When you're struggling through November
This month has been a bitch - here's what I watched to feel better.
Happy weekend, everyone, and welcome to my newest subscribers!
I’m Canadian, but on theme with this Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S., I’m happy to share how grateful I am for everyone who reads watch this: feel that. ❤️
Years ago, a meme was making the rounds on social media that asked people to #describeyourselfasthreefictionalcharacters. I was recently reminded of this, so I wanted to share it with you.
Here are the characters I chose:
Reflecting on this now, I’m not surprised I chose fictional characters from TV — as we all know by now, film and TV are huge mainstays in my life. I watch and re-watch when I’m happy, sad, bored, depressed, anxious, and needing to escape.
It’s been a rough November for a lot of us. Personally, my mental health hasn’t been great. I’m happy to say that as of today, the fog finally began to lift, but I thought it would still be important to share that I’ve been struggling so that others who read this might feel less alone. Also, each time I crawl out of my depression hole and can muster the mental clarity and energy to write again, it feels therapeutic.
Back to the three TV characters I chose. For better or for worse, I identify with these three characters:
Hannah Horvath represents the writer in me, the loving daughter, and the chatty, sometimes a bit “too much” friend who is sometimes awkward, sometimes funny, and sometimes impulsive. I relate to her because she has super supportive parents and a creative but anxious mind. Like Hannah, my self-doubt and insecurity have at times led to self-sabotage, but the ambition in me always allows me to get back up and keep trying to achieve my goals. If you watched Girls, you’ll know that comparing myself to this character is a brave act because Hannah was loathed by many viewers, but hey — the most interesting characters are flawed, and I’m sure there are others out there who relate to aspects of Hannah. Plus — I can’t ignore the fact that she also loves food and shares my alliterative initials. I just wish I had her Brooklyn apartment, but hey, there’s still time :)
Angela Chase of My So-Called Life represents my emo side that crushes way too hard on gorgeous, elusive guys, loves her family and friends with her whole heart (even though I don’t always show it during my low times), and over-analyses everything. I blame her for why I decided to dye my hair burgundy-auburn in grade 11.
Jessie Spano of Saved by the Bell represents the perfectionist in me — the tall, curly-haired people-pleaser who spent most of her life playing 100% by the rules and striving for achievement. I’m happy to say I’m now a recovering people-pleaser (being in my 40s helps), but I still struggle with perfectionism. Like Jessie, I’m an opinionated feminist and I also enjoy swimming, but I must admit, I was always more into Zack Morris than A.C. Slater — I loved the episode where Zack and Jessie caught feelings for each other while acting in the school play.
I am just now realizing all three of these characters are either in their teens or twenties, so it might be time for me to come up with three grown women to relate to - LOL!
Watching film and TV has always been a form of therapy for me. Not only does it allow me to fall in love with fictional characters, but it also helps me escape when I’m stuck in that state of functional freeze. Other times it gives me a space within which I can have a cathartic, vicarious, emotional release. It bears mentioning that binge-watching is only one of the activities I engage in to help me feel better when I’m struggling — I also have other healthier coping tools that I go to — however, it’s a pretty good one. The power of film and TV is undeniable in allowing me to feel things and work through my emotions — it is the theme of this Substack, after all.
So, before I share my TV and film recommendations this week, I’m curious — which three fictional characters do you identify with?
Tell me in the chat or leave a comment at the end of this post:
THIS WEEK, I RECOMMEND:
Without further ado, this week’s recommendations.
I’ve mostly binged TV series this month, but I did watch two excellent movies. Everything I watched allowed me to either cry, laugh, or escape into another world.
Let me know if you’ve seen any of these, or if you decide to watch, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
A REAL PAIN
With sharp, witty writing, an emotional storyline, and sublime acting from Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain is moving and funny. Even though my Dad called this one “depressing”, I know he meant it in the best way because it made him feel.
MY OLD ASS
A unique coming-of-age film with a big heart, a gorgeous Canadian backdrop, and great writing, My Old Ass will make you laugh, make you fall in love with its star Maisy Stella, and inspire you to reflect on your life. I absolutely loved this movie from Canadian writer/director Megan Park.
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA
A re-watch, this suspenseful series based on a real-life prison escape may move slowly, but it’s so well acted by its insanely talented cast — Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, and Benicio Del Toro — that it will undoubtedly compel you to keep watching. After this re-watch, it dawned on me that Ben Stiller is officially one of my favourite directors (Reality Bites, The Cable Guy, Severance, and this).
MAD MEN
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve re-watched this iconic series. I love traveling back in time to 1960s New York and immersing myself in Don Draper’s world of clever advertising, martini lunches, mid-century design, and dramatic relationships. If you’ve never seen it, this is an essential watch, so get at it. In Canada, it’s currently streaming on Netflix.
SURVIVOR
If you’re feeling down, I recommend watching a season or two of Survivor. Losing myself in this “reality” adventure game show and its cast helps me escape my worries for a while. It’s bingeworthy, unpredictable, and at times inspirational and empowering. Some seasons are better than others, but there’s a reason this show is in its 47th season — it’s entertaining, and it has that “who will win” suspense that we all love.
🗓 COMING UP ON WATCH THIS: FEEL THAT
My Must-Watch Holiday Movies
Spotlight on: Actor Jeffrey Wright
2024 Wrapped: The best things I watched this year and how they made me feel.
A downloadable, printable freebie for my paid subscribers!
A Movie Review: My reviews are less frequent than my recommendations because I put so much work into them, but I promise, I will share another soon!
In case you missed them, here are some reviews I’ve already shared:
Lastly, before you go, I have a few humble requests:
If you enjoyed this post and/or these recommendations, please consider sharing it with a friend:
If you’re on Instagram, please consider following me there, too!
If you’re using the Substack app, please join me in the Chat to answer one of the questions I’ve posted there:
Thank you again, and regardless of whether you celebrated Thanksgiving a month ago or you’re gathering around the table this weekend, just know that I’m grateful for you.
Enjoy the movies & TV shows,
~Heather