My current fave is Ted Lasso
The good place.
I can’t think of any other show that so effortlessly addresses the process of hitting rock bottom and then crawling out of the hole you dug for yourself with tenderness and comedy than that show.
I’ll watch this next I think (before the others to be sure) but I really wanna enjoy and have the space+time for Ted presently
I’m going to second The Good Place. Both it and Ted are complete now, and they close their story arcs perfectly. The third one I would add is Schitt’s Creek.
I also really liked Our Flag Means Death, but they haven’t said whether the second season will be the last one or whether they’re going to try for a third. I’d still recommend it, though.
Ah, can you resubmit Schitt’s Creek please as a top-level comment? I’d hate for it to be buried in the weeds or secondary in any sense. I love that show, excellent bedtime wind-down show. I feel my blood pressure drop the moment I hear those caucaphonious horns lol
I just finished this show. It was so good. It’s been a long time since I have watched a show this good.
I’m being totally honest when I say, This Old House. It’s always positive, inclusive, thoughtful. I’ve learned so much from so many different trades. They restore neglected structures and highlight local businesses and people. They underscore the importance of history and community. That encourage the underserved and downtrodden to use their hands and minds for positive community building.
There are 45 seasons and it’s still going. I’ve tried to put it on just to have in the background and always end up riveted and engrossed. I cannot recommend it enough
I really like this answer. A show doesn’t have to explicitly focus on mental health to be a show that promotes mental wellness.
You ever heard the song “If these walls could speak”? I feel so much tenderness towards the entire conceit
I’m unsure if I’d say ‘focus on’, but I feel The Good Place is a good fit. Honestly funny scenes, but still hits on some heavier points. The cast is lovable, often relatable, and who can say no to Dancin’ Ted Danson‽
He’s a Little Danson Man!
Tiny Danson!
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Bluey
It’s marketed as a kids’ show, but as an adult, especially a parent, it hits those Ted Lasso notes: heartwarming, aspirational, emotionally intelligent, and very funny; while still having characters who show and struggle with their flaws.
Seriously, try it out.
As someone with ADHD, I could tell within minutes that Bluey and the father both clearly have ADHD and deal with those struggles without actually coming out and saying it. A lot like the movie Everything Everywhere All At Once. And as a father myself the dad in the show is very relatable.
my brother (ans niece!) is obssessed with bluey! I had to 3dprint HIM a big bluey figure coz he wanted to take to his office and put on the table
I mention in another comment on this thread how much I identify with Mr. Peanutbutter from Bojack Horseman. Well, the same is true of Bandit (aka. “Dad”). When it comes to cartoon dogs, as the man said, “ten cents, which isn’t a lot but it’s still weird that it happened twice”.
The Netflix series Sex Education is all about a wide variety of characters’ wellbeing and mental health. Even antagonistic “bad” characters tend to have hidden depths and nuance. As a show it was also surprisingly gentle with its characters, rather than just constantly beating them up for drama’s sake.
Agreed, the last season was terrible though!
Bojack Horseman. But it’s more of a “what not to do” kind of show
I was thinking the same thing.
I’mma say The Bear. The Bear is more of a representation and depiction of mental health issues than, say, giving the viewer tools. The show is both dark and light and covers a lot: Suicide, anxiety, addiction, alcoholism, abuse (by a possible narcissist), family dysfunction, identity, familial loss, etc. The Bear has some of the most meaningful character development and growth I’ve seen in a very long time. (Note: The show is intense and will be tough for people who might get highly immersed or have easily dysregulated nervous systems.) The Christmas episode called “Fishes” blew me away and will probably be in my Top Ten Episodes Of Any Show list for a very long time. I wasn’t even interested in culinary arts or Chicago. I just put it on randomly and got sucked in.
That Christmas episode is a work of art. Such a great show generally, but that one… fucking hell, absolutely blisteringly brilliant.
I relate a lot to the characters The Bear actor plays, particularly involving the intersection of poverty and alcohol
Joe Pera Talks With You
In a tie with
How To with John Wilson
Special Mention
Scavengers Reign
Bonus
Birds, a short animated film by Scavengers Reign creator Joe Bennett and featuring the voice talents of Joe Pera.
Joe Pera fucks, It’s the simple one-off comments he makes that are the most profound for me. Such as him wrapping up talking about Stephan Hawking cheating on his wife
The end of the grocery store episode hits you like semi in a snowstorm.
That man has some sort of magic in him.
House MD.
The episode where Wilson doses House with an antidepressant to prove to him that he’s depressed was so on point.
Yeah the real core of the show is a man with a ton of mental health issues doing everything he can to not accept them. Those moments where the mental pain breaks through are really what makes me love the character.
Its was hilarious when House counter-dosed 'em with Adderall (“only the finest amphetamine salts” XD) and Wilson demands a Vicodin to smooth things out 😂
Unironically Bojack Horseman
Do you find it legitimately improves you to watch? Like is there another side to come out of where you feel you’re a better person and adjusted for having experienced it?
Oh, definitely. I identified very strong with Mr. Peanutbutter from early on. In later seasons, when we start to see more and more of the problematic aspects of his lifestyle, I saw myself in those, too, and it gives me a view into what I need to fix about myself: Toxic positivity, offloading “adulting” onto my spouse, being the kind of friend you invite to a house party but not a dinner party. It’s not a pretty picture, but it has helped me improve.
Plus, Todd Chavez. If Ted Lasso were a homeless teen, you’d be pretty close to Todd Chavez. Tough, trusting, always hopeful, always accepting, but still has a spine and will call people out on their bullshit when a line is crossed.
Todd Chavez is my spirit animal
deleted by creator
Queer Eye. The reboot is focused on self acceptance and self betterment, on getting through difficult times and past challenges in healthy ways, and the importance of developing and being grateful for your support system to help you through your journey.
Interesting pick. Will have to check out all of these when I get through Ted
Rick and Morty
No other show makes family flaws so blatantly obvious. I’m not sure if that will help you resolve any family issues, but you’ll be better equipped to at least identify the land mines.
check out the old kungfu with carradine… he played a pacifist who could kick some ass, so his mental health/integrity is paramount as they put him into irreconcilable situations.
Beef. Starts out as a feud between two drivers. Delves into each of their lives and how dealing with your issues in an unhealthy way will spiral and affect others. Fantastic show.
It blows my mind we treat road rage point blank as “less serious” than impaired driving. It should be equally or more strenuously punished, nobody has the right to be an asshole behind the wheel. Not one. Anger and violence are so predictable and addressable its madness.
Not that you were talking about driving but I’m just making the tangent with a major commonplace example of the way this plays out every time.
Whoa buddy, you good to drive? XD
Nope 😎 Won’t happen again, Officer.
[Officer] Ya damn right it won’t cuz ur coming with me now! 🚔
Thankfully I only have a 2 mile commute through a small town so I don’t deal with road rage. I could never live in a city.
But yeah, it’s really just that people are strung out and road rage is just a symptom. Either way, it’s dangerous for the driver and others.
Like I’m not saying its intentional but its equally indefensible and unacceptable. We should be teaching people that anger is impairing and they MUST pull over and take a walk or do what they need to do. It needs to be absolutely liabillity or something where intent is irrelevant
Schitt’s Creek!!
Best before bed too!
