Grand Army Tackles Queer Issues, Race, Class in Brooklyn High School 

Based on Katie Cappiello's 2013 play Slut, Netflix's Grand Army goes deep into the issues affecting an array of teens at a Brooklyn high school, including the story of Sid (Amir Bageria), a popular gay teen with traditional Indian parents who grapples with coming out.

Starring a cast of relative newcomers, at the core of the show is Odessa A'zion's (Nashville) Joey Del Marco, a wild girl who is sexually assaulted by her best guy friends. What ensues is a look into the still-nebulous area in the post-#MeToo era of whether or not people tend to truly believe survivors of sexual assault.

The series, from Gone Girl producer Joshua Donen and House of Cards's Beau Willimon, also stars Odley Jean as Dominique, a teen with a bright future who juggles helping to support her family with excelling at school. Amalia Yoo plays Leila, who longs to be desired by the popular boy at school while she leaves a mini-trail of destruction behind her. Rounding out the central storylines is Maliq Johnson as Jayson Jackson, a talented saxophonist whose best friend is unfairly punished for a prank they pulled that went wrong.

The acclaimed directors of the series represent an array of identities including women, Black, Asian, queer, and trans people. They include So Yong Kim, Darnell Martin, Tina Mabry, Silas Howard, and Clement Virgo.

The series, premiering October 16, thoughtfully takes on issues around racial inequality, class structure, sexual assault, and queer identity all while its characters try to get through the school day.

Watch the teaser for Grand Army below.