I loved Dying for Sex while also finding it excruciating in parts and, ultimately, more heartbreaking than I was prepared for. Jenny Slate is incredible. The thing is, I'm not even sure if I'd recommend it? It was a great piece of art, of creativity, of storytelling… but I felt so raw afterwards that even reading about it feels difficult. Maybe that's the point of art, but for me, right now (newly postpartum, struggling with a lot of things going on in my own life), it wasn't the right televisual choice I don't think.
I had a feeling going in that it was going to be a tough one - I do think I'd have probably skipped it if it hadn't been Michelle Williams, because it is absolutely A Journey. But it's also weird how art can affect us depending on where we're at with life - there's absolutely stuff I can't (or shouldn't) go near if my brain is in the bad place. (And sometimes that might be stuff that feels like it should be comforting. Like, I think I probably sob more over sitcoms than dramas.)
I definitely think there's something really hard about watching people be carefree and happy – and laughing! – at a time when I personally feel as though I will never experience any of those things again.
I also sometimes find it hard to deal with any kind of suspense, so when I'm feeling very low I just watch things I've watched a million times (hello, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and am comforted by the familiarity of it all.
I loved Dying for Sex while also finding it excruciating in parts and, ultimately, more heartbreaking than I was prepared for. Jenny Slate is incredible. The thing is, I'm not even sure if I'd recommend it? It was a great piece of art, of creativity, of storytelling… but I felt so raw afterwards that even reading about it feels difficult. Maybe that's the point of art, but for me, right now (newly postpartum, struggling with a lot of things going on in my own life), it wasn't the right televisual choice I don't think.
I had a feeling going in that it was going to be a tough one - I do think I'd have probably skipped it if it hadn't been Michelle Williams, because it is absolutely A Journey. But it's also weird how art can affect us depending on where we're at with life - there's absolutely stuff I can't (or shouldn't) go near if my brain is in the bad place. (And sometimes that might be stuff that feels like it should be comforting. Like, I think I probably sob more over sitcoms than dramas.)
I definitely think there's something really hard about watching people be carefree and happy – and laughing! – at a time when I personally feel as though I will never experience any of those things again.
I also sometimes find it hard to deal with any kind of suspense, so when I'm feeling very low I just watch things I've watched a million times (hello, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and am comforted by the familiarity of it all.
Love a good comfort rewatch. I also tell myself it is really good for learning stuff about storytelling and therefore BASICALLY work, if you squint...
Jen = Stacey. ♥️