessness.
I enjoyed how the Netflix series felt like an extension of the web series, which I eventually did watch. Although there is a change in setting, exchanging one pizzeria for another, I got to see more of the original series’ characters’ personalities.
Each episode is essentially a new story, without a central theme guiding the series, which I enjoy for a light-hearted watch of the crew’s wacky adventures. As a result, I felt the whole plot and structure were comparably weaker. Had the series been longer than 14 episodes, I suspect the structure would have become quite unlikable and repetitive.
But if you are a fan of comedy series that continue to present conflict after conflict or want to dive into a refreshing take on Gen-Z humor, “Minimum Wage” might just be the series for you. Another batch of 14 episodes is expected to release in early 2027.
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