'Andi Mack's' last season features ups and downs of those emotional and formative 'tween years

The cast of 'Andi Mack' says goodbye.

Its too bad that Andi Mack was aired only on the Disney Channel because it deserves a bigger audience. In its too-short three seasons, about average for a Disney show, the coming-of-age series dared to tackle topics other shows aimed at the crucial so-called tween years steered away from.

Not only did the show center around an Asian American family, it also made history by featuring an openly gay character.

Along with including a gay character, Andi Mack excels in other areas of representation and inclusion as well. As one Twitter user pointed out, it includes storylines on anxiety, Jewish culture, teen pregnancy, learning disabilities, and much more. This was no accident; Disney is well aware of the need for messages of inclusion.

As spokesperson for the network told Variety, "Andy Mac is a story about ‘tweens’ figuring out who they are; (showrunner) Terri Minsky, the cast and everyone involved in the show takes great care in ensuring that it’s appropriate for all audiences and send a powerful message about inclusion and respect for humanity."

That was the key: Respect. The series showed that relationships don't have to be poisonous; that you don't have to bring anybody down in order to feel good about yourself; and the value of real friends who love you for who you are, not what you aren't.

The cast has known since last year that the season they were taping was the last one. It seems to be Disney policy: Don't let the shows outgrow its audience. The popular Lizzie McGuire and Boy Meets World met similar fates.

Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who plays the titular Andi Mack, gave Hollywood Life an idea what the final season is about. She said that as the relationships fall apart “the characters start to see what really matters and really start to understand that undying love that’s at the foundation of all the relationships. So through those struggles and the hardships in the relationships, they really find the heart and soul of every one of the relationships.” She also revealed that fans will see “a lot of the characters developing relationships with new characters.”

In other words, the show tells its youthful audience that life isn't like a TV show where everybody lives happily ever after. But life's ups and downs are only temporary and one can survive and life goes on.

"I really feel like Andi Mack has done such a good job of letting kids know that it’s really okay to be themselves," says Lilan Bowden, who plays Andi's mother. "I really hope that we remind people that hardships mean you can be okay with yourself, grow up, and be okay with your circumstances. I hope these last episodes give fans the feeling of acceptance and love."

If only a show like Andi Mack was around when I was in 6th and 7th grade. All the awkwardness and emotional roller coasters of those years might have been easier to take.

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Asian American family dramedy 'Andi Mack' draws to a close

DISNEY

The cast of Andi Mack was led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, 3rd from right.

If you haven't been a regular watcher of Andi Mack, hurry on over to the Disney Channel and watch a few episodes. If you're too old for this coming-of-age story, you might still be able to recognize yourself in its young cast.

The story about an Asian American young girl and her family growing through her tumultuous teens never garnered the huge audiences or media buzz that network shows seem to generate, but its characters and storylines connected with a young audience.

“Andi Mack was a labor of love for a room of impassioned, inventive writers, a talented and dedicated crew, and an extraordinary, miraculous cast who inspired us all. We had the honor of breaking a lot of new ground for Disney Channel,” said creator and executive producer Terri Minsky. 

“We were its first serialized show, its first series centered around an Asian American family, and its first to feature an LGBTQ character who spoke the words ‘I’m gay.’ But the best part of making Andi Mack was our audience, who let us know we mattered to them. The series finale is for them.”

Unfortunately, the show's third season will be its last, announced the Disney Channel Wednesday (April 24).

The series will return for its final episodes on June 21 and air its series finale on July 26.

Andi Mack stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee as the title character, Lilan Bowden as Rebecca “Bex” Mack, Lauren Tom as Celia Mack, Joshua Rush as Cyrus Goodman, Sofia Wylie as Buffy Driscoll, Asher Angel as Jonah Beck and Trent Garrett as Bowie Quinn.

The series has been praised as a heartwarming, diverse coming-of-age story about the most important things in any young person’s life: family, friends and the journey of self-discovery.

Year to-date, Andi Mack is Disney Channel’s most-watched series overall and its highest-rated among Kids 6-14. It has received a Television Academy Honor, a GLAAD Media Award, a U.S. Asia Institute honor, the Common Sense Media Seal for Quality Family Programming and a Peabody Award nomination.

The cast may have had a sense that their show would not have a fourth season after filming the last episodes of Season 3 last year.  Peton Elizabeth Lee, the series' titular star, tweeted this touching note to her castmates.

“I could spend the rest of my life reminiscing about the last three years,” she wrote in alongside a sweet clip of her and the rest of the cast dancing on set. “The dreams we made realities. the late nights laughing. it has been absolutely magical. that is the only word that truly embodies my experience with andi mack. magic. so whimsical and surreal.”

“To my andi mack soulmates, thank you for making me believe in magic. you were my fairytale,” Peyton continued in the emotional post. “Cheers my family, for the aching in my heart is due to the love we have found in one another. the life we have created is one that will last a lifetime in my soul. every word. every smile. every tear. engraved into my mind. for eternity. i have found something here that in my life so far i didn’t know to be. true love. like in the movies. like in the storybooks. like in our minds. but i found it in salt lake city. i found it in lilan. in asher. in sofia. in josh. in trent. in lauren. in my crew. in andi mack the show. in andi mack the girl.”

“So how does one go about thanking people for giving her a reason to wake up in the morning? for igniting a fire in her soul?” the 14-year-old wrote. “This, i have no answers for. all i know is that three years ago i was just a girl. 11 years old. 4 feet and 9 inches tall. a dream as big as the galaxy. and today. 14 years old. 5 feet and 5 inches tall. and that massive dream has become a reality. a truth that i hold in my heart with each passing day. with every moment. with every breath. may our memories here be as vivid in our minds in 20 years as they are today. may we all feel honest happiness once again. may we all find our happily ever after.”

Andi Mack was reportedly Disney's highest rated show so its cancellation caught its fans by surprise and #renewandimack began trending on social media. Disney didn't offer an explanation of their decision except that the network has a habit of ending their popular series prematurely. Classic Lizzie McGuire lasted only two seasons despite its positive impact on young girls. Girl Meets World met a similar fate.

I have to admit I don't fit the show's demographic (way too old) and I don't have the show on my "must watch" list. However, I remember how difficult those young teen years were like without anybody to share them with or not able to see my angst reflected in pop culture. For today's teenagers and soon-to-be young adults, for a few years, at least, they had Andi Mack.

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