Mae Martin’s semi-autobiographical show is deep, dark and often hilariously funny…
Mae is a single stand-up comedian gradually, in her early thirties recovering from drug addiction. She meets George – whom Mae eventually calls out as being a “heterosexual, privileged white girl” – and begins a relationship with her, despite George referring to her as a kernel of corn. Nevertheless, they pursue a wholesome, sudden romance and make drastic decisions within this time, such as moving in together.
The funny part is this has consequences of its own. Both of them have problems individually and are now sharing them together; George has not told anyone that she is in a relationship with a woman, therefore, none of her friends (or family) know that she exists. This only makes Mae put more pressure to George.
George’s reluctance to tell her friends about Mae now takes a toll on their sex life and Mae tells George that this will not change until she starts to tell people about them and their status, which is often unclear for most of the series.
Mae later finds out that her parents, Linda and Malcolm, who are the highlights of the programme – particularly Friends’ Lisa Kudrow, who steals every scene she is in and deserves endless awards for her performance here – are in visiting the UK for a while but have not thought to tell her.
Mae takes this as an opportunity to apologise to her parents for her attitudes whilst under the influence of drugs at a restaurant meet-up and gives her a chance to introduce George to them.
Mae Martin’s show is wonderfully directed thanks to some stellar hand-held work from Ally Pankiw and earnest writing from Mae and Joe Hampson. However, what I have learnt and appreciate the most about the series debut – and potentially, last – is in its creativity to use elements of life and create a story about the particular pressures of approaching the modern day landscape of gender and sexual fluidity, managing to do so with grace, but without losing much humour.
By Zach Omitowoju
Feature image credit: Channel 4