Best friends Polly and Zara are scrappy, loveable, and hilarious…and also broke. This chaotic pair is the focus of The Drop, a comedic web series exploring line-waiting culture in Toronto through the eyes of two Gen Z women hustling to afford city life.
In order to afford the sky-high costs of living in the city, Polly and Zara venture into the business of professional line-waiting. Affluent clients pay them to wait in lines and secure the hottest new products as soon as they drop, whether it’s a sleek new phone or cure-all bottled air.
Along the way, the dynamic duo encounters plenty of quirky characters and wacky scenarios—from a zombie apocalypse inspired by the Rogers outage of 2022 to an epic “Yo Momma” battle to the horrors of getting cancelled online.
The series was created by filmmakers Dani Pagliarello and Aisha Evelyna, who also give dynamic performances as Zara and Polly. The Drop feels like an authentic Toronto story, with references to iconic city figures and places, but also the very real threat of affordability looming underneath it all.
The series recently won the award for Best Toronto Web Series at the T.O. Webfest Awards, and it’s easy to see how this blend of satire, edgy humour and timely social commentary on consumerism and the wealth gap is resonating with viewers.
We asked Dani and Aisha a few questions about The Drop, their unique approach to satire, and the weirdest lines they’ve witnessed in Toronto.
How would you describe what audiences can expect from The Drop?
Side-splitting comedic performances by a crew of young, VERY hot, confused Gen Z’s figuring out how to survive (never mind thrive) in the big city, and a glimpse into the underground world of line-waiting culture and product drops.
What is the weirdest line you’ve witnessed or waited in yourself?
We were on a Zoom with a producer, and he told us about a line that was forming, in real-time, outside his window, for a fried chicken/donut sandwich collab. But a few doors down, there was also a lineup… for a food bank. People lining up out of necessity vs. people lining up for the city’s latest “Instagram-worthy” food craze — we thought it was so ironic and encapsulated the central idea for the show perfectly.
Polly and Zara are quite the dynamic duo. What is something you each love about your characters?
Dani: I love how Zara enters her villain era mid-season. It’s also nice to see a character struggling with type 1 Diabetes repped on screen.
Aisha: I love that though misguided, Polly is incredibly loveable. And her drip is… chef’s kiss.
How would you describe your approach to satire in the series?
The characters are depressed by the unstoppable force of capitalism (being Gen Z’s with no prospect of stability), while also indulging in it full force (Polly needs the latest Off-White hoodie STAT). Regardless of how heightened the characters or storylines get, it’s always from a very real place.
Many people can relate to Polly and Zara’s hustle just to pay rent. How did you go about addressing that comedically?
As artists we’ve done A LOT of weird jobs to make ends meet. We sat in our writer’s room and drew from our real lives. Ironically we never see inside the girls’ apartments because they’re BIZZY, out in the streets making money, but we do hint at Zara living in a parking garage (and the rent is still astronomical….).
What was it like working together on this series?
We went to theatre school together, so we had a relationship before getting together for The Drop. It was a blast getting to work with someone that you already know well. Not gonna lie, at times it was confusing navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape, and challenging because we held so many key roles on the project, like showrunning, directing, producing, and playing the leads. We love Season 1 and are ready to do it again with a bigger budget and more episodes.
What is it about The Drop that you think is resonating with viewers?
Unforgettable comedic characters (one aptly named Bay Street Douchebag) and a strong BFF storyline. Zara and Polly’s journeys are both relatable and charming. We also think Torontonians are pumped to see their city represented authentically, and if viewers haven’t been to Toronto, they’re intrigued to see a new city on screen.
What were your favourite Toronto references to include?
Mentions of “The Jesus Guy” in Dundas Square, Chair Girl, and Rhianna and Frank Ocean’s sparse AF album drops (not T.O.-based but so true).
What is something you want to see more of from Canadian comedy?
Take more chances on fearless, uncompromising, specifically voiced work. We only stan the adjective “broad” when it comes to Broadcast and Broad City.
Follow Us On Instagram
