Netflix's hit show Ginny & Georgia is a study in divisive characters and moral ambiguity. Ginny and her mom Georgia are used to moving around a lot, hence the locale-inspired names. Ginny resents Georgia for this, but when they finally settle down in Wellsbury, Ginny finds herself turning into a new person - one who resembles Georgia.
Ginny makes friends for the first time, and Georgia believes they can build a future for themselves in Wellsbury. Though it's a new experience for both of them, Ginny is affected by it more than her mother; Georgia's behavior remains the same throughout the season. Ginny's new friends are also impacted by the drama she and her mom seem to drag along with them.
GREW: Abby
On the outside, Abby seems like any other angsty teen, but as the season progresses, more of her private life is revealed. She suffers from low self-esteem, both physical and mental. She's easily offended by seemingly harmless jokes but feels like she can't speak up about it until Ginny listens to her. After rejecting Ginny at first and then throwing her under the bus for stealing, Abby comes to rely on her for comfort. In return, she offers to get in touch with a therapist for Austin.
When Abby's parents separate, she once again feels alone. Her friends are preoccupied with their own problems until Abby gets them together at Blue Farm. Even though the other girls are going through things, Abby points out that her problems are just as valid as theirs. Up until that point, Abby prefers to keep things to herself, so this is a big change in her character.
STAYED THE SAME: Zion
Like Georgia, Zion seems to think that this time, he will change. He insists that he's going to stick around and that he's not going to mess things up for Ginny by getting back together with Georgia. Of course, he fails miserably and winds up going back to his old ways.
Zion is the mysterious "penguin" as Georgia calls him, who is intent on living his life the way he wants to. He pops in and out of Ginny and Georgia's lives at his convenience, offering wisdom and adventure when he's around, then disappearing for months on end. This endless cycle doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon, as Ginny predicts from the beginning.
GREW: Hunter
Fans can say what they will about Hunter, but he grows a lot in season 1. This becomes most obvious when he punches Marcus in the face. This is something he never would have done before, but dating Ginny and having his heart broken by her changes that.
His growth may not be the most positive, but at least Hunter becomes more assertive. He's not yet mature enough to know how to use his voice in a way that won't hurt people, but it's important that he's discovered it nonetheless.
STAYED THE SAME: Maxine
As Marcus points out in the finale, Maxine still goes around thinking that everything revolves around her. This is after her heartbreak about Sophie, and after having just learned of Marcus and Ginny's relationship. From the moment she meets Ginny, she makes everything about Ginny's life somehow about herself.
When Marcus and Ginny are exposed, her first thought is that Abby and Ginny have betrayed her and that Marcus has been selfish by getting together with her best friend. She doesn't even consider how either of them feels, even after Marcus's concussion. After everything she's gone through in season 1, Max hasn't changed her ways at all.
GREW: Marcus
As Ginny points out, Marcus is afraid of anything real. This is most obvious in his relationship with Padma. Eventually, he's the one to break up with her. The breakup is likely influenced by his argument with Ginny in which he offhandedly says he doesn't care about Padma, which worries Ginny. He does what's best for all three of them by ending their dead-end relationship.
In the latter part of the season, Marcus is the one to initiate most conversations with Ginny, especially those about something "real." He's the one to bring up mental health and therapy when he learns that Ginny is self-harming. At the start of the season, he hides behind his enigmatic persona so that he doesn't have to be so honest with anyone. He actively avoids people, as hinted by his mom and sister. Marcus becomes more open and vulnerable because of his experiences with Ginny throughout the season.
STAYED THE SAME: Norah
Norah seems to be the least problematic member of MANG, being the peacekeeper. However, she's so intent on keeping the peace that she'd rather stay out of any conflict altogether. She sometimes bails on her friends to avoid confrontation, which is why she appears to have the least screentime of the four.
At the end of the season, she's still trying her best to avoid conflict. She doesn't offer her opinion in any of MANG's arguments, which is sometimes mature, but not always helpful. For instance, when the girls slap themselves at Blue Farm, she laughs and says she won't be joining in. But on the night of Sing, Sing, she accepts Max's invitation to "leave the liars" because it's convenient for her.
GREW: Austin
Austin is so young that he's growing all the time, but even for him, this season is a rollercoaster. He begins as an innocent kid following along in his mother's footsteps, letting her teach him to "sting" before others can hurt him. But when Austin meets Paul, a new side comes to light.
He reveals that he's scared to be himself because he thinks other kids like Zach don't like him, so Paul helps him accept his "weird" side. Georgia's lesson leads to Austin stabbing Zach with a pencil, but it also results in Austin standing up for himself and making his own choices. At the end of the season, Austin sees who Georgia really is and chooses to leave that lifestyle behind.
STAYED THE SAME: Joe
Joe gives Ginny a lot of advice throughout the season, but he never really acts on it himself. He's too scared to tell Georgia how he feels, and a flashback reveals that he was too scared to open up to her when he was younger. In the present day, Joe eventually makes up his mind to talk to Georgia, but backs out at the last second.
He may have good reason to hold back, but it's clear that Joe prefers to keep to himself and hide behind the counter of Blue Farm. His affinity for routine makes him a likable character, but it also stops him from stepping out of his comfort zone. This difference between Joe and Georgia is why they don't get together in season 1.
GREW: Ginny
Upon settling in Wellsbury, Ginny does a lot of things for the first time. In the beginning, her alienation from her peers is obvious, and she seems to regard them with contempt. However, soon enough, she forgives Abby and Norah for throwing her under the bus to become part of MANG's exclusive clique. She even excludes Samantha on Halloween, becoming the kind of person she used to hate.
Ginny also learns of her mother's true nature, and while she protects Georgia from authorities, Ginny also vows never to be like her. After witnessing yet another failed attempt by her parents to rekindle their relationship, Ginny decides to be honest with Marcus about her feelings. However, by the next episode, she chooses to leave Georgia - and Wellsbury - altogether, which completes her transformation to become a younger version of Georgia.
STAYED THE SAME: Georgia
The Georgia viewers see in the present day is very different from the younger Georgia who is just learning to build her own life. But in the present day, it's clear that Georgia hasn't changed in a long time. She's still jumping from one man to another, from one town to another, believing that every time it'll be different. Ginny repeatedly expresses her frustration at how often Georgia falls back into her old ways.
First, she's quick to get into a relationship with Paul, a man in power, which Ginny suggests is typical of Georgia. Then, when Zion shows up, Ginny predicts what's going to happen based on past events, and she's right. Georgia and Zion get together only to fall apart again. And once again, she commits a horrendous crime to maintain her tenuous grasp on control while deceiving everyone with her sweet exterior.