Netflix has been non-stop creating new shows and movies for a few years now. Most of these shows have been outside of the box, breaking the boundaries of normal Hollywood movies. Everything from Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things to The Kissing Booth and To All the Boys I’ve Loved, but their latest movie has started quite the controversy.

This newest Netflix rom-com, stars Shannon Purser as Sierra Burgess, the insecure protagonist. Alongside of her is her love interest Jamey played by newest teen heart throb Noah Centineo and the mean girl Veronica played by Kristine Froseth.

This film tells the story of Sierra and her hard times at school. Netflix made her a character that some girls could relate to–the girl not everyone thinks is the prettiest, a girl with many insecurities. In most high school movies, the insecure girl is usually still seen as a socially pretty girl, so it was nice to see a movie that broke the stereotypical sad story about an outcast girl who just wears glasses then takes them of then everyone suddenly thinks she’s hot and beautiful.

Sierra’s antagonist is like every other one, a popular girl who bullies her because she’s not pretty enough for her to be nice to Sierra, I guess. In one scene, Veronica is having lunch with her friends when one of the guys at her school, Jamey, approaches her and asks for her number. She, being the mean girl she is, gives him Sierra’s number. Basically this all results in Sierra catfishing him.

The plot ends up going terribly downhill. Sierra ends up becoming friends with Veronica so she can help her catfish Jamey in return for Sierra helping her study so she can appear smart to a college guy Veronica is going after. They FaceTime him and have Sierra talk but have Veronica on camera mouthing the words Sierra says. He goes on a date with Veronica, but Sierra’s hiding in the corner, then when they go to kiss, he closes his eyes and they switch places. Sierra ends up backstabbing Veronica when she actually kisses Jamey because he doesn’t know the person he’s been talking on the phone to is Sierra. There’s even a part where she acts deaf so she doesn’t get exposed for her voice. Then she comes up with a song and everyone magically forgives her. Sounds confusing, right?

I had many problems with this movie. I think my main problem is that they could have made this movie so much more, but they executed it poorly. They tried to make Sierra out as this victim when basically all the problems were started by her. She went above and beyond to talk to Jamey over text and the phone. When she found out Jamey thought he was talking to Vericona she didn’t even think of stopping it, she ran with it. She even sexually assaulted him. Jamey didn’t know he was kissing her, he thought he was kissing Veronica.

Also, she walked away from him in that scene smiling like an idiot. Netflix didn’t even make it seem like she was doing anything wrong until she backstabbed Veronica because she kissed Jamey. She was seen as the victim just because she was insecure. She writes a song about how she’s rarely picked like she’s a sunflower amongst the roses, then all is forgiven.

She doesn’t even physically apologize to anyone except her close friend she ditched to hangout with Veronica. She just sent Veronica the song then she went to Jamey’s house the night of homecoming and somehow convinced him not to be upset with her, then he went to Sierra’s house. She finally apologized to him after he told her he forgave her.

The plot was all over the place. It could have been done so much better. It was supposed to make the viewers feel sorry for this outcast, insecure girl but she ended up being the villain in her own sob story. Just because you have insecurities doesn’t mean you can go around catfishing boys and backstabbing your friends for no reason. In conclusion, Sierra Burgess is not a loser, she’s just a jerk.