99 replies to this topic

[Evil_Eve]

From Wikipedia:

My Mad Fat Diary is a six-part British television series that debuted on E4 on 14 January 2013. It is based on "My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary" written by Rae Earl.

Set in Lincolnshire in 1996, My Mad Fat Diary follows the story of 16 year old, 16 stone Rae, who has just left a psychiatric hospital, where she has spent four months.

I believe it's on episode five now. Is anyone watching? I've enjoyed it so far.

Edited by TWoP Howard, Feb 12, 2013 @ 6:58 PM.
Added quote tags and link

[ElectricBoogalo]

Yay, someone else is watching this show! I tried to search for a thread the other day on the mobile version of the forum but I was afraid to start a new thread until I got the non-malware regular version of the forum working again just in case I somehow missed it.

I've only watched the first episode so far but I really like it. There's something about it that reminds me of My So-Called Life and Huge in a good way: teenagers navigating the shark infested waters of everyday life and figuring out who they are, how they fit in, and the overwhelming insecurity that many kids find during their journey. Hoping to catch up on the reat of the episodes over the next few days so I can watch the season finale when it airs next week!

[ostentatious]

Thank god someone started this topic. I have had nowhere to put all my feels!

I've watched through episode five (last night's ep). It is really a stellar show on all levels.

Edited by ostentatious, Feb 12, 2013 @ 2:37 PM.

[Evil_Eve]

Okay, so I watched all of the episodes so far and I love it. The characters are all very relatable and the actors do a great job with the material. I'm a little nervous about the finale next week though. I'm overly invested already. I hope it gets a second series.

[ostentatious]

Preview for series finale

Since the previews haven't aired outside the UK going to spoiler tag this commentary.

Spoiler

With regard to what Finn has to "tell" her, I saw a mention that in the book, he tells her he'd want to go out with her...if she lost weight.

Not that that's not realistic, but it seems to me Finn has already swallowed much of the social cost of going out with a big girl. He didn't at all try to back away at the suggestion they might already be a couple, and men that are genuinely turned off by the bodies of large women tend to not pursue so much physical contact with them. Archie is understandable, he's gay, a swimsuit model would get no more or less attention.

So...I don't know how to feel about that. It makes sense to me for Random Teenage Boy, but it doesn't make sense to me for this particular one.

I've been wondering if perhaps Finn has maybe...some sort of past drug problem. Every time drugs are mentioned he gets a bit weird, and when he turned down that tab of Ecstasy he was also kind of weird. And a lot of the compliments he gives Rae allude to his perception that she has it all together ("I didn't know that you were sound," and telling her she's the Leader and what not).

[Evil_Eve]

Hmm,

Spoiler

I will be really disappointed if that is what happens. I feel like Finn has shown himself as generally a good guy. If it's not about being ashamed about being with a fat girl maybe he will just say something along the lines of "I like you, but I'm not sexually attracted to you" and Rae will take it as her needing to lose weight. I could maybe accept that, haha. I just don't want to hate Finn at the end of the episode.

I also noticed the weirdness about the drugs and his very strong negative reaction to the dealer.

[ostentatious]

I also can't figure out what the hell Chloe is doing with this group.

We know they're not childhood friends or Rae would've already known them. So, Chloe has met them over the past year. But she's not anyone's ex-girlfriend, so how would she get in with them, and why? Izzy is a kid sister to them. Was she initially after...err...shit, not Chop. Archie? Has she really only been hanging out with them a short while and it's really Rae showing up and being granted Honorary Bloke status that has extended her stay?

[ElectricBoogalo]

Rae didn't know any of them in the first episode. Chloe introduced her to everyone at the pub, which made me assume that Chloe started hanging out with them during the four months that Rae was "in France." But I too am a little confused about how she met them. If they all went to school together, wouldn't Rae already know who they are and not need to be introduced? I went to a pretty big high school (over 900 in my class) but everyone still recognized the majority of everyone else by name or sight even if they weren't in the same social groups.

Chloe is already resentful of Rae fitting in but that makes me wonder why she brought Rae into the group in the first place if she didn't want that to happen. Teen girl jealousy is do cliche but still so true. And hilarious that Chloe expected Rae to feel sorry for her because people pay attention to her for being pretty.

Chloe starting to hang out with these previously unknown friends reminded me of Lindsey starting to hang out with Daniel on Freaks & Geeks or Angela starting to hand out with Rayanne Graff on MSCL. It was never really explained how they met but it was obvious that it was based on a need for change.

I just finished watching the third episode last night and am still appalled by the teacher boyfriend. Ugh.

