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By Maggie Martin Feb 24, 2014
10 Reasons Why Every Human Should Watch My Mad Fat Diary
If you don’t follow me on Tumblr and haven’t seen the onslaught of My Mad Fat Diary posts over the weekend, then I’m here to tell you about my newest obsession (and why it should be yours as well).
MMFD is a British drama about Rae Earl, a sixteen year old girl who has just been released from a mental hospital after struggling with eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. When she gets back into town she is greeted by her best friend Chloe who has made a new group of friends called “The Gang”. They quickly become Rae’s salvation while trying staying afloat and teach her what it means to be happy again.
While that’s a very over-simplified description, here are ten reasons why you should be watching My Mad Fat Diary.
1. Its Humor
While the show has a lot of heavy material, the characters in MMFD are hilarious.
2. Set in the 90’s
Who doesn’t want to watch a show where Oasis is almost entirely all of the soundtrack? And only millionaires have cell phones?
3. Real, complex characterization
What I probably enjoyed most about the show is summed up in one of Finn’s quotes. “Everybody’s got stuff.” Rae has friends from the hospital that are going through things—her best friend Tix is deathly anorexic, her best friend in “The Gang” Chloe is supposed to be the beautiful put together one and she has a relationship with a teacher that goes awry. Archie has a huge secret as well (sorry I don’t want to give away all of this!) and Finn is struggling with his grandmother being ill. Everyone has stuff and still accepts each other for it.
4. Nico Mirallegro
Nico Mirallegro as Finn is what every girl dreams of—the standoffish bad boy who is really sensitive once you get to know him. What I love most about Finn is he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him and truly sees all of his friends for who they are. Including Rae who struggles the most to see her self-worth.
5. Tragically beautiful “I’ve been there” moments
When you watch an episode there is at least one thing that you will relate to really deeply from any one of the characters—whether it be something you have gone through or watched a friend go through, there will be at least one.
6. True depiction of friendships
I felt like this was important because I’ve never really watched a show that dealt so much with mental illness. I think that it’s important that they showed each character find out how their health comes into play with the others, especially in the Rae/Chloe dynamic. Even though Chloe is the “beautiful” one that Rae “should” be jealous of, we see it go both ways which I think is extremely important. They have to work at their friendship and find the balance which I don’t think is depicted enough.
7. A platform to really talk about mental health
Like I said before, I’ve never watched a show like this. We try to do shows with PSA’s (I’m looking at you Secret Life of the American Teenager) but they never come off as realistic or relatable. The fact that MMFD gives an accurate depiction of living with mental illness and presenting it as completely normal makes it worthy of everyone’s views.
8. Tasteful raunchy-ness
I mean, they are sixteen and seventeen years old… there’s going to be some sexual topics. But I think they do it really humorously and tastefully and you don’t have to worry about people seeing you watch it like you did with Skins.
9. They’re British
Accents truly get the best of me. Let’s take a moment to appreciate Nico Mirallegro’s accent.
10. It’s going to be made into a US "dramedy" on MTV… so watch it before it turns into the bad US Skins or The Inbetweeners.
Do it. You won’t regret it! Now, I’m not condoning how you find these episodes, but if I were you I would just type something into Tumblr to find it. I hope that is enough info for you to... acquire it.
Update: We are still waiting on a season 3 announcment (come on, Bidwell, it's in your best interest. We can't live off of Fanfic forever!)
This for sure wasn't said in the show, but I felt like it still depicted the feeling of it.
