Your Entertainment Corner

Aidy Bryant and Lindy West Talk About Their New Hulu Series <i>Shrill</i>

Annie (Aidy Bryant) is a young journalist making her way through life as she juggles a bad boyfriend, a horrible boss, and a sick parent. Added to the growing list of problems is the daily pressure of living as an overweight woman where everyone is trying to convince her to lose weight. It isn’t until Annie is faced with a life-changing decision that she discovers her inner-self and decides to embrace it. The series is currently available on Hulu and is adapted from Lindy West’s 2016 book, ‘Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman.’

As a critic, I try to approach each review with a clear mind and without preconceived notions. But the fact is, past experiences shape how we view things. A parent will react to a story about the death of a child differently than a college student watching the same film. Those types of moments impact how we react to life or even a TV show and for me, as someone who is overweight, Shrill hit really close to home. 

Several years ago, a doctor hired by my employer used my weight as a means of getting out of a workers compensation claim. Despite going to court and winning my case, my employer decided to ignore the ruling that would have returned me to work. The timing couldn’t have been worse as the economy was in the tank. It wasn’t long before I lost my home, causing me to spend the next three years homeless. 

After getting back on my feet, a local newspaper named me one of the unsung heroes in the community for my continuing work helping the homeless. Standing in line to buy several copies of the paper, a little girl pointed at me saying, “Mom, look at him, he’s fat.” The mother said nothing as her daughter continued to point out my size. While I still have several copies of the paper,I have yet to read the article because some kid tarnished what should have been a special moment. 

I share these stories not to seek pity, but to show how everyday life can be impacted because of one’s weight. Much like my gas station experience, the Shrill writers do a great job of turning simple things, such as Annie visiting a coffee shop, into a negative experience because of someone’s opinion of her weight. Her size isn’t used as a punchline but a reality of daily life that many heavyset people will recognize and relate to.

That said, I’m hesitant to describe Shrill as a ‘body positive’ show because there is so much more to Annie than the size of her body. Shows like Fresh Off the Boat and Will and Grace aren’t funny “Asian” or “Gay” shows; they’re funny because of a talented cast and great writers. Annie’s weight doesn’t define her and it certainly doesn’t define Shrill. While weight issues and bias are part of the show, Shrill is really about finding your true self no matter what others think.

Aidy gives a wonderful performance as she tries to discover who Annie really is. While Shrill is aimed towards women, everyone can appreciate dealing with setbacks in life. Plus it’s hard not to cheer for Annie as she comes out of her shell. Side note: Aidy has an adorable laugh. Rounding out the cast are Luka Jones as Ryan, Annie’s deadbeat boyfriend, Lolly Adefope as Fran, Annie’s best friend and roommate and John Cameron Mitchell as Annie’s jerk of a boss Gabe.

During the red carpet premiere, I spoke to Aidy and Lindy. While it’s not uncommon for actors to play doctors, scientists, or even criminals, these attributes end when the director yells cut. With Shrill it’s personal, and I was curious to hear if there were any concerns with separating Annie from Aidy. When a character yells something to Annie about her weight, they’re looking at Aidy. Every jab, look, and insult are things I’m sure Aidy has heard before in her daily life because I’ve heard them in mine. It’s only a role, but I can’t imagine how close to home some of the scenes were for her.

Due to some technical difficulties by another crew on the red carpet, I had a chance to talk with Lindy for several minutes off camera before going on camera. I sincerely enjoyed our conversation as we exchanged experiences. I was fascinated by her writing process and her excitement of seeing her work translated onto the screen. We dove deeper into the care that went into writing the hurtful words that would be lobbed at Aidy’s character without making it feel personal to the actress.

While it’s easy to focus on the weight aspect, there’s a lot more to the series. It’s a story for anyone who has felt their life was in a rut and decided to make a change for the better. I highly recommend that you check out Shrill.

Shrill is currently available on Hulu. Check out my interview with Aidy and Lindy.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.