All The Most Wholesome And Beautiful Friendships On TV This Year
From 'PEN15' to 'Derry Girls'.
Is there anything better than friendship? Shh. Of course not.
It is the honey in our tea, the sunshine of our mornings, the other good thing in another good thing.
Metaphors may not be my strong point but appreciating a good friendship certainly is, so enjoy this saunter through a list of excellent depictions of mates we saw this year on the small screen.
Also: please do not be alarmed if your personal favourite is not listed. I did not watch every single television show this year as I am but one small, weary woman.
Now, all aboard the S. S. Friend Ship. Toot toot.
PEN15
A pal of mine recommended this to me months ago and I only watched it recently because I am a dum-dum, but it is JUST. SO. GREAT.
The premise of two 30-year-olds playing versions of their high-school selves in the early 2000s might sound weird but you’ll be hooked within the first few minutes.
Written by the two main actors Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, it chronicles classic teenage moments in a painfully accurate way, including moments that are simultaneously hilarious and deeply embarrassing (ep 03’s masturbation episode, for example).
The primary reason this show works so well is the solid friendship between Maya and Anna, and the bond they share is so pure you almost forget you’re watching a 32-year-old with braces. A must.
Frayed
ABC’s Frayed is a perfect example of an outstanding local production — I have taken to screaming at people when they say they don’t watch Australian television (and Rosehaven. And Get Krackin’. Just go to iView, okay?).
Funnily enough, I was introduced to this show by a friend I made living in the UK, and she had me at ‘Sarah Kendall’.
Frayed is a gorgeous series co-produced with Sky UK set in 1980’s Newcastle. It’s arguably more about family than friendship, but the dynamic between Kendall’s Sammy and her new workmate Fiona (Diane Morgan) is just fabulous. Everyone needs a colleague like Fiona, who won’t take bullshit from the boss and get day drunk with you and run to the tip.
Derry Girls
It’s early days but we can hope this cracker of a series will have a lasting cultural impact that will have groups of women stop discussing which Sex and the City character they are, and instead ask which Derry Girl. (I am 100% a Clare, not that anybody asked.)
Set in 1990’s Northern Ireland during the end of the conflict, the show follows a group of Catholic high-schoolers navigating life amidst the Troubles.
The girls, which include cousin James of course, are a brilliant hodge-podge of personalities predominantly from working-class, religious families. I’m sure there are specific cultural references that go over my head, but if the UK and US can fully embrace Kath & Kim then we can absolutely embrace Derry Girls.
A recurring theme in both series, as with most of the friendships in this list, is love and acceptance of your pals for exactly who they are, even if they are different to you. These girls are the pals many of us needed in high school.
Orla is weird and offbeat in the most wonderful way and is never excluded… even when she takes her Granda to prom.
Bojack Horseman
Who could have imagined we’d live in an era of empathising with an alcoholic cartoon horse? Probably nobody; what a ridiculously specific prediction that would have been.
Anyway, Bojack continues to punch us in the guts with the final season’s depiction of Horseman himself attempting therapy. He wants to get better, he doesn’t want to get better. He’s a lot of us at some point in our lives.
So too, is Diane, now struggling with a depressive episode but in denial at how bad it’s gotten. Their connection throughout the show is one of profound importance as they demonstrate to each other that often love shows itself as accountability, not merely comfort.
Friends push you to challenge and better yourself: it’s because they love you that they don’t just walk away.
The Good Place
These rascals are back at it again — for the last time.
During this final season we began with Eleanor doubting herself, and Michael reminding her she outsmarted him over 800 times… literally. We all need a friend like Michael. (Or a lover. Or a father. It’s complicated! Go away!)
Along with the thought-provoking musings and excellent jokes (thank you, Megan Amram) it’s the bond between the gang that makes The Good Place so special.
Creator Michael Schur recently told BuzzFeed that connection between humans is the whole point of the show: “We owe certain things to other people, and the job of being alive on earth is to figure out what you owe to them and how you can provide it to them.”
In his words: “Friendship is what makes life worth living and it’s how we become better people.” Life is short and sweet, my friends — now go tell a mate you love them.
Deirdre Fidge is a Melbourne-based writer. You can follow her inane thoughts on Twitter at @figgled