TV Review - Feel Good (Pride Month)

Mae Martin is a comedian from Canada. She's 33. She identifies as non-binary and considers herself gender-fluid. She's had relations with both men and women, but she doesn't like labels like bisexual. She probably considers herself sexually-fluid. She's also had drug addiction issues in the past and has been through rehab. Knowing this, it becomes clear that this series, which originally aired on Channel 4 in the UK, is somewhat autobiographical, as Martin is the co-writer for all the episodes. The show focuses on Martin's same-sex relationship with a woman who historically in her life has been straight but now is open to what could be labeled as a lesbian relationship. The show follows the various issues surrounding it, as well as Martin's addiction issues resurfacing as a result of the anxieties from the relationship.

Martin plays a version of herself simply called "Mae." She's a stand-up comic who frequents a bar called The Gag Bin Comedy Club.  Because the show shouts it out, it's easy to describe her as the Canadian Ellen DeGeneres. Mae's style, blonde look and tone is very akin to DeGeneres. She awkwardly starts dating a beautiful brunette named Georgina or George, played by Charlotte Ritchie (Call the Midwife). George could be easily described as a lesbian Emily Mortimer. George is a closeted schoolteacher. She hasn't dated women before. Mae is her first girlfriend, but she isn't ready to tell her friends and family about her gay tendencies.

George's internalized homophobia is projected onto Mae, which compounds and agitates her addiction issues. Mae is from Canada, but she moved to the UK, which is her father's home country. She moved to the UK to start her life over after she dealt with her addiction problems. She's been clean for a while, but it doesn't help that she works at a nightclub where drug users are all around her. Having a closeted girlfriend doesn't aide in her issues either. It only makes her want to fall off the wagon more. The series deftly explores her addiction and the transference of addictions that can occur.

There are some contrivances that feel odd. We see that George has a circle of friends that make sense. She has a circle of friends / co-workers at her job. She also has a circle of friends outside of that. She even has a roommate who is a bit of an oddball and probably a bit cuckoo named Phil, played by Phil Burgers. However, Mae's circle of friends never feels like it makes sense or was thoroughly filled out. I get that she just moved to the UK and she really only knows the people at the nightclub, but all of them are cisgendered, heterosexual men. We never see Mae with any LGBTQ friends. Her circle of friends feel so small and cut off, which feels off in a way that's never fully explained.

That's a minor criticism in a series that feels so complete otherwise. Otherwise, it feels like a queer and Canadian riff on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017). The jokes are really funny. It's weird how the show is always patting itself on the back for how funny it is or how Mae comes up with funny things to say in dialogue. Yet, when she does have a climactic stand-up set in Episode 5, she does deliver and does a set that is genuinely funny, poignant and heartbreaking in strong ways.

Lisa Kudrow (Friends and Web Therapy) is the special guest star who plays Mae's mother, Linda. She's the cherry on top of this sundae. Kudrow is hilarious as usual but also nails the emotional and dramatic beats of a mother who is fed up with the addiction problems of her daughter, yet loves her and is worried about her tremendously, even if it only comes out in subtle and snarky ways. Kudrow's presence helps to push this series into the stratosphere of being one of the best new comedies of the year.

Rated TV-MA.

Running Time: 30 mins. / 6 eps.

Available on Netflix.