Hulu’s brand new original show Shrill hit the streaming network with six episodes and a story overflowing with raw, real, life. Shrill, is an adaptation of the memoir written by Lindy West, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman. West, along with Aidy Bryant and Ali Rushfield co-wrote all six episodes of the new show pulling out the most important themes and memorable moments from the beloved memoir.
Shrill follows the life of Annie (Aidy Bryant), a young aspiring journalist working at a digital publication with an uptight boss in the city of Portland. Annie wants to love her life and live her dreams, yet she is unfulfilled at work and is in a relationship with a man who more often than not asks her to leave through the back door and hop a fence to get home. Annie describes herself as “fat” and we witness her daily routine infiltrated with comments and critiques from others about her weight, lifestyle, looks, and health. But, before the first episode comes to an end, Annie finds a new energy in life and is determined to love herself and live her life now, not later.
Body positivity is at the forefront of this series, as are many other positive and sometimes difficult messages. Underneath the story of this independent woman who is finding her power lives the encouragement to be happy now. We can’t wait to live life until we look a certain way or fit a certain size. The only life we have to live is now.
In a breakthrough moment for Annie, we are taken to a body inclusive pool party and experience through Annie’s perspective just how invigorating it feels to be free. Freedom to wear what she wants to, freedom for everyone to be different, freedom to be herself in her body without judgment or comparison. Even the cinematography in these moments encourages us to try a new perspective and to be viewers in a more inclusive manner.
Shrill is as difficult to watch as it is empowering. It leaves no stone unturned and blatantly challenges what we are told to believe as a society about health, beauty, and what it means to be happy. It uses plain language and open dialogue and paints a picture that is messy but real. Annie isn’t perfect. Sometimes she is selfish and makes rash decisions and doesn’t know the right solution to her problem. This is not a story about the perfect hero. It is about what it can look like when we decide to be the heroes of our own stories.
It is time to start loving ourselves as we are in this moment. Yes, it might be a messy journey and we will surely make mistakes along the way: but, we are worth it to try.
Hulu’s new show Shrill is brutally honest…and we love it.
