An Emotional Black Hole: Representations of Mental Illness in Television’s You’re the Worst

Abstract

Abstract Television comedy You’re the Worst (2014–19) traverses unusual territory by exploring mental health disorders in a sustained manner. Rather than introducing short-term and unpredictable characters to explore the impact of mental health disorders, two of the ensemble cast’s four lead characters have on-screen diagnoses of mental illness. Gretchen has clinical depression and Edgar, a veteran, has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The interplay of two characters with complex mental health conditions living in the one household is inarguably rare in popular television. This article explores the accuracy of these onscreen representations of episodic mental health challenges, as well as examining the responses of those around them as they try to understand and support these characters during periods when they are markedly unwell.