Featured image: Netflix
The coming-of-age dramedy follows Mia in her post-hospital anorexia recovery journey.
With the resurgence of the heroin-chic aesthetic and the unrelenting, unrealistic beauty standards played out on social media glorifying disordered eating, Netflix’s new show Everything Now couldn’t be more perfectly timed. It looks at the actual realities of being underweight and the far-reaching social ramifications that follow in a captivating, raw and unfiltered way, revealing the emotional turmoil of eating disorder recovery.
16-year-old Mia Polanco, played by Sophie Wilde, is trying to reintegrate into normality following her release from hospital and ongoing anorexia recovery. Filled with both anxiety and excitement, she’s keen to do everything on her bucket list to bridge the gap that’s grown between herself and her friends while they were out going to parties, taking drugs and having sex during her time in hospital.
The show also explores the highs and lows of teenage relationships with friends, romantic and sexual partners and family, while authentically presenting the very real side effects of anorexia. It perfectly captures issues such as hair loss, bad nails, dry peeling skin and loss of periods which are rarely addressed online.
Mia’s important story helps disillusion viewers to the so-called glamour that models and influencers such as Kate Moss or the Kardashians create around being ‘skinny’. Processing some of the content within the series is hard at times, but its balanced with warm characters such as Will, played by Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s Noah Thomas.
The impact of an eating disorder is also addressed through other perspectives. The episode filmed from Mia’s brother Alex’s POV, played by Sam Reuben, skilfully highlights the ripple effect these disorders can also have on family and friends involved.
Following the pattern of recovery from an eating disorder, Mia recovery is not linear. She falls back into old habits as life becomes more turbulent for her and as a result. This makes viewers feel more connected to her ‘imperfect’ character progression and when witnessing her engaging in something as ‘normal’ as eating a sandwich, this moment becomes truly emotional and joyous.
Everything Now is the much-needed dose of truth surrounding anorexia that media representation has been missing and successfully disproves the damaging ethos of “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”.
Stream Everything Now on Netflix.
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