I just finished Big Mood and I was left in an emotional and pensive mood. I know people in my life who have been impacted by various forms of mental health, including Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia. I felt the show to liched on this issue well- from the subtle to obvious examples of the experience (i.e delusions).
Dealing with a family member or friend who has Mental Health is never easy and if you are not medical expert, it's particularly difficult to separate whether a behaviour is their personality (i.e. They're unreliability, their mood swings) or whether it's a symptom or result of their diagnosis. The longer you realise the impact of mental health on their life, the more upsetting it is to see someone experience a manic episode or psychosis, but also it can be difficult for you to recognise when they have become unwell again. Big Mood beautifully dealt this challenging conflict, especially in the latter episodes.
I am a fan of Nicola Coughlan. She's one of my fave actresses today. Bridgerton (of course) made me become a fan, but her talent is what made me check out some of her other work from Derry Girls (which I loved) and now Big Mood. I knew she could do comedy because of DG, but Big Mood is not just a comedy, in fact, it would be reductive to class it as this. It's more of a drama with comical aspects, so a dramedy seems more fitting. The show takes you on a beautiful cycle that represents what someone who is suffering from a mental illness can go through. First we see the manic state, then the depression, then someone who is back on medication, then someone who has relapsed (due to wrongly applied dose of medication due to a doctor's failure to properly check a patient's record and/or to continue to monitor the impact of the medication..perhaps this is also works simultaneously as a negative commentary on the diar state of mental health services today).
Big Mood explores the friendship between Maggie (Nicola Coughlan), who has bipolar, and her friend Eddie (Lydia West). Lydia is always the strong friend who tries to help her friend whilst trying to save her bar and deal with her own personal issues.
Big Mood is timely because it highlights in a beautiful yet heartbreaking way that sometimes your friendship or help may not be enough to save a friend or assist when their mental health is seriously declining: 1) because you may not be aware and they may not tell you 2) the mental illness can be bigger or more challenging then you expect and perhaps all hands on deck will be needed (I.e. Medical help long term, fam and friends collectively assisting).
3) the big one: you have your own life and issues you need to focus on and give energy and sometimes you need support too.
I suppose it even makes one question how codependent best friend relationships can be and whether the relationship is healthy or truly serving you anymore. This is definitely true for both Eddie and Maggie.
Both characters were complex and interesting, although Nicola's Maggie had a lot more arcs to go through and demonstrated why she is at the top of her game right now (season 3 of Bridgerton can't come soon enough). I will definitely tune into what she does next (outside of Bridgerton which I will . Obviously be watching). I would also be interested to see what Lydia did next. She did a good job in this one but I wish she had more to do earlier on.
Well done Camila - a brilliant show that truly shows the challenges of dealing with mental health and the collateral damage it can have on family and friends. I hope season 2 will be coming, because I'll definitely tune in.
Dealing with a family member or friend who has Mental Health is never easy and if you are not medical expert, it's particularly difficult to separate whether a behaviour is their personality (i.e. They're unreliability, their mood swings) or whether it's a symptom or result of their diagnosis. The longer you realise the impact of mental health on their life, the more upsetting it is to see someone experience a manic episode or psychosis, but also it can be difficult for you to recognise when they have become unwell again. Big Mood beautifully dealt this challenging conflict, especially in the latter episodes.
I am a fan of Nicola Coughlan. She's one of my fave actresses today. Bridgerton (of course) made me become a fan, but her talent is what made me check out some of her other work from Derry Girls (which I loved) and now Big Mood. I knew she could do comedy because of DG, but Big Mood is not just a comedy, in fact, it would be reductive to class it as this. It's more of a drama with comical aspects, so a dramedy seems more fitting. The show takes you on a beautiful cycle that represents what someone who is suffering from a mental illness can go through. First we see the manic state, then the depression, then someone who is back on medication, then someone who has relapsed (due to wrongly applied dose of medication due to a doctor's failure to properly check a patient's record and/or to continue to monitor the impact of the medication..perhaps this is also works simultaneously as a negative commentary on the diar state of mental health services today).
Big Mood explores the friendship between Maggie (Nicola Coughlan), who has bipolar, and her friend Eddie (Lydia West). Lydia is always the strong friend who tries to help her friend whilst trying to save her bar and deal with her own personal issues.
Big Mood is timely because it highlights in a beautiful yet heartbreaking way that sometimes your friendship or help may not be enough to save a friend or assist when their mental health is seriously declining: 1) because you may not be aware and they may not tell you 2) the mental illness can be bigger or more challenging then you expect and perhaps all hands on deck will be needed (I.e. Medical help long term, fam and friends collectively assisting).
3) the big one: you have your own life and issues you need to focus on and give energy and sometimes you need support too.
I suppose it even makes one question how codependent best friend relationships can be and whether the relationship is healthy or truly serving you anymore. This is definitely true for both Eddie and Maggie.
Both characters were complex and interesting, although Nicola's Maggie had a lot more arcs to go through and demonstrated why she is at the top of her game right now (season 3 of Bridgerton can't come soon enough). I will definitely tune into what she does next (outside of Bridgerton which I will . Obviously be watching). I would also be interested to see what Lydia did next. She did a good job in this one but I wish she had more to do earlier on.
Well done Camila - a brilliant show that truly shows the challenges of dealing with mental health and the collateral damage it can have on family and friends. I hope season 2 will be coming, because I'll definitely tune in.
