Stories around love and the idea of it have often been romanticised or portrayed as unrealistic since ages. The tried and repetitive formula of a girl meets a boy and they fall in love. There has been an evolution to some extent on the scope of those stories nevertheless. We in Indian cinema still get to see such cliché and formulated TV shows and films.
Although it has been a new era for stories exploring ‘self love’ moreover ‘acceptance’. These TV shows have given conversations to have in societies, changing the way we look at each other, our choices, our lives and so much more.
The Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and numerous award winner show “Fleabag” that premiered on Amazon Prime in 2016 but sadly ended with a second season in 2019 is created by ‘Phoebe Waller Bridge’. Underneath all the hate, sadness, guilt, love, this show told the struggle of self acceptance and using other deflections in life to feel better with an honest lens. The last, ever-loving look Fleabag gives us while saying goodbye to the camera when the Priest and she have parted ways is all about that. It won’t be easy but Fleabag taught us well.
“Shrill” by ‘Aidy Bryant’ and ‘Lindy West’ tells us a story of Annie, a young journalist who struggles as her body changes. People around her like Ryan (boyfriend), Gabe (boss), Vera (mom) have scrutinised her all her life. The episode 4, ‘pool party’ in season 1 honestly created a big movement around audiences. Annie shows us the comfort one can and should feel no matter how you look because on the inside we’re all blood and bones.
“Jane the Virgin” on Netflix that ran for 5 seasons portrayed Jane a virgin who has Raphael and Michael as two lasting and overlapping relationships in her life but went beyond the idea of boy drama. Our heroine Jane is taught by her grandmother to lose her virginity only after her marriage. In our Indian culture, the conversations around sex after marriage are limited to none. And in those subtle ways we explore Jane’s journey through female friendships, generational changes but at the core her belief in herself.
“The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel” created by ‘Amy Palladino’ (Gilmore Girls) on Amazon Prime changed the game when telling the story set in 1950’s about Maisel who although has everything she wanted, discovers her hidden talent and goes for it, even when society and her husband were against those dreams.
To name a few, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” by an ensemble writing cast including ‘Tina Fey’ on Netflix, “Insecure” by ‘Issa Rae’, “Girls” by ‘Lena Dunham’ on Disney+ Hotstar, “Broad City”.
These TV shows are revolutionising stories in a much more natural telling and cleverly avoiding being pretentious.
What is a story that opened your eyes and perhaps made loving yourself a little easier?
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