“Feel Good”—Fresh, Funny, Moving

where to watch: Netflix

when to watch: when you’re looking for something interesting and new. when you want to laugh but are also ready for some feelings. when you want some good TV. 

you should note: Created and starring Mae Martin. Features addiction and drug use.

tl;dr: An aspiring comedian falls in love with a young teacher while also dealing with her addiction and struggling with her identity. (It’s funny I promise!)

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The best thing about living in a time with almost too much content is that TV shows are more diverse and innovative in their subject matter and storytelling than ever before. 

Every couple of blog posts I say something along the lines of “it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before,” and it’s always true. It seems like every day, there are new shows that push boundaries with how they tell stories. Genre-blending is the norm these days.

Which brings me to Feel Good. Created by and starring Canadian comedian Mae Martin, it is another semi-autobiographical auteurist half-hour comedy show. But it’s the first show I’ve seen about a gay aspiring stand-up comedian struggling with her gender identity who is also a recovering narcotics addict.

messy

This show is what I call comedy at its best. Funny sometimes, but also poignant, complex, and honestly not that “feel good.” These characters feel messy.

Mae is a complete romantic. Her line delivery is incredibly awkward, which is where most of the comedy comes from. Sometimes I don’t know if I should laugh or cringe. She is a recovering addict and often makes choices that are not the best for her or those around her. 

George is also pretty messy. She has really shitty friends. She’s never dated a girl before, and can’t bring herself to come out to anyone. She’s excellent at making an already confused and insecure Mae feel inadequate.

Feel Good is strange because it’s a Rom-Com where you aren’t sure you want the characters to end up together. Love isn’t idealized as a cure-all (*cough cough Modern Love*), instead it’s complicated. Mae often talks in her Narcotics Anonymous group about how even though these addicts are so-called “recovered,” they are really just replacing their narcotics addictions with other addictions. For Mae, she gets “addicted” to the girls she dates. In this case, George. George and Mae move in together after just three months of dating. From comments by Mae’s parents, it seems like losing herself in relationships is her MO.

Lisa Kudrow is awesome as Mae’s mother. Mae has a really complicated relationship with her parents, and it’s explored gracefully. It’s poignant in the most subtle of ways, and some of the smallest lines brought me close to tears. 

in conclusion

This show is intense and fascinating, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. The main couple is compelling, and I go back and forth on if they are good or bad for each other. 

You can watch it in one sitting, it’s 6 25ish minute episodes. I really hope this show gets renewed. Season 1 just barely introduces us to Mae and George, and there is a lot of story left to tell here. It’s also shot beautifully!

It’s different and new and so worth it! Let me know what you think!