Who needs therapy when television is giving it to in spades these days? Scratch that! It’s 2023, and we’re on the other side of chilling pandemic, lingering political maelstrom, and unnerving existential angst. So, maybe we all need some form of therapy and support. By the looks of it, today’s TV and streaming showrunners think so. Never has the small screen been so populated with content addressing grief and real-life issues.
Take a look. Up Here, a recent musical comedy, revolved around the critical voices/characters we all have chatting about inside our minds. Tiny Beautiful Things, an exceptional Hulu series, effectively captured the heart and depth of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling book — and real-life experiences — to illuminate what happens when we don’t address trauma. Shrinking played around in those same circles to winning ends.
Meanwhile, Ted Lasso has addressed the issue, and Apple TV+’s Dear Edward dove into the subject matter, but never let up. Apple TV+ canceled the promising series after one season. (And don’t blame I’m-Always-Only-Doing-One-Season Connie Britton, either.)
If that’s any indication of the zeitgeist showrunners are tapping into today, you can expect more of the same. Enter: Totally Completely Fine, the latest in a line of catchy three-word series titles. The new Stan Original dark comedy from creator Gretel Vella (The Great) airs on AMC+. It gives us Vivian (the excellent Thomasin McKenzie of Jojo Rabbit and Last Night in Soho), a frenetic 20-something whose life is unraveling before her eyes. We first meet Vivian when she’s loosely toying with the idea of suicide, but like many things in her life, fate steps in with other plans. That’s a good thing — for her, and for us, because Vivian, and the show she occupies, has a purpose to fulfill.
Talking People Off the Cliff, Literally
Throughout its six episodes, Totally Completely Fine attempts to dive deep while also mixing in humor. That’s a tricky emotional tightrope to walk, but for the most part, the show succeeds in its attempts to explore grief, suicide, isolation, and the importance of connection.
Vivian’s luck takes a seemingly upward swerve after the death of her grandfather, who has left her his Aussie cliffside home. Brother Hendrix (Brandon McClelland), a family man, is fine with it. Older brother John (Rowan Witt), who’s controlling and wound tight, doesn’t love the idea. In his eyes, Vivian has been drinking and vaping her life away. That’s all he sees.
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We see much more. Vivian may be exhausted and fed up with carrying far too many emotional battle scares, but the gal is still deep and introspective. Even while past traumas flash through her mind, she genuinely wants to connect with people. When she realizes grandad tricked her into moving into his cliffside dwelling, she has a fit. Seems the locale is a well-known suicide spot, and that granddad has been talking people off the cliff (literally) for some time. In his absence, he wants to hand the baton to Vivian.
Maybe that’s why she found — and then saved — Amy (Contessa Treffone) the other night. The frazzled bride was ready toss herself over the cliff. Amy sticks around throughout the series, giving Vivian a new sense of purpose. But there’s also help nearby.
Addressing the Importance of Connection
Stan Originals
AMC+
That Vivian’s grandfather left her at the helm of preventing the deaths of lost souls is an ambitious gesture. As we find in all hero’s journeys, at first, Vivian resists. Then Vivian’s strapping psychologist neighbor Dane (Devon Terrell) arrives on the scene with his mother and fills Vivian in on all the lives her grandfather saved. Dane goes on to help Vivian and Amy deal with the incoming stream troubled folks. Some viewers may find some of these scenes contrived, but they don’t necessarily weigh down the overall series. Vivian’s mission becomes clear then: To get out of her own way and serve.
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If only. Drama ensues in each episode, and it’s interesting to see how the series handles the contentiousness between Vivian and older brother John. Equally refreshing is how well the series illuminates John’s own dilemmas dealing with intimacy and vulnerability, particularly with his handsome partner, played by Édgar Vittorino. Even younger brother Hendrix swoons over him.
Snappy episode titles give you a sense of what lies ahead — from Welcome to the Crevice and The Best Offense if the Fence to Not All Heroes Carry Vape and You’re a Sexy F*cking Mess. Overall, series creator Gretel Vella does an apt job at balancing the dark and light aspects of the outing. There’s a welcome explanation of “complicated grief,” too, which is an often overpowering and lingering grief that affects a person’s life. Vella handles that well.
Some may feel the final episode is a bit over the top, but we found it enjoyable. Knowing how tricky it is to keep the creative scales balanced in such an outing, it’s safe to report that Vella has created a compelling series that is, in effect, “totally completely good.” And we’re fine with that.
Totally Completely Fine airs on AMC+ on Thursday evenings.
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