I think it’s probably a safe bet to say that “I’d like to watch a show about grief” is not a phrase you hear uttered that often when browsing streaming services like Netflix or Disney+.
I always find it to be a really interesting device for character growth though, as such an intense emotion provides a lot of scope for a whole array of feelings. Plus, for those who have experienced grief personally, it gives you some instant relatability, and that moment of realising that you’re not the only one who has felt that way.
I have tried to choose quite a broad spectrum of TV shows in my list below, in order to find something that will suit a whole range of different people and experiences. Some are funny, some are intense, but they all share a common theme and show just how grief can affect people from all walks of life.
After Life “One day you’ll eat your last meal, smell your last flower, hug your friend for the very last time. You might not know it’s the last time, so that’s why you should do everything you love with passion, you know? Treasure the few years you’ve got because that’s all there is.”
I think Ricky Gervais’ character of Tony is one of the greatest examples of character development ever written.
Tony is grieving the loss of his wife by being cantankerous, aggressive, and just downright mean to everyone he meets. As we go through the show though, we slowly get hints of the loving person that’s hidden behind this stony exterior, and it’s his relationships with his friends and family that ultimately save him.
Each episode is incredibly funny, while also being so intensely sad. It’s certainly a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, so make sure that you’re in the right headspace to appreciate it.
This Is Us “I think that's sort of how it works, you know? We go through life slowly but surely collecting these little pieces of ourselves that we can't really live without until we eventually have enough of them to feel whole.”
This one is a big commitment, with a total of 106 episodes, but it really is worth the effort. Essentially it is a family drama series, but it all revolves around the death of Jack Pearson, who leaves his wife and three kids behind to navigate the grief together.
There’s so much more to this show than grief, but it does always keep coming back to that loss and how each person dealt with it differently. There’s a lot of love and laughter, but there are also a lot of tears, so have your tissues at the ready for this one.
Broadchurch “Grief is like a splinter deep into every fingertip; to touch anything is torture.”
This one is a little different, as the grief is not perhaps quite as obvious at first glance, but it is there in two ways.
Firstly it’s a murder mystery show, and the grief for the young boy who has been killed is felt throughout the small town. The grief is almost felt universally throughout the town as we learn how each person knew him or his family.
And secondly, the detective is dealing with a double dose of grief himself. He grieves over a child who died in a previous case that he could not solve, and he also grieves the loss of a loving relationship.
The mystery is gripping enough to keep you watching, but the smaller character moments are what really makes this one stand out.
Dead To Me “If you love someone, they’re always with you, no matter where they go.”
A comedy about grief that’s also a mystery drama..? It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but the writing here is pretty great and the twists and turns keep you coming back for more.
Two grieving women bond during therapy, but one of them is not being honest, and the two flit between friends and enemies as the series progresses. Despite the over the top plot, there’s a lot here that people might see as being familiar in their own experiences of grief, such as avoidance, denial and anger.
Fleabag “I don’t know what to do with it … With all the love I have for her. I don’t know where to put it now.”
Fleabag gets categorised as a comedy, and it definitely is funny, but it’s also so much more than that.
It is 100% about grief, as the titular character has lost both her mum and her best friend, and is lashing out at the world because of it. She breaks the fourth wall to let us know what she’s thinking and feeling, and then we also get flashbacks to time spent with her best friend.
This show won Baftas, Emmys, and Golden Globes, all rightly so. It is quite foul mouthed though, so just be aware if that’s not your thing.
WandaVision “What is grief, if not love persevering?”
Now, if you’re not a fan of the Marvel superhero movies, then you might want to skip this one. It starts off as a 60s sitcom, but as you go through the episodes you realise that there’s something else at play. Basically, Wanda has magic powers, and she had to watch the love of her life die in front of her, so as a way of running from the grief she creates this whole world around her where she lives happily with her husband, and even has two children.
I won’t give away any spoilers here, but we see this extreme form of escapism used as a way to avoid dealing with the grief, and then we see anger when she finally has to confront it.
Despite how wild and crazy it sounds, it does contain one of my favourite lines written about grief which I’ve quoted above, and it trended online when it was first released, showing that it quickly resonated with a lot of people.
Have I missed anything out? I always love to hear your own recommendations, so please leave them in the comments below!
