Mae Martin’s Bracingly Honest ‘Feel Good’ is an Absorbing Look at Addiction, Comedy, and Modern Romance

Mae Martin’s upcoming Netflix dramedy Feel Good is a revelation. Premiering March 19 on the streamer, the seemingly simple premise of Martin’s semi-autobiographical series — a Canadian comedian living in London navigates a new romantic relationship while dealing with sobriety — belies the emotionally complex nature of the show.

Mae and her new girlfriend George (Charlotte Ritchie) are a case study for the opposites attract theory. Mae exudes an intense, frenetic energy while George’s personality is more reserved, often choosing pragmatism over impulse. Mae is George’s first girlfriend (she previously only dated men) so while every new romance has its own unique set of challenges, Feel Good deftly explores a variety of fresh topics like gender identity and the complicated relationship between love and addiction.

You don’t just watch Feel Good so much as you viscerally feel it in your bones. Martin, a burgeoning auteur, invigorates shopworn topics we’ve seen thousands of times before with verve, resulting in an emotionally adventurous six-episode journey (the whole season can be enjoyed in about two-and-a-half hours) that confidently explores the exhilarating messiness of modern romance.

Feel Good brandishes a defiantly original sense of humor, creating a distinct vibe unique to the show. “We’re young!” George exclaims to Mae after attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. “I mean, are we that young?” Mae responds. “We’re older than most waiters.” Every episode has a joke or visual bit that will make you laugh — I enjoyed a secondary character earnestly saying “I have a plus one to my uncle’s podcast recording” — as Feel Good emits a self-assured bravado you don’t expect to see from a rookie show.

The push and pull of Mae and George’s nascent romance provides the narrative backbone of the series, but Feel Good also delves into Mae’s complicated relationship with addiction, rehab, and her family, George grappling with her sexuality, and Mae’s comedy career. Ritchie and Martin share a crackling chemistry, and the acting across the board elevates the already strong material. Martin unquestionably delivers a star-making turn, and while Sophie Thompson dazzles as Mae’s quasi-sponsor Maggie, the most delightful performance is from the legendary Lisa Kudrow.

The iconic actress is peak Kudrow in Feel Good, bringing a much-appreciated dose of comedic gravitas to the role of Mae’s persnickety mother Linda. If the academy awarded Emmys for “Best Comedic Performance in a Haunted House,” Kudrow would be a shoo-in.

Feel Good doesn’t have a direct comparison, but it feels tonally similar to Zander Lehmann’s wonderful Hulu series Casual. The pace is more frenzied than Casual, but both shows have a gift for telling honest, personal stories that resonate with audiences.

If you’re in the mood for a show that prioritizes realistic humor and heart over static connect-the-dots storytelling, you’ll enjoy the subtle charms and overwhelming sincerity of Feel Good.

All six episodes of Feel Good premiere Thursday, March 19 on Netflix.

Where to stream Feel Good