Edited by ElectricBoogalo, Feb 14, 2013 @ 11:31 AM.

[Kai]

This show has been such a pleasant surprise for me. Saw the trailer a while back and figured it'd be a variation on the Skins theme, which while I loved Skins in the beginning, the erratic writing, sub-par acting, and growing sensationalism, had me wondering if I needed a break from teen shows indefinitely, so I didn't give My Mad Fat Diary a shot until a friend promised it was something different and special. Lo and behold, a mere 5 episodes later, I find it to be one of the best coming of age tales I've watched in a long time, perhaps ever. Is there another show that has covered the intersection of weight issues, mental health issues, and gen teenage shenanigans with quite so much relatability, heart and humor?

As for next week...

Spoiler

I feel like there's so much to fret about! I have a sinking feeling the Tix situation won't end well, and based on the trailer I'm in agreement that things with Finn might go south as well. I can't see him being as cruel as the book ending, it doesn't jive with a character, but I can see him saying some variation of 'I just don't think of you like that', and given that Rae and Finn have shared so many sweet, tension charged moments, bolstered by the actors' wonderful chemistry, to end it on a sour note would be so disheartening.

I'm very nervous-excited about Monday.

Edited by Kai, Feb 14, 2013 @ 12:34 PM.

[Powrhug]

Love this show! First heard about it a little over a week ago and have now seen all five eps and am awaiting the final on Monday. I'm just sad there are only 6!

I tweeted Sharon Rooney and she said they'll find out "soon" if they get a second season. Cross your fingers!

In the first episode, Chloe tells Rae she's started hanging out with the group and I'm not British so I didn't catch the name, but it sounded like they were from a different school or town. I know Chloe and Rae talk about being from Lincolnshire, but it sounds like the pub they hang out in is somewhere else in Stamford. (again, not British! So maybe this Kansas woman is wrong wrong wrong)

As for why Chloe would bring Rae in, I think it's evident that Chloe is undermining and passive aggressive, so it makes perfect sense to me. I even read a study once about women who tend to befriend other women who they feel are less attractive to make them look even better. I think that's what's going on here, but it backfired on Chloe because everyone ended up loving Rae. If you'll remember, she didn't tell Rae about the second meeting in the pub...I'm assuming because she changed her mind about wanting her as a part of the group.

Spoiler

As for the spoiler stuff, I haven't read the book (I ordered it and it's on its way) but a friend told me there are differences, characters combined, etc. I can't see Finn being as harsh on the show as in the book. Maybe he says "I think of you as a friend" but there's been a lot of mixed signals then throughout the five eps we've seen. And something like "well you need to lose weight" would seem to be really out of character for him as we've seen him. Unless he gets scared and uses it to push her away.

My favorite moment was when Finn spelled out the message on her hand. That moment and others like it (not just Rae/Finn) are why I love this show.

[ElectricBoogalo]

Ha, weird. I'm the opposite - I'd rather be the ugliest one in a group of really hot people than the hottest one in a group of uggos, so I can't relate. I guess Chloe thinks that will keep her in control or with all the power. Even though Rae kept her time away a secret, she's right that Chloe has been a crappy friend. In Chloe's defense, lots of teenagers are selfish crappy friends at that age. It's not a great defense since some teenagers are very supportive friends at that age too. Rae may have kept a big secret, but she still skipped a huge concert to be with Chloe even when they weren't on good terms with each other.

[ostentatious]

Chloe starting to hang out with these previously unknown friends reminded me of Lindsey starting to hang out with Daniel on Freaks & Geeks or Angela starting to hand out with Rayanne Graff on MSCL.

I just don't see that at all. There's a romance behind each of those, for the person coming into the group. Who is Chloe's Daniel? Who is her Rayanne? That's what I'm missing, exactly. Who? She doesn't seem particularly close to any of them. Izzy? Maybe she made friends with Izzy? Probably because she wanted an in with the guys? That makes sense to me, actually.

My biggest issue with Chloe is that she's an underminer. Honestly, every time she grabs Rae's arm and drags her off I just can't even with her. Stop that.

Spoiler

My husband just witnessed this spoiler conversation about Finn possibly telling her the issue is with her weight, looked at me like I was nuts, and pointed out that Finn is constantly staring at Rae's boobs. Like full-length eyeballing her at some points, but every time she wears a fitted t-shirt, like when he runs up to her at the park, he keeps dropping his gaze to her chest. Some guys like huge breasts and the body type that frequently accompanies those. That would actually be a sweet way to go. And actually, you know, shocking and refreshing.

