Here at One Track Mind, we’re all about finding harmony between sex and positive mental health; and making sure we see this in TV and film is incredibly important. So in this series, we will be checking in on our favourite media, assessing the level of aftercare and continuous consent found in sexual scenes. And how could we forget the presence and importance given to LGBTQIA+ sex and relationships storylines; something woefully lacking in prevalent pop culture? Get ready for our take on how inclusive, diverse and honest your favourite films and programmes really are. There’s one question on our mind: how’s your head?
When the second season of Feel Good came out a few weeks ago, I wasted no time and binge-watched the entire season in two days. This heartbreaking but joyous comedy-drama may not always have you feeling good, but the way it navigates sex certainly will.
Written by comedian Mae Martin and framed as semi-autobiographical, the series explores trauma, addiction, and gender identity. The sexual relationship between Mae and on-and-off girlfriend George is portrayed through a queer lens, and never a heteronormative one. They incorporate the use of toys and role play, and sex is always portrayed in a fun way that can sometimes go wrong (see: Mae stealing scrubs from a hospital to role play as a doctor, only to find they have been stained with god knows what). There are times when Mae faces difficulty finishing during sex, something that isn’t portrayed on screen all that often, and this is dealt with in an open-minded manner by George. This in turn avoids the trap a lot of sex scenes fall into, where too much pressure is placed on an orgasm being the end goal of sex.
Feel Good gets points for its portrayal of sexuality and gender; George has not yet fully come out of the closet as bisexual, as she fears her not-so progressive friends will judge her. Mae also grapples with her gender identity, struggling to place herself within the binaries of male and female. This reflects the experience of real-life Mae Martin, who identifies as non-binary. The series sensitively and intelligently navigates subjects such as PTSD and abuse, while putting relationships and self-care front-and-center. If you’re looking for sex positivity and self-discovery in one, comforting package; this is it.
Our verdict? It’s a pass!
Next up in the ‘How’s your head?’ series: Special (Netflix)