4 minute read
BIG MOOD
Arriving this spring onto Channel 4 with a huge marketing campaign, new series Big Mood stars Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West from It’s A Sin as best friends Maggie and Eddie, and promised a realistic, rounded depiction of life with bipolar. But what did people living with bipolar actually think of it? We asked Bipolar Scotland members to review the show.
“I was excited to hear about the show although I did worry. It took me a while to feel comfortable enough to actually sit down and watch it. What they got right: I thought it was really good at showing the ups and downs of bipolar, from the risk-taking and impulsive behaviour, the way we can spiral into excesses of sexuality, spending and alcohol/ drug use, to the depression and inability to function. However, what really pulled me out of the series was the relationship Maggie had with her psychiatrist. Nobody I know with bipolar has that sort of direct access to a psychiatrist who is completely involved in their case and knows them that well. That’s just not reality in the country we live in. I only see a psychiatrist once a year and it has never been the same person when I get my appointment. We just don’t have that continuity of care. I don’t see how someone like Maggie could afford that level of private psychiatry, so that soured things for me as I began to wonder if they’d done their homework. I felt that it was offering people an unrealistic depiction of how the system works, or doesn’t. ”
- S
“It was refreshing to watch bipolar representation on TV that wasn’t demonising us, and I did enjoy that they found the dark humour that can exist in the situation. I was also amazed by Nicola Coughlan’s range in the central role; she got the feel of the emotions so very spot on that I had to check that she didn’t actually have bipolar herself!
I don’t think it was marketed very well, though - all the trailers I saw really leaned into the zany hijinks side of the things she got up to when experiencing manic episodes, when the show itself went much darker. I appreciated that they were honest about the darkness, but the ending, although it was really well done, left me feeling anxious and upset at how bleak it was. I almost felt like it was re-stigmatising people with bipolar again; we can make friendships work and last!”
- Rachel
“I was expecting huge things from this much advertised series, especially because it tackled bipolar. The first episode was intriguing and promised to shine a light on a very complicated condition. I recognised myself in the character Nicola Coughlan portrayed. The manic and depressive episodes and the swings between them. I was eager to journey further into the series, get to know Maggie and Eddie and the way their friendship worked.
As the series progressed I became increasingly bored with the portrayal of the condition I’ve had for 40+ years, however, I know there had to be a story to the series, so tried to see beyond my expectations and view it as a tv show instead of an opportunity to try to explain a much misunderstood mental illness. I found it far-fetched and, as it’s advertised as a “dark comedy”, laughs, even smiles, were few and far between.
I ended the series feeling disappointed. I hope for better things from the next episodes.” - Tracey