Edited by ostentatious, Feb 14, 2013 @ 5:55 PM.

[Evil_Eve]

Spoiler

It would definitely be out of character, as Finn has been portrayed as not just nice, but polite.

Also, in the preview it looks like they are hugging after whatever he says. I doubt Rae would hug a guy that just told her she was too fat to date. When I first saw the preview, I hadn't seen any of the episodes yet. My immediate assumption was that he was gay, but after the story line with Archie, it doesn't seem like it would go that way. Perhaps he will be confessing something about drugs or Chloe?

Speaking of Chloe, I'm not the biggest fan of her character but she is portrayed very realistically. She is not always completely heartless, but she is selfish. I've had a lot of friends like her. Also, I think it's strange how many people on Tumblr and other communities are shaming her for kissing Finn. Chloe asked Rae multiple times about Finn and confessed her crush on him, which Rae never did. I understand Rae not telling Chloe. I was very similar to Rae in high school, and I never told my friends who I liked, because I thought it was ridiculous for me to like anyone. However, it's not Chloe's fault that Rae didn't tell her. I'm not sure if it would have stopped Chloe, but she didn't even give her the chance, so we'll never know.

[Powrhug]

Oh I agree. I have multiple problems with things Chloe has done (although I don't have a problem with Chloe herself), but kissing Finn isn't one of them. But maybe that's because I'm "old and wise"....or something.

I did get my copy of the book yesterday in the mail! And I will say that there are some very big differences so far in what I've read, and I think I even like the Rae from the show more than the Rae from the book. I'm not sure if that's a difference in writers or if it's because of Sharon Rooney's portrayal of Rae.

[RubyRose]

One character that has really surprised me is Chopper (or Chomper?). I initially wrote him off as the one who would resist Rae the most, but he has proven me wrong over the course of the 5 existing episodes. He has shown to enjoy Rae's company and looks for ways to include her. However I think my favourite moment was when he saw Rae getting accosted by the drug dealer at the rave and swooped in and got her away from him. He's a good friend to have around.

Of course, like everyone else, Finn has completely melted my heart. I love his adorable smile and the way he looks up while ducking his head down. Like, he doesn't want to seem to be paying attention or for people to see his face but he can't help stealing glances, especially when Rae is involved.

I really like Kester too and wish he was my therapist. I have had a weird soft spot for Ian Hart for a long time. I just think he has a likeable face and manner about him in the roles he plays.

[ostentatious]

I love his adorable smile and the way he looks up while ducking his head down. Like, he doesn't want to seem to be paying attention or for people to see his face but he can't help stealing glances, especially when Rae is involved.

Rewatch that scene where he runs up to Rae in the park. Clearly some of this adorable behavior can be attributed to him looking at her boobs. Seriously, look at the level his eyes drop to, then snap back up to her face, repeated many times. It's boob level.

On the Chloe kissing Finn front, I was reading a book last night - it's Charlotte Stein's Curve Ball - which is essentially about a plus size young woman who is entirely incapable of telling when someone is interested in her since she operates from the assumption that they are not, and her coming to terms with the idea that a guy could actually be specifically interested in her body type. She has to reinterpret every interaction she's ever had with him once she discovers this. She has acted like she hated him for years because she absolutely under no circumstances wanted him or anyone else to think she cared, because that's what exposes you to ridicule. If you don't care, no one can touch you.

Rae worked overtime to give off the impression that she didn't care. And honestly, her demeanor when Chloe asked her about him at the rave would've convinced me. I don't think Chloe would've let that stop her because re-directing someone's attention away from Rae is the point of all this effort, but Rae basically said "I do not want him. Please have at him." She seemed like she'd be happy for them if they got together. So, when you are so guarded about your feelings that you're not just defensive, but you actually go on the offensive and you're convincing, don't be mad when other people are, you know. Convinced.

If I really want to argue her case, from her point of view...I think the one she was interested in originally was Archie. She was shoving her boobs in his face at the pool, plus any girl just coming into that group has about a 70% chance of ranking him #1. She didn't put up much of a fight when Rae went out with him, other than to try to send her out dressed more poorly than Izzy would allow. And as far as she knows, Rae was the one who dumped him, since that was the story he agreed to tell. And since Archie has zero interest in her yet still cuddles up to Rae, she has to think the same thing that Finn does, which is that there's something there and the nature of that relationship is under Rae's control. Chloe can clearly see that Finn likes Rae, so Rae is therefore the one bogarting all the boys (boygarting?). She can't get either one to even look at her. That'd piss me off too, frankly, whether I felt my Pretty Girl Privilege was being threatened or not, and for her this is not just upsetting on an individual level. It's messing up her worldview.

