Feel Good

I stumbeled upon this series and I immediatly loved it. It's engaging, intelligent, funny, feels real and spontaneous, and it tugs on your heart at all the right places. I got so engrossed in relationship between characters that I felt alongside them love, happiness, shame, fear, confusion, anxiety -the whole whirlwind, that I have a desire to watch it again just to catch all the funny puns and dialoges that went on and that I possibly missed the first time. Anyway, cheering on for season 2!

I was happily surprised when I heard that there was going to be a show like this. A story involving a sexually fluid comedian would never have been told ten years ago, but times have changed since then. Mae Martin plays herself essentially since it is based off of her life. In interviews she has stated that this was her life about ten years ago.

The series focuses on her romance with George (Charlotte Ritchie), who has predominantly been straight for her entire life. As a result of being straight her whole life, she keeps it a secret that she is dating Mae from her horrible friend Binky (Ophelia Lovibond). That is not the only problem however. Both rely on one another far too much and have intense separation anxiety when apart.

Mae sees her relationship with George as an addiction. For years, Mae was addicted to all forms of narcotics. The writing is superb for effectively showing how Mae is dependent on George. Not only is the writing excellent at showing Mae's addiction to George, but how an addict also obsesses over one object or person. This was educational for me because I never thought addictions as trading one addiction for another. Another fascinating plot device was that Mae gets ringing in her ears when confronted with narcotics. Overall, the writing was phenomenal.

The series also shows the impact of addiction. Mae's parents are played by Lisa Kudrow and Adrian Lukis. There is a love there, but it is strained because of Mae's past activities. Episode 4 is very heartbreaking because their relationship is explored, but it is an amazing episode and full of several different emotions.

The show is absolutely hilarious too. Mae is super funny and loving with George. Another source of comedy is George's roommate Phil (Phil Burgers) who is from California and is completely zany.

Lastly, I am most pleased with the representation. There are stories about straight white men and women frequently with little variety. Recently, I am happy that has changed. Shows like Ramy and Fleabag have changed that. I hope to see stories like these become a commodity in the future. I definitely suggest this show to watch, it is absolutely amazing!!!

This show is intense and lovely, the jokes and the drama feels so real. It's very emotional and sweet and very much relatable to everyone. The fact that is in located in England with the sprinkles of that typical British humor makes it even more interesting.

I think it's a must watch.

There's a bit of a spate of quasi-biography comedian-as-themselves type drama/comedies on British TV in the last few years but Mae Martin's brittle and razor sharp tale of rehabilitation, relapse and relationships is by far and away the most painful and beautiful of all of them. Aided by a remarkably strong support cast (Charlotte Ritchie is spellbinding here particularly - and you keenly miss Sophie Thompson in the second series) but all oscillating around a mesmerically layered performance from Martin. Feel Good can really genuinely hurt you but there's a powerful strength to it to. Deeply underrated and not to be ignored.

If you like Mae Martin and want some representation, there's a good chance you'll really like this. It's quite well done - the acting and writing are solid and it tackles some deeper issues as well. I think most of the negative reviews are coming from people who had different expectations / didn't fully understand or enjoy the humor, but I thought it was hilarious and sweet.