Very Special Episodes and How Shows Subverted Them (Public Post)
Content Warning: This post deals with suicide attempts, mental illness and sexual assault. In the context of TV shows, but still.
Quick summary of post: I discuss the problem with Very Special Episodes, and how Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (among other shows) got it right.
FunnyorDie has a channel where they talk about Very Special Episodes. Here's the issue with many.
A problem is approached. DJ has an eating disorder! She can't even eat a PB&J!
We see examples of how it affects others. Stephanie Tanner, DJ's little sister, looks sadface!
We see the ramifications. DJ faints after working out!
We get a discussion about the problem, followed by hugs and soft, gentle music in the background. The problem itself seems to have been solved.
While initially campy yet harmless, the problem with these episodes is that that (a) sometimes, characters are way too clueless, in an apparent effort to inform the audience (like the Very Special Episode of Castle that dealt with internet trolls where all the characters acted like it was 2002 and trolls were uncharted territory); and (b) the problem is often solved in that very episode, and it's often portrayed in a very unrealistic light.
Which is where two shows got it right: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's "Josh is Irrelevant" and Brooklyn Nine-Nine's "He Said, She Said."
"Josh is Irrelevant" follows main character Rebecca's suicide attempt. Following we get a lot of talk about therapy, Borderline Personality Disorder, and ways of coping with a friend's near-suicide. In "He Said, She Said," the show tackles #MeToo without really naming it when a woman breaks a man's penis after he attempts to sexually assault her. Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago, two police officers (who happen to be a couple) question both the victim, Keri, and the perpetrator, Seth, and try to prove that an attack took place.
The most Very Special Episode part of "Josh Is Irrelevant" comes in the form of Rebecca's friend Valencia. Valencia actually approaches her friend's crisis in a very special way; she puts it on YouTube, she films everything, and sings a song about how she's going to change the world. Like a Very Special Episode, hugs and music will solve everything. Except unlike the makers of Very Special Episodes, this is actually a mask. Valencia is scared out of her mind, because she knows perfectly well that she almost lost one of her best friends. The Full House music, the internet activism, the punchy buzzwords are really just her trying to grapple with the situation at hand. Before we come to this realization, Valencia is questioned for her methods by friends who consider her actions "tacky and basic." This accurately describes Very Special Episodes that try to wrap their minds around the bigger issues in life, but don't actually know how to portray it on screen. They want to deal with the thin layer, not the crust underneath.
"He Said, She Said" also sheds a light on the fact that these issues are complicated than seeking one answer. Santiago pushes Keri to testify against Seth, after Keri expresses reluctance because she can't really prove it - it's all "he said, she said." However, Santiago and Peralta are confident that they can find enough evidence that will lead to Seth's conviction. But Rosa Diaz, another detective, points out that they may have done more harm than good in forcing her to testify. Her name will be dragged through the mud, and there may not be a way to prove it. And in fact, it's difficult to find anyone who'll say anything against Seth, even though it turns out there's much to be said. While Santiago's approach is more practical than Valencia's inspiration campaign, it's still not an approach that instantly solves everything, nor is true justice guaranteed.
We learn that Santiago was harassed herself, at her old job, and it's perhaps at the root of her confidence issues. While in the past Santiago's tendency to be neurotic were played for laughs, we see another side of it. She now feels that she has to constantly prove herself, because after her former Captain attempted to kiss her, she doubted whether he really saw that much potential in her, or if she was just an object to him. Santiago tells Peralta that all women have faced some form of harassment.
In the end, there is no perfect solution. They do find proof that Seth attempted to rape Keri, but Keri still quits a job she worked incredibly hard to get. She's either seen as the victim or the accuser, depending on who you ask, and can't take it anymore. It's not all for naught - Seth's going to jail, and another employee at the company comes forward about being harassed. But in the end, more questions are asked than answered. Good; that's what messages should do. Get you to think and consider.
"Josh Is Irrelevant" also tackles the lack of definitive solutions. Rebecca is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which is not an easy realization for her - it's a disorder that involves a lot of intense therapy and treatment. However, in coping with the disorder, Rebecca can become a healthier and happier person. But even that doesn't mean the problem is solved. In a heartbreaking moment, Valencia begs Rebecca to promise she'll never attempt to suicide again; Rebecca says she can't promise, because while she never wants to be in that place again, she doesn't know what the future holds. There are no absolutes with illness, and that includes mental illness. However, the episode still ends on a hopeful note, with Rebecca surrounded by friends, aiming to embark on a better chapter in her life.
