I randomly picked up this TV series on Netflix about a week or so ago to have a mental break from schoolwork and other stuff. I don’t even recall why, other than the trailer with Anja and Ron trading barbs made me laugh. Finally finished all 3 seasons in just a week, it was too bad there isn’t more in the future.
It was interesting that the storyline supposedly happens in Seattle, United States but the scenes were actually shot in B.C, here in Canada. Either because it is cheaper to have it filmed here with the US versus Canadian dollar conversion, or because they want those ‘small-town feels’, which Canada has lots and lots of.
When this aired in 2017, I likely wouldn’t have picked it up because it’s kind of depressing. There’s no fun watching an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) counselor with an attitude (portrayed by Ron Livingston) and a bunch of people in the AA recovery program talk about their mundane problems as they work through it day after day, whether it’s due to them relapsing, drama from their families, or just life in general.
But now, because of my work at the local church, where we provide a space for recovery groups to meet (like St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, where they filmed the show), it feels more relatable. Whatever they were portraying in the show makes much more sense.
I’ve met real people in those recovery groups doing the 12-step program, trying to live a normal life by leaning on the others for support, and empathize what that’s like.
It is a tough battle, it never ends. They go to these ‘meetings’ to live a normal life and function in society after (or despite) being addicted to drugs or recovering as an alcoholic.
The key was in accepting they have a problem, taking accountability for it, and getting help (by being rehabilitated) and putting in the work to remain ‘clean’ (or sober). They have slip-ups, sure. But they come back and try again.
What makes the show refreshing is that it remained true to that theme, not sugarcoating it to please the audience. The characters are funny, a comedic relief with insightful bits thrown in between. Lots of profanity in the dialogue (so I’m not ‘recommending’ it for those with delicate ears) but an educational form of entertainment, for sure.
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