On March 19, Netflix is dropping a new dramedy called Feel Good.
According to Out, the series will center Mae, a recovering addict who struggles to balance the various relationships in her life, including those with her new girlfriend George (Charlotte Richie), her Narcotics Anonymous support group, and her abrasive mother (Lisa Kudrow).
From the trailer (below), we learn that George had previously never been on a date with a girl before Mae. For members of the queer community who have previously identified as straight before discovering queer attraction, characters like George may be able to normalize their journey of sexual/romantic fluidity.
The series will also touch on the intersection of queer identity and substance abuse, which unfortunately is not uncommon in the LGBTQ+ community.
According to the Center on Addiction, members of the LGBTQ+ community face a higher risk for substance abuse issues than their straight counterparts. Various reasons account for this, including stress linked to social prejudices, such as homophobia and transphobia, which, in turn, manifest into mental health issues like anxiety and depression. What’s more, the LGBTQ+ community already reports limited mental health treatment services specialized for the queer community, which often results in poor coping mechanisms, such as drug and alcohol abuse.
Titular character/actor Mae Martin says that the series is based on elements of her own life, including personal experiences with addiction.
From what we’ve seen so far, Feel Good holds major potential as an entertaining series. And perhaps this semi-autobiographical dark comedy may be helpful in highlighting queer identity and mental health through much-needed representation.
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