Four television series present a more authentic view of depression.
For years, media portrayals of mental illness have frequently fallen back on stereotypes, casting sufferers as villains or labeling them as 'crazy.' Even well-known programs such as 13 Reasons Why try to address mental health topics, but they frequently oversimplify the condition in favor of dramatic storytelling—sometimes with dangerous consequences.
Such depictions harm not only individuals living with mental illness but also their loved ones, by offering a distorted view of how to offer support and understanding. Fortunately, not all media is harmful—and overall, there are signs of progress.
The way these four series approach depression may be a clear indicator that our collective understanding of mental health is reshaping media in a positive direction.
One series is a romantic comedy with an unexpected angle. It follows two seemingly mismatched individuals, Gretchen and Jimmy, as they attempt to build a relationship despite their personal struggles. The show goes beyond typical romantic hurdles to address deeper issues, challenging the usual media portrayal of depression. In a key scene, Gretchen, who battles depression, stops taking her medication and tries to conceal this from Jimmy. The resulting events illustrate that depression affects not just the person experiencing it but everyone around them, highlighting the constant need for support and understanding.
The protagonist is Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer living with social anxiety, dissociative identity disorder, and clinical depression. He experiences hallucinations of a figure named Mr. Robot, who in Elliot's mind recruits him as a vigilante hacker. Elliot frequently resorts to self-medication, self-harm, or withdrawal from friends, struggling to express his emotions to those who care—often pushing them away or causing hurt.
Mr. Robot is widely praised for its accurate portrayal of depression, especially the internal battle many face. As Bridget Greenfield, a writer who has experienced depression, notes: 'Elliot comes to the following realization, “Mr. Robot has become my god, and, like all gods, their madness takes you prisoner.” Just as Elliot feels trapped by Mr. Robot, I often feel imprisoned by my mental illness, unable to reach out for help.'
BoJack Horseman, a Netflix animated series, centers on a self-hating anthropomorphic horse who is a faded Hollywood star. He spends his days complaining about his past and present life. Despite being a comedy, the show effectively captures the world of someone with depression, accurately depicting their interactions with others. According to Sean Baran of FilmToolKit, 'The titular character creates a self-sustaining spiral of negativity due to his low self-worth as a result of parental neglect and abuse. He consistently pushes those who try to help away and makes poor decisions that reflect his image of himself.'
The series' realistic exploration of depression's origins shows that the condition is multifaceted and can stem from family dynamics. This portrayal emphasizes that a villain doesn't need to wear the mask of mental illness—often, it's an ordinary person like BoJack.
This Netflix dramedy, a reboot of a 1970s classic, follows a Cuban-American family. A newly single mother and her traditional grandmother raise a teenage daughter and a preteen. The show handles nuance well. Penelope, the mother, is an army veteran dealing with PTSD and depression. She finds it difficult to disclose this to her family because, as Ariana Brockington writes in Variety, her Latin community 'has a deeply rooted mix of cultural and socioeconomic factors that have conspired to stigmatize people with mental illness, in many cases causing them—and their families—to delay or avoid seeking professional help.'
As Penelope works on finding a way to open up about her struggles, she demonstrates how challenging it can be for those with mental illness to seek assistance—the very kind of help that, thanks to evolving media narratives, many may feel more empowered to pursue.
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