There's also a lot to be said for not dropping the subject. While it's likely we'll never hear from Keri in Brooklyn Nine-Nine again, due to the show's tendency to go for Case of the Week, even before getting into suicide and personality disorders, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend always made it clear Rebecca was dealing with some sort of mental health issue, and it hasn't forgotten that she has the disorder. The tone of the show became much more serious (although the humor wasn't lost), and it's made very clear that recovery is a process.
Other shows have also emphasized the lack of true closure. The One Day at a Time episode "Outside" deals both with #MeToo and with macho culture. Preteen Alex makes inappropriate jokes on instagram, including ones that most likely made his girlfriend uncomfortable. When Alex points out that she was laughing, his sister Elena asks if he was sure she really found it funny, or if Chloe felt she had to laugh. Elena and Syd share their own story about harassment, as does Penelope, Elena and Alex's mother. Alex ultimately realizes that his behavior was problematic and vows to stop; however, Elena is still disgusted for Alex, and it takes a few episodes for them to return to the close siblings they were. Alex still has to face the ramifications for his actions. The same is true when he buys pot; while he promises Penelope that he won't smoke it, in another episode his grandmother finds out he'd been smoking marijuana and is quite upset. The show doesn't just settle on a special topic for one week; it makes it clear that problems are long-running, as are consequences.
It's understandable, of course, if a show that normally doesn't deal with heavy real-world issues doesn't want to focus too much on them, especially 90's family sitcoms. However, even Full House went the distance with Stephanie. In one episode she's pressured to smoke, but ultimately elects not to. However, the girl who pressures her, Gia, doesn't go away. At first they antagonize each other, then they become friends, yet Gia still occasionally drags Stephanie into bad situations. Different bad situations, but still, in its own cheesy, corny music way, Full House does get the message across that you don't have to do things your friends do, and their mistakes don't have to be yours. It's simple, but for a show aimed at kids, that's okay.
Very Special Episodes don't have to be all bad. It's just important to talk about an issue without exploiting it, and to make sure you find the right footing between offering hope and solutions and pushing false promises.
Quick summary of post: I discuss the problem with Very Special Episodes, and how Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (among other shows) got it right.
FunnyorDie has a channel where they talk about Very Special Episodes. Here's the issue with many.
A problem is approached. DJ has an eating disorder! She can't even eat a PB&J!
We see examples of how it affects others. Stephanie Tanner, DJ's little sister, looks sadface!
We see the ramifications. DJ faints after working out!
We get a discussion about the problem, followed by hugs and soft, gentle music in the background. The problem itself seems to have been solved.
While initially campy yet harmless, the problem with these episodes is that that (a) sometimes, characters are way too clueless, in an apparent effort to inform the audience (like the Very Special Episode of Castle that dealt with internet trolls where all the characters acted like it was 2002 and trolls were uncharted territory); and (b) the problem is often solved in that very episode, and it's often portrayed in a very unrealistic light.
Which is where two shows got it right: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's "Josh is Irrelevant" and Brooklyn Nine-Nine's "He Said, She Said."
"Josh is Irrelevant" follows main character Rebecca's suicide attempt. Following we get a lot of talk about therapy, Borderline Personality Disorder, and ways of coping with a friend's near-suicide. In "He Said, She Said," the show tackles #MeToo without really naming it when a woman breaks a man's penis after he attempts to sexually assault her. Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago, two police officers (who happen to be a couple) question both the victim, Keri, and the perpetrator, Seth, and try to prove that an attack took place.
The most Very Special Episode part of "Josh Is Irrelevant" comes in the form of Rebecca's friend Valencia. Valencia actually approaches her friend's crisis in a very special way; she puts it on YouTube, she films everything, and sings a song about how she's going to change the world. Like a Very Special Episode, hugs and music will solve everything. Except unlike the makers of Very Special Episodes, this is actually a mask. Valencia is scared out of her mind, because she knows perfectly well that she almost lost one of her best friends. The Full House music, the internet activism, the punchy buzzwords are really just her trying to grapple with the situation at hand. Before we come to this realization, Valencia is questioned for her methods by friends who consider her actions "tacky and basic." This accurately describes Very Special Episodes that try to wrap their minds around the bigger issues in life, but don't actually know how to portray it on screen. They want to deal with the thin layer, not the crust underneath.