Edited by ostentatious, Feb 15, 2013 @ 5:14 PM.

[Powrhug]

Wow ostentatious, I think you just described me with that book! (I'm Rae's size.) Although I have a more-than-healthy *self*esteem (always have), I always assume men aren't interested because of my size. So I have a bad howotherpeopleseemeesteem? I've also been told men are intimidated by me, something Rae is told in the book, btw.

And you're right, I'd forgotten that the cover story for Archie was that she broke up with him, making Rae seem like the one in control of that situation. And of course it could be argued that Finn only kissed Chloe because of the kiss he saw, since prior to that I don't think he'd shown any interest in Chloe at all.

I'd love to know more about Chloe thinking Finn was interested in someone else though....what led her to believe that. I assume it's something Finn said.

Finn is just plain adorable, and I love that he's more brooding and almost cerebral than your stereotypical jock, which would be what most teen dramas would make him. I found out that Nico is 22, which made me feel slightly better about finding him attractive! ;D

Edited to say, I'm not sure "cerebral" is actually what I mean here, but couldn't find a better word for what I'm thinking.

Edited by Powrhug, Feb 15, 2013 @ 6:11 PM.

[RubyRose]

Re-watching episode 3 and 4, it struck me that there is a slight Pride and Prejudice vibe to Rae and Finn. When they first meet, they seem to rub each other the wrong way. Finn's standoffish behaviour leads Rae to believe he is shallow and stuck up, when in actuality he is shy and not well versed in conversing with new people (paraphrased from Mr. Darcy). Also, it is evident to the audience, before it is to Rae, that Finn actually likes her (whether as more than friends remains to be seen) and is hurt by her continued rude behaviour towards him. That is until he comes to her rescue and she realizes her first impressions of him were wrong.

I have a feeling what Finn wants to tell Rae is that he slept with Chloe. If he likes Rae but saw her kissing another guy he thinks she dated, history of teen dramas show that the heartbroken, good guy tries to mend his heart by doing something stupid.

The show has also inspired me to put on my 90's playlist.

Edited by RubyRose, Feb 16, 2013 @ 11:47 AM.

[ElectricBoogalo]

Just read some of Rae's diary excerpts on the E4 website and came upon this hilarious bit of wisdom:
Never accept dating advice from Danny Two Hats. The man wears two hats. This should tell you all you need to know.

[ostentatious]

Pride & Prejudice by way of Bridget Jones, I think. It's really nodding to some things unique to BJD as well as P&P itself. Not just the diary and the voiceover, even. And since both of those resolved happily...

Anyone who has read the book able to tell if Finn is really very much like the character there - Hadden or something? - in any way other than being the guy she likes? Is the character there a sweetheart until the point he bros out and is awful?

And yeah, pretty sure he had sex with Chloe. It may be that he actually dates Choloe in the finale but tells Rae at the end that he really liked her but he realizes she didn't feel the same way and he wishes her the best with Archie and he hopes they can be friends now. That would certainly be a kick in the gut, not to mention setting up nicely for a second series, which surely they'll get.

Edited by ostentatious, Feb 16, 2013 @ 12:37 PM.

[Kai]

One of the changes I read about from book to show is that Book!Finn had an inkling Book!Archie was gay, and attempted to tell Rae because he felt bad about the situation.

Before I knew about this, that was my read on episode 2, that Finn was more perceptive and compassionate than he let on despite coming off so aloof all the time, and thus went to Rae's house to apologize for essentially getting bearded. But after seeing Archie and Rae @ the rave and sulking off, I guess he had no idea and episode 2 was hinting at his first sign of feelings for her? Otherwise his grumpy declaration "I told you nothing happened" seems odd.

[Powrhug]

Anyone who has read the book able to tell if Finn is really very much like the character there - Hadden or something? - in any way other than being the guy she likes? Is the character there a sweetheart until the point he bros out and is awful?

The book is literally written as a diary, so I think it's a little more difficult to get a grasp on what characters other than Rae are feeling, or what their motives are since everything is filtered through her relatively short entries. I'm about 3/4 of the way through and I think it's hard to tell whether Finn/Haddock "likes her likes her," or just likes her as a friend...although a really good friend. He does have the same demeanor and slow change to being a friend, and seems to care about her a lot.

There are more characters in the book as well, and he's the third guy she's in love with...well fourth really.

