Walker has the balance with the teenage girl struggling emotionally

Teen angst is always difficult to write, especially when it comes to teenage girls. Walker has managed to get the balance just right so far.

Stella is struggling emotionally. Her mom is dead and her dad has been absent, and not just since Emily’s death. He wasn’t there that much in recent years, and ghosting the family for three months after Emily’s death certainly hasn’t helped matters.

It was always going to be a risk to have the daughter be the one to lash out against her dad. Getting teenage angst in girls is difficult. Supernatural failed with Claire, making her come across as bratty more than struggling. Gossip Girl struggled with Jenny and Vanessa.

In the first episode of Walker, the decision to have Stella show her emotions come through as anger was risky. The second episode shows that, so far, the series has the balance.

Stella brings us justifiable reasons for her anger on Walker

Stella isn’t just angry for the sake of it. She’s not lashing out at everyone just because she can’t deal with her emotions. Her anger is aimed at mostly just her dad.

She wants him to be in her life and not just present right now. That’s not something that’s happening right now, and she’s angry that the man who wants to be in her life can’t have custody of her.

Another part of her is angry that her dad has just turned back up and is making all the decisions suddenly. One of those decisions has been where they live, and Stella clearly doesn’t want to leave the people who have been there for her shortly after her mom’s death.

She also has some anger towards the injustices in the world. When it came to the soccer incident, Stella makes it clear that she isn’t going to just accept injustice. Just because something has always happened doesn’t mean it’s right and that it has to stay that way. That’s not angst but a young woman standing up for what she believes is right.

Most importantly, she’s warming up to her dad. When she sees that he is trying to be a part of her life, she opens the door a little more to allow him in. This isn’t being angsty for the sake of it, but simply struggling emotionally with all the loss she’s faced.

We need this balance. It’s important to see the good in a character to also understand the emotional struggle and root for the character. Walker has it so far.

What do you think of Stella’s character so far? What did you think of Walker Episode 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Walker airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW. Catch up the following day on The CW App.