This episode was fantastic. I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago and while medication among other things helped me cope with it before it got too bad, I will most likely never be 100% healthy. And while watching this I recognized so many things from my own life that it was almost painful to watch at times.
I've really liked the show since the first episode, and I've liked how they've tackled different themes such as sexual minorities, immigration & racism, sexism etc. One of the great things about their depiction of Penelope's depression & anxiety is that Lydia is openly skeptical and doubtful about her daughter's condition, because "her life has so many blessings" and everything is fine. Lydia doesn't understand what Penelope is really going through, and according to Lydia it's shameful to go to therapy or take anti-depressants. This is great because it acknowledges the fact that many people don't believe mental illnesses are real.
The most important thing the show does is showing that just because you have a mental illness doesn't mean people will love you less. The whole thing with Penelope being afraid of telling Max about her condition, and his response when she finally does - it's beautiful. We need more fiction where mental illness is portrayed like this; it's an illness, but it doesn't mean you are a worse person, or a weaker person, because of it. People who truly care about you will realize that it's just a part of you, which you need to deal with the best you can.
This is the first time I've written a review of a TV show on IMDb, and I've been using the site forever - that's how impressed I was. Thank you, show.
I've really liked the show since the first episode, and I've liked how they've tackled different themes such as sexual minorities, immigration & racism, sexism etc. One of the great things about their depiction of Penelope's depression & anxiety is that Lydia is openly skeptical and doubtful about her daughter's condition, because "her life has so many blessings" and everything is fine. Lydia doesn't understand what Penelope is really going through, and according to Lydia it's shameful to go to therapy or take anti-depressants. This is great because it acknowledges the fact that many people don't believe mental illnesses are real.
The most important thing the show does is showing that just because you have a mental illness doesn't mean people will love you less. The whole thing with Penelope being afraid of telling Max about her condition, and his response when she finally does - it's beautiful. We need more fiction where mental illness is portrayed like this; it's an illness, but it doesn't mean you are a worse person, or a weaker person, because of it. People who truly care about you will realize that it's just a part of you, which you need to deal with the best you can.
This is the first time I've written a review of a TV show on IMDb, and I've been using the site forever - that's how impressed I was. Thank you, show.