But after seeing Archie and Rae @ the rave and sulking off, I guess he had no idea and episode 2 was hinting at his first sign of feelings for her? Otherwise his grumpy declaration "I told you nothing happened" seems odd.

I definitely don't think anyone in the show knows about Archie other than Rae.

Has any UK folks seen the behind the scenes clip from this Monday's ep? I tried but the video won't play in the US. I was wondering if someone would give us a rundown of what's in it it. It's on the E4 site.

Edited by Powrhug, Feb 16, 2013 @ 1:57 PM.

[ostentatious]

Does she describe the drawing in the palm and on the thigh stuff and like, laying his legs over hers? Because that is just going too far and would make him a complete clit-tease.

[Powrhug]

Not in the parts I've gotten to.

Which, to be honest, are my favorite parts of the show...especially the palm spelling.

I'll use the Game of Thrones rules and talk book specifics behind the spoiler bars:

Spoiler

In the book there's a running joke between them about having an arranged marriage and getting married one day, but I'm not sure how serious he is because he says this stuff in front of his girlfriend. That's another difference between the book and the show, Haddock has a girlfriend who is actually someone Rae likes.

Also in the book Haddock has some sort of secret that she (weirdly since she's telling everything else) only mentions cryptically. She doesn't say, at least from what I read so far, what this big secret is even though it's a major thread about her knowing it and at one point using it against him.

Edited by Powrhug, Feb 16, 2013 @ 4:04 PM.

[whiteglasses]

Does she describe the drawing in the palm and on the thigh stuff and like, laying his legs over hers? Because that is just going too far and would make him a complete clit-tease.

nah...i don't necessarily think that. i tend to have that kind of relationship with guys where there's no attraction. like, the familiarity is ok because it's never going to lead to anything else. which is why i'm a little worried about his intentions.

they're so adorable together, but i don't know if i want a happily ever after ending for them (at least not yet). she still refuses to figure out what triggered her self-harm. she's been a pretty "normal" teenager so far, but is she likely to fall back on destructive behavior once things fall apart? i don't know. i think i just want HER to be in a good place, with/without finn.

however, if there's no second season, i at least need a make-out.

as for the preview clips on the e4 site...

Spoiler

one is them at the chip shop the morning after the rave for a debrief, at finn's insistence. chop and archie bail 'cause they feel like shit, and while finn's in the bathroom chloe tells rae she kissed him. rae feigns ignorance and chloe reveals she didn't really like finn at first but now she does.

second clip...

Spoiler

tix is the ghost of the future present and showing rae what life is like in lincolnshire if she "doesn't wake up" (argh, i'm guessing rae does something drastic...also, what does that mean for tix's fate?). the chip show goes under after the gang stop going there 'cause it reminds them of rae. izzy gets knocked up by kendo the scumbag dealer from dalehead who's now in the slammer. chop is on the wagon and gets himself a posh girlfriend. oh and his real name is arnold. chloe gets married to...archie! chloe is ready to jump his bones and poor archie nervously tries to put it off.

[Kai]

I'll be happy if the episode ends with Rae in a better place, Tix okay, and a spark of possibility between Rae and Finn, especially if we get a series 2. I don't want to think about it otherwise. :/

Spoiler

Finn trying to get the deets from everyone at breakfast is hilarious. Like he REALLY cares what Chop was up to, and he knows about Chloe. That leaves Archie and Rae. Subtle.

Edited by Kai, Feb 16, 2013 @ 5:33 PM.

[Powrhug]

Thanks for the rundown on the clips! Makes me want Monday to get here even more. =D

(although in a way I don't because that means it's over....at least for a while)

[whiteglasses]

i know! while i can't wait to see what happens, it's sad that it's the last episode. they could have easily made this a 12 episode series instead of just six.

they wrote/filmed it without knowing whether or not a second series would be in the works, so it'll be interesting to see how they end it. i don't know what the ratings are, but the response has been pretty positive and it seems like people have started discovering it in the past few weeks; i don't see why they wouldn't give it another go.

[kellyrawks]

This show is brilliant! Glad there are others watching it. It has a way of mixing in the serious stuff with the comedy that appeals to me.I also love the visual way the writers depict memories and emotions like how they went back to Rae and Chloe playing as kids to explain their strange friendship dynamic.Then there was symbolism in the sequence where Rae removes a fat suit and burns it.Even when we got a glimpse of her break down I felt her confusion with the dark room and jumbled thoughts.Just excellent. I really hope it continues.

[RubyRose]

I'm confused as to why, if the hospital was supervising Tix's meals and talking about tube feeding, would they allow her to keep exercise equipment in her room?