"He Said, She Said" also sheds a light on the fact that these issues are complicated than seeking one answer. Santiago pushes Keri to testify against Seth, after Keri expresses reluctance because she can't really prove it - it's all "he said, she said." However, Santiago and Peralta are confident that they can find enough evidence that will lead to Seth's conviction. But Rosa Diaz, another detective, points out that they may have done more harm than good in forcing her to testify. Her name will be dragged through the mud, and there may not be a way to prove it. And in fact, it's difficult to find anyone who'll say anything against Seth, even though it turns out there's much to be said. While Santiago's approach is more practical than Valencia's inspiration campaign, it's still not an approach that instantly solves everything, nor is true justice guaranteed.
We learn that Santiago was harassed herself, at her old job, and it's perhaps at the root of her confidence issues. While in the past Santiago's tendency to be neurotic were played for laughs, we see another side of it. She now feels that she has to constantly prove herself, because after her former Captain attempted to kiss her, she doubted whether he really saw that much potential in her, or if she was just an object to him. Santiago tells Peralta that all women have faced some form of harassment.
In the end, there is no perfect solution. They do find proof that Seth attempted to rape Keri, but Keri still quits a job she worked incredibly hard to get. She's either seen as the victim or the accuser, depending on who you ask, and can't take it anymore. It's not all for naught - Seth's going to jail, and another employee at the company comes forward about being harassed. But in the end, more questions are asked than answered. Good; that's what messages should do. Get you to think and consider.
"Josh Is Irrelevant" also tackles the lack of definitive solutions. Rebecca is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which is not an easy realization for her - it's a disorder that involves a lot of intense therapy and treatment. However, in coping with the disorder, Rebecca can become a healthier and happier person. But even that doesn't mean the problem is solved. In a heartbreaking moment, Valencia begs Rebecca to promise she'll never attempt to suicide again; Rebecca says she can't promise, because while she never wants to be in that place again, she doesn't know what the future holds. There are no absolutes with illness, and that includes mental illness. However, the episode still ends on a hopeful note, with Rebecca surrounded by friends, aiming to embark on a better chapter in her life.
There's also a lot to be said for not dropping the subject. While it's likely we'll never hear from Keri in Brooklyn Nine-Nine again, due to the show's tendency to go for Case of the Week, even before getting into suicide and personality disorders, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend always made it clear Rebecca was dealing with some sort of mental health issue, and it hasn't forgotten that she has the disorder. The tone of the show became much more serious (although the humor wasn't lost), and it's made very clear that recovery is a process.
Other shows have also emphasized the lack of true closure. The One Day at a Time episode "Outside" deals both with #MeToo and with macho culture. Preteen Alex makes inappropriate jokes on instagram, including ones that most likely made his girlfriend uncomfortable. When Alex points out that she was laughing, his sister Elena asks if he was sure she really found it funny, or if Chloe felt she had to laugh. Elena and Syd share their own story about harassment, as does Penelope, Elena and Alex's mother. Alex ultimately realizes that his behavior was problematic and vows to stop; however, Elena is still disgusted for Alex, and it takes a few episodes for them to return to the close siblings they were. Alex still has to face the ramifications for his actions. The same is true when he buys pot; while he promises Penelope that he won't smoke it, in another episode his grandmother finds out he'd been smoking marijuana and is quite upset. The show doesn't just settle on a special topic for one week; it makes it clear that problems are long-running, as are consequences.
It's understandable, of course, if a show that normally doesn't deal with heavy real-world issues doesn't want to focus too much on them, especially 90's family sitcoms. However, even Full House went the distance with Stephanie. In one episode she's pressured to smoke, but ultimately elects not to. However, the girl who pressures her, Gia, doesn't go away. At first they antagonize each other, then they become friends, yet Gia still occasionally drags Stephanie into bad situations. Different bad situations, but still, in its own cheesy, corny music way, Full House does get the message across that you don't have to do things your friends do, and their mistakes don't have to be yours. It's simple, but for a show aimed at kids, that's okay.
Very Special Episodes don't have to be all bad. It's just important to talk about an issue without exploiting it, and to make sure you find the right footing between offering hope and solutions and pushing false promises.