'Zoey 102'-PCA Reunites in this Throwback Romcom

Zoey 102 is a young adult movie released on Paramount+ that serves as the sequel to the Nickelodeon teen sitcom Zoey 101, which was created by Dan Schneider and ended in 2008. The Pacific Coast Academy alumni return to Malibu for an over-the-top wedding that turns into a high school reunion.

Many cast members from the original series return and reprise their roles except Victoria Justice, Alexa Nikolas, Austin Butler, and Kristen Herrera. As mentioned, Lola Martinez, Nicole Bristow, James, and Dana Cruz do not appear in the sequel because, in the original series, Nicole and Dana were written off from the main storyline, and Victoria Justice and Austin Butler were unable to reprise their roles as Lola and James in this movie.

The main plot of Zoey 102 focuses on Quinn and Logan’s wedding. A lot has changed since the kids at PCA graduated high school. Zoey is now 30 years old, she and most of her classmates have jobs now. Logan and Quinn are still dating, a reference found in Season 4 of Zoey 101. Their TekMates are replaced with iPhones, indicating the change in technology trends. The subplot focuses on Zoey and Chase’s relationship as well as Zoey’s job as a struggling TV producer.

Just like in Zoey 101, the topics and themes of Zoey 102 are relationships and romance, which are topics mostly found in teen and young adult movies. Zoey and Chase reunite after a long breakup and resume their relationship after some awkwardness. The title of the reality TV series that Zoey is working on, “LOVE: Fully Charged“, has a figurative meaning; love is a complicated battle, even in adulthood. The wedding rings symbolize the commitment to marriage. Quinn Pensky is hesitant to go through the wedding ceremony, as she is nervous about committing to sharing her personal life with Logan Reese.

Pacific Coast Academy, now the students’ old school, has been abandoned after being closed down for so many years. Still, the alumni call PCA their home, as the school symbolizes old memories. The students have gone through a lot of ups and downs over the years, and love is no exception. The beach gives viewers a Los Angeles vibe; PCA was located near Los Angeles in the original Zoey 101.

There is no representation of minorities other than women as well as Christopher Massey who reprises his role as Michael. Nancy Hower is a female director. This movie is recommended for older viewers due to its mature dialogue and themes.