Even though the television world has become more diverse over the past couple of decades, the types of stories told tend to come from traditional voices. This is even more true for comedies. With female protagonists, the stories are typically from the perspective of classically beautiful, thin women (a la Friends, Sex and the City, New Girl, etc.). We've only just seen more realistic bodies depicted on TV, thanks to series like Survival of the Thickest and Somebody Somewhere. If you're looking for one more underrated show in this category, Netflix has just added a fantastic three-season comedy that deserves to be rediscovered.
Shrill, which originally premiered on Hulu in 2019, is adapted from Lindy West's 2016 memoir, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman, and transformed into a fictionalized account of West's life as a plus-size writer. The series follows Annie Easton (Aidy Bryant), who is merely trying to exist in a world designed for thin people.
This is the show 'Girls' should have been.
In the premiere, Annie experiences multiple humiliating events. She angles for a promotion from a calendar editor to a journalist at the newspaper where she works, but is shot down by her harsh boss, Gabe (played by John Cameron Mitchell, who is perfectly cast in this droll role). She sleeps with her friend-with-benefits, Ryan (Luka Jones), and is embarrassingly asked to leave through the back door so that his roommates won't see her. Then, to top it all off, she finds out that the morning-after pill isn't effective for her because she weighs over 175 pounds.
One of the only bright lights in Annie's life is her bestie, Fran (Lolly Adefope), who supports her exactly as she is and goes with her to terminate her pregnancy. In subsequent episodes, Annie starts to learn to love herself from the inside out, and her journey becomes even more about finding her voice in a world that doesn't always allow her to speak.
Shrill's storytelling is so effective because it's always authentic. Annie's life is incredibly messy and super realistic. Her relationships are complicated, and she has to fight like hell for every ounce of respect she gets from the people around her. The writing team, which includes Bryant and West, works to create a character who feels far from perfect, but is also someone you can't help but root for. The best part of the show is the way that Annie learns to look for joy in her life — whether it's sticking up for herself at work, dealing with a horrible internet troll, or attending a pool party for plus-size women that allows her to feel truly comfortable in her skin for perhaps the first time. It's not that Annie doesn't make cringe-worthy mistakes, especially when her insecurity takes over. But as the series progresses, Annie becomes a true heroine who doesn't conform to the societal standards that hold us all back.
There is no way that Shrill would have worked without such a stellar cast. Bryant, who landed an Emmy nomination in 2021 for her work, is absolutely breathtaking in this role. Annie may be depressed, feisty, joyful, and honest all at once, but she's never a caricature. Instead, Bryant plays her with a refreshing three-dimensional brilliance that proves that her incredible work on Saturday Night Live was no fluke — and that she deserves another leading role pronto.
The supporting cast is every bit as essential to Shrill as Bryant. Adefope, who has proven her range by also starring in the UK version of Ghosts, is effervescent and dazzling as Fran. Comedy legends Julia Sweeney and Daniel Stern offer perfect timing in every scene they pop up in as Annie's parents, while her co-workers, played impeccably by Jo Firestone, Patti Harrison, and Ian Owens, create a magically funny setting for some of Annie's biggest hurdles.
Shrill aired its final season in 2021, which was especially tragic considering there was so much more of Annie's journey that could have been explored. What's even more disappointing is that so many people somehow missed seeing the series when it first aired. Luckily, it's found a new streaming home on Netflix, where, hopefully, even more viewers will check out this gem of a show.
