Life Is Strange adaptation: the death of cringe?

Alright, cards on the table, I never technically played Life is Strange (2015). But given the amount of hours I spent watching and re-watching playthroughs, comparing clips, and cross-referencing the choices made by a slew of YouTuber's to try and truly understand the story I had just witnessed, many people in my life honestly believed I had. For the uninitiated, Life is Strange is a 2015 choice-based adventure game that sees you step into the life of a young photographer named Max, for whom an altercation in a bathroom sparks a reconnection with ex-best friend Chloe and the revelation that she has the power to rewind time. 

In September of last year, Amazon officially announced that they had acquired rites to the series, and were starting development. A mere few days ago, Maisy Stella (Chloe) and Tatum Grace Hopkins (Max) were cast. While this all seems to be phenomenal news for fans of the franchise, many are preoccupied with how the series might be changed - specifically, that the 'cringe' aspect of the original game might be removed. And, frankly, I understand. There is something ludicrously 2010s about the series, packed to the brim with hipster hats and hair colours, outrageous teen slang, and just about every other ridiculous thing that we all thought made us cool as teens. 

The majority of adaptations trend towards attempting to 'update' the source material, ostensibly integrating the narrative into contemporary conventions, but in truth this corrodes the identity of the original piece. Life is Strange is a time capsule, a moment that existed in all of our lives that reminds us of YouTube Let's Plays and oversized beanies. It wouldn't - or won't - really be the same story without being all of those things, without being a little bit cringe. It's about being a teenager, a time period that makes everybody looking back at themselves cringe a little (or a lot), and so I think fans have a right to be concerned. We can only hope that the showrunners can understand this vital moment in time and bring it forward - what Stranger Things (2016) did for the 80s, Life is Strange could most definitely do for 2015. God, that makes me feel old.