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Searching for the perfect binge-worthy show can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. We scroll endlessly in the hope of stumbling upon a hidden gem that will captivate us. But more often than not, we end up gravitating towards dull, boring, or pointless shows that offer little in the way of content or satisfaction. These fleeting pleasures may provide momentary entertainment, but they rarely leave a lasting impact, and fade from memory as soon as the credits roll.
But sprinkled amongst the sea of forgotten content are gems waiting to be discovered – works that not only deliver a great viewing experience, but also touch on important themes. In an era when it’s becoming increasingly difficult to faithfully portray everyday people and their everyday issues, few shows stand out for their ability to realistically portray mental health and well-being. But the following two Netflix series do just that.
1. Afterlife (2019–2022)
Afterlife is a popular comedy series from Netflix that follows the journey of Tony, a man struggling with grief after the death of his wife. Consumed by grief and anger, he overcomes his pain by adopting suicidal thoughts and a nihilistic mindset, believing he has nothing left to lose. However, as he interacts with the residents of his small town and reminisces about his wife, he begins to rethink his approach to life and discover unexpected moments of beauty.
Typical portrayals of dealing with death often fall back on well-worn tropes of dark humor as a coping mechanism, where characters use sarcasm, sarcasm, and dark jokes to distract from the emotional weight of the loss and mask their true feelings of grief. These portrayals reinforce the misconception that laughter is incompatible with mourning, making it seem like an unhealthy and creepy coping mechanism. Instead, grief is reduced to a punchline and the profound impact of the loss is completely trivialized.
In fact, research has shown that responses to death are multifaceted, and humor may indeed play an important role in how individuals navigate grief. While the intense grief that results from losing a loved one is not inherently humorous, humor has long been intertwined with discussions of death. Humor serves a variety of social and cognitive management functions and thus serves as a valuable coping mechanism. Also, the application of humor allows individuals to repair or defuse the hostility of a situation. This method of coping can be seen as both defiant and life-affirming, offering a way to find solace and meaning during uncomfortable times of grief.
Afterlife It defies conventional portrayals of grief by not trivializing the grieving process or fast-forwarding it with humor. Afterlife The film doesn’t try to diminish death’s power by making light of it. Instead, it offers a warm, heartbreaking portrayal of loss that subverts audience expectations, contrasting with the expected humor. And rather than conforming to the stereotype of male grief as stoic and emotionally closed off, Tony is portrayed as vulnerable, flawed, and very human. By exploring grief honestly and refusing to shy away from the ugly side of loss, the film is a powerful and moving read. Afterlife Not only does the film challenge societal norms, it also offers viewers a deeply empathetic look into dealing with the afterlife. This fresh approach, in line with the fact that an honest portrayal of grief resonates deeply with audiences, makes this a must-see film.
2. Maid (2021)
Maid is a Netflix original series based on Stephanie Rand’s memoir, “Maid: Hard Work, Low Wages, and a Mother’s Will to Survive.” The series follows the journey of a struggling single mother who escapes an abusive relationship and tries to build a better life for herself and her daughter. She takes on a job as a maid to make ends meet, but faces numerous challenges and obstacles along the way.
Dramas depicting poverty and domestic violence often sensationalize or oversimplify these issues. Poverty is often romanticized or portrayed as a temporary setback rather than a systemic issue rooted in economic inequality. Similarly, domestic violence is often sensationalized for dramatic effect, focusing on the extreme acts of violence rather than the less entertaining darker aspects. The resulting PTSD is also often misrepresented, with characters experiencing sudden dramatic flashbacks or mental breakdowns rather than the more complex symptoms that individuals may actually experience.
Real-world research on poverty, domestic violence, and PTSD reveals a stark contrast to the dramatized portrayals we often see in Hollywood: These issues are deeply intertwined and often manifest in complex ways that are far removed from the sensationalist portrayals on screen.
Poverty is not a temporary setback, but a pervasive and deep-rooted condition that affects every aspect of a person’s life and is extremely difficult to escape without access to resources and support. Domestic violence is not always characterized by dramatic acts of violence, but often involves subtle forms of control and manipulation that are difficult to recognize and escape. Similarly, PTSD is not always characterized by sudden dramatic flashbacks or breakdowns, but can manifest as a variety of symptoms that are not easily visible to the outside world, such as hypervigilance, dissociation, and emotional numbing.
Maid is an excellent series that shows what it’s really like to escape domestic violence, poverty, and trauma. Rather than sensationalizing these issues, the series portrays the process realistically and authentically, highlighting the messy, repetitive, and drawn-out nature of the struggle. By showing the good, the bad, and the ugly of homelessness, love, and motherhood, Maid It shines a light on the systemic barriers and social injustices faced by individuals like the protagonist, and rightfully earns its place as a great show not to be missed.
A version of this post also appeared on Forbes.com.
