My Favorite Mom On TV Is...
10 writers reflect on the most memorable mothers on TV today
Hi Readers -
Happy Mother’s Day to those of you who celebrate! I hope you have a restful and connected weekend.
In honor of this special day, Greater Good Magazine asked me and a group of writers to reflect on their favorite current TV moms. My entry is below, but I encourage you to check out the full piece, which has entries on Bluey, Bridgerton, Hacks, The Pitt and more, including mini-essays from Courtney Martin and Kelly Rafferty.
Big love,
Christopher
P.S. If this is a challenging holiday for you, I encourage you to check out the Marking Complicated Mother’s Day workshop from the wonderful Ryan Rose Weaver (she/hers) and Lisa Sibbett.
The Large-in-Absence Award: Tia in Shrinking (Apple TV)
Will viewers care about a character they only see in brief flashbacks?
That’s the challenge Shrinking takes on with Tia (Lillian Bowden), a mother who is killed by a drunk driver before the show even starts. Her story is told through her absence, and we see the richness of her life and relationships through the huge hole her loss creates. Over time, we come to understand that the show’s mix of joy, pain, humor, and growth reflect Tia’s personality.
We see her husband Jimmy (Jason Segel) come completely unglued without her, and then slowly accept his new reality. He finally starts to find his footing by connecting with people who knew Tia and who can join him both in grief and forward motion.
Their daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) copes with her mom’s death as best she can, but as she tries to move on with her life and have typical teen experiences (dating, dress shopping, learning to drive, etc.), we feel the ache of the moments where her mother might have been there for her.
Over time, the show reveals that Jimmy and Tia did not always have an easy relationship. In an early episode, several friends shower him with praise for his marriage, emphasizing what a great couple he and Tia were. These words land uncomfortably, and flashback scenes show they actually had a lot of arguments and conflict. Despite this, Tia’s best friend Gaby (Jessica Williams) reassures Jimmy that Tia continued to adore him, even when they were clashing.
Although we only learn about Tia in her absence, we come to care deeply about her as the show rolls out and we see the way her love (and her imperfections) affected those around her. – Christopher Pepper
Read all the essays in this collection - What 11 TV Moms Can Teach All of Us - at Greater Good
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