This show works on so many levels, it's just a pity that it seems to have attracted viewers (and reviewers) that can't see the nuances behind the characters and their behaviour.
On one hand, I can relate to the story - I'm a disabled millennial who is LGBTQ+ On the other, my disability was acquired late in my life, has effectively ended my career and I'm not trying to date. It's wonderful to see a character that's even a little bit like me on screen though.
I can relate to the internalised ableism (although I've only lied about extreme accidents to nosy strangers to amuse myself), the anger at someone doing something to you that's inappropriate (I've been 'relocated' against my will by people who don't listen when I tell them to stop, a common problem for wheelchair users, especially women), and the disheartening realisation that your disability has been the reason for someone's actions - e.g., set up with another disabled person.
I've no idea what it is like to grow up disabled, with a mother who insists on catering to your every need, then trying to break out into the world and away from that suffocation.
This is where I can still have empathy for Ryan though. He doesn't know any different than calling his mother to deal with everything. I can certainly understand being upset that you were given a jacket that belonged to a guy you thought was creepy and told it was a loving gift!
He's obviously trying to get some independence and learn to manage himself, along with shaking off the selfish behaviour he was conditioned into by his intensely over-protective mother. The scene where it takes the super-btch Olivia to give it to him straight was brilliantly done. It's a pity that in doing something positive to change, he still forgets his Mum and does behave horribly.
I love Kim and her body positive character, Jessica Hecht does a great job at playing the co-dependent mother and the writing really is good, I particularly love all the millennial pop culture references.
The one thing that lets the show down is that Ryan Connell is not a natural actor, even playing a character based on himself he comes across quite stiff. I have wondered if he has tried to act out his CP, i.e, exaggerate it as RJ Mitte did in BB, rather than just being an actor with CP. I would have taken a star off for it, but felt I had to give it 10 to offset all the low ratings from those who have attributed the difficulties and complexities of a disabled character to just being an "a-hole" (yes, I know we can be a-holes too) rather than it being part of the story.
I'm hoping that as it's already placemarked on IMDB we'll definitely be getting a series 2. It would be good to see Karen try to deal with getting her son to unlearn the dependency she's taught him and getting a life of her own, and Ryan living his true self by writing about his experiences, plus getting a boyfriend, obvs!
On one hand, I can relate to the story - I'm a disabled millennial who is LGBTQ+ On the other, my disability was acquired late in my life, has effectively ended my career and I'm not trying to date. It's wonderful to see a character that's even a little bit like me on screen though.
I can relate to the internalised ableism (although I've only lied about extreme accidents to nosy strangers to amuse myself), the anger at someone doing something to you that's inappropriate (I've been 'relocated' against my will by people who don't listen when I tell them to stop, a common problem for wheelchair users, especially women), and the disheartening realisation that your disability has been the reason for someone's actions - e.g., set up with another disabled person.
I've no idea what it is like to grow up disabled, with a mother who insists on catering to your every need, then trying to break out into the world and away from that suffocation.
This is where I can still have empathy for Ryan though. He doesn't know any different than calling his mother to deal with everything. I can certainly understand being upset that you were given a jacket that belonged to a guy you thought was creepy and told it was a loving gift!
He's obviously trying to get some independence and learn to manage himself, along with shaking off the selfish behaviour he was conditioned into by his intensely over-protective mother. The scene where it takes the super-btch Olivia to give it to him straight was brilliantly done. It's a pity that in doing something positive to change, he still forgets his Mum and does behave horribly.
I love Kim and her body positive character, Jessica Hecht does a great job at playing the co-dependent mother and the writing really is good, I particularly love all the millennial pop culture references.
The one thing that lets the show down is that Ryan Connell is not a natural actor, even playing a character based on himself he comes across quite stiff. I have wondered if he has tried to act out his CP, i.e, exaggerate it as RJ Mitte did in BB, rather than just being an actor with CP. I would have taken a star off for it, but felt I had to give it 10 to offset all the low ratings from those who have attributed the difficulties and complexities of a disabled character to just being an "a-hole" (yes, I know we can be a-holes too) rather than it being part of the story.
I'm hoping that as it's already placemarked on IMDB we'll definitely be getting a series 2. It would be good to see Karen try to deal with getting her son to unlearn the dependency she's taught him and getting a life of her own, and Ryan living his true self by writing about his experiences, plus getting a boyfriend, obvs!