Last updated on: July 29, 2025
Have you ever watched an actor for the first time and instantly thought, Yep, this one’s different?
That’s exactly how I felt the first time I saw Odessa A’zion on screen. I didn’t even know her name then. But I remembered her eyes—how they held so much defiance and vulnerability at once. That kind of honesty? You can’t fake it.
Why Odessa A’zion Stands Out
Odessa isn’t your average rising star. She doesn’t just “play” characters—she disappears into them. Her roles don’t scream for attention, but they stay with you long after the credits roll. Whether she’s breaking your heart, making you laugh, or just being brilliantly unpredictable, there’s a rawness to her performances that feels… personal. Real.
So if you’re new to her work—or maybe just want to dive deeper—this is your guide. I’ve picked five of her most unforgettable TV shows, not just based on popularity, but on the impact they made. On her. On the audience. On me.
Let’s get into it.
Wait—Who Even Is Odessa A’zion?
A Quick Backstory
Odessa A’zion (yes, that’s her real name—cool, right?) is the daughter of actress Pamela Adlon, who you might know from Better Things. So, yeah, she grew up surrounded by scripts, sets, and the strange magic of Hollywood.
But make no mistake: she’s not riding anyone’s coattails.
From the moment she started acting, she was doing it her way. No polished, cookie-cutter roles. Just messy, complicated characters who feel like people you’ve actually met. People you maybe are.
Odessa brings this mix of Gen Z edge and old-school soul that makes her performances hit different. She’s fearless. She’s funny. And she’s not afraid to be uncomfortable on screen—which is probably why her characters feel so alive.
How I Chose These Shows (And Why They Matter)
I didn’t just list the most popular titles here. These shows are the ones where Odessa brought something electric—something you couldn’t look away from.
Some were breakout moments. Others were unexpected curveballs. But all of them made me pause and think, “This girl’s got it.”
I’m looking at things like:
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How memorable her character was
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How much her role stretched her as an actor
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The emotional punch of the performance
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And honestly? Just how long I kept thinking about it afterward
1. Ghosts (CBS)
Imagine this: you inherit a massive, old house. You’re thinking Airbnb empire. But it turns out it’s haunted—by a dozen dead people from different centuries who never shut up.
That’s Ghosts, and it’s as hilarious as it sounds.
Now enter Odessa as Stephanie—a ghost stuck in her 1980s prom dress, full of sass, eyeliner, and teen angst. She only shows up now and then, but when she does? She absolutely owns every scene.
What I love about her in this role is how she balances sarcasm with sadness. Stephanie is funny, sure—but there’s always a twinge of something deeper under the surface. Like she knows she died too young, and she’s still trying to figure out how to exist in this weird, ghostly limbo.
Watching Odessa in Ghosts is like watching a comic relief character slowly reveal their pain. She makes you laugh, then makes you feel. That’s not easy. But she pulls it off effortlessly.
2. Better Things
This one hits a little differently. Better Things is a semi-autobiographical series created by Odessa’s real-life mom, Pamela Adlon. It’s about a single mom raising three daughters while juggling her career as an actress.
Odessa appears in a small but potent role as a character named—get this—Defiance. (Yep. That’s the character’s actual name. And it weirdly fits.)
Her scenes are subtle, kind of like little snapshots of teenage rebellion. But even in those moments, you feel her presence. There’s something about her delivery—the timing, the tiny facial expressions—that makes you feel like you’re watching a real teenager have a real moment. Not a performance. A glimpse.
And knowing that she’s acting alongside her mom adds this extra emotional weight. It’s not sentimental or showy. It’s just honest. And sometimes that’s more powerful than anything else.
3. Wayne
Alright, let’s talk about Wayne. If you like your coming-of-age stories gritty, weird, and full of emotional gut punches, this is for you.
The show follows Wayne, a tough-but-kind kid who goes on a violent road trip to get his dad’s stolen car back. Along the way, we meet Trish—played by Odessa—a hard-edged, street-smart girl with some serious emotional armor.
Trish could’ve easily been a throwaway character. The “tough girl” trope. But Odessa makes her real. She gives Trish depth. Pain. Hope. And this subtle kind of sadness that sits behind her bravado like a storm cloud waiting to break.
There’s one scene—I won’t spoil it—but she’s standing there, trying not to cry, and for a second, you can feel how much this girl has been through. It’s the kind of acting that doesn’t shout. It just shows. Quietly. Devastatingly.
Wayne might not be as well-known as some of her other shows, but it’s one of her best performances. Hands down.
4. Love
This one’s more of a cameo—but hear me out.
Love is a Netflix dramedy about two awkward people trying to figure out how to be in a relationship without ruining each other. It’s messy. It’s hilarious. It’s painfully relatable.
Odessa shows up briefly, but even in that small window, she makes an impression. Her presence adds a spark to the scene—something offbeat and genuine that fits perfectly in Love’s world.
Sometimes a guest role is just a guest role. But sometimes, it’s like a preview of what’s to come. A whisper saying, “Hey, remember this face.”
And in this case? You definitely should.
5. Grand Army
Here we are. The one.
If you only watch one Odessa A’zion performance, let it be this.
Grand Army is a raw, sometimes painful, often beautiful look at high school life in Brooklyn. It dives deep into trauma, identity, politics, and consent—and Odessa plays Joey Del Marco, the kind of girl who’s not afraid to speak her mind.
At first, Joey is loud, fearless, kind of chaotic. She’s the type who gets labeled “too much.” But as the season unfolds, so does her pain. Without warning, something awful happens to her. And what follows is one of the most vulnerable, honest portrayals of teenage trauma I’ve ever seen on screen.
Odessa doesn’t just act here. She breaks. And you break with her.
It’s not easy to watch. But it’s important. And Odessa carries that emotional weight like someone twice her age. This performance hurts—in the best, most necessary way.
She deserved awards. She deserved a second season. And honestly? She deserves so much more.
So… Why Should You Care About Odessa A’zion?
Because she’s not just talented—she’s real. She’s someone who’s not afraid to be uncomfortable, messy, raw, or weird. And that’s rare.
In a world full of polished performances, she gives us characters who are alive. She shows us what it’s like to hurt, to rebel, to laugh through the tears. And if that’s not the kind of actor we need more of, I don’t know what is.
She’s not just a rising star. She’s the kind of star you feel connected to. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll find a little piece of yourself in every role she plays.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, misfit, or just too much for the world—you’ll find something in Odessa A’zion’s characters that hits home.
And maybe that’s the point. Maybe what makes her so unforgettable isn’t just the acting. It’s that she makes you feel seen.
