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Posted

Has anyone watched this great Canadian dramedy series called Being Erica? It's about a 30 year old woman who is too bright and beautiful for the dead end jobs she works at, and still single--meanwhile, the rest of her friends and family are beginning to piece their careers and marriages together.

 

Lagging behind them and getting stuck in a rut of disappointment, she meets Dr. Tom; an insightful therapist who has the power to send her back in time. She begins by writing a long list of regrets, and in each session, she gets to undo her mistakes--while sometimes even making new ones that rewrite her history. Ultimately, whatever she's dealing with in her present life, the past regrets she gets to revisit are reflections of lessons she needs to learn and apply.

 

The greatest thing about it...the therapy sessions sneak up on her unexpectedly! She'll be going about her business, but once a problem in her present life arises, any door, anywhere, and at anytime could lead into Dr. Tom's office. 

 

For anyone who is interested in self knowledge, therapy, and philosophy in general, and of course enjoys watching some meaningful entertainment, I would say that Being Erica would be right up your alley. Every episode is an epiphany that touches upon the philosophical principles we learn here at FDR; from Real Time Relationships and Universally Preferable Behaviour.

 

The show explores human relationships, personal ambition and personal integrity quite realistically. IT...just has some of the most powerful writing that not many shows can compare to. ANYWAYS, that's enough of my salespitch, I've been enjoying watching it and just wanted to share.

 

Posted

Thanks for the recommendation, MCS. Sounds like an interesting show.A lot of the work I've done in therapy and self therapy has been visiting memories that had a strong impact on me, as the person I am now, to "rewrite" what occurs in that memory. For example, I had a vivid memory of being left alone and strapped down to the crib in my bedroom with the door closed while my mother was down the hall on the other side of the apartment sleeping. I screamed out, cried and flailed, but got no response. Eventually I surrendered and thought I was going to die. When I visited the memory, as the person I am now, I took the straps off of infant me, picked him up and held him close. I assured him that I won't let this happen again. I then ripped the sides of the crib off completely, which infant me appreciated. We went down to where my mother was and I relayed the babies thoughts and feelings to her. She claimed it was a matter of safety and I called her on her bullshit and told her that if it was a matter of safety she could just put the mattress on the floor. It wasn't about my safety, it was about her comfort. I also explained that doing things like this is going to create a black hole inside of me that will lead to me being unable to cope with many things in life and I won't stand for it.I can certainly relate to the premise of this show and look forward to checking it out. 

Posted

What a fantastic premise for a show. Downloading now :)

 

Stephen C, thank you for the kindness you showed to your baby-self. Hopefully we can all strive to be that protective of the children inside us, inside others, and in the world.

Posted

Stephen that is an intense story. Im sorry that was how you were treated and even more sorry that our culture supports forcing the idea of "self soothing" parenting. Im growing skeptical about the smallest idea of leaving an awake and crying baby all on its own in a seperate room. Something similar to this happens in Being Erica when she has to babysit her bestfriends baby, not perfectly but better than most tv show solutions.

 

When you revisitted this memory...did you have to be put under hypnosis or something? How were you able to vividly remember something that happened before your sense of memory developed?

Posted

Hey Morse Code, looks like an awesome suggestion. Much appreciated. Watched first 5 min of Episode 1. Loving it so far! And also thanks for enriching my vocabulary arsenal by teaching me a new word --> dramedy!

 

Stephen, thank you for sharing. That indeed must have been a horrible experience to be strapped down and unable to move properly like that, and feeling near death as a result... must have been enormously traumatic. Healing the true baby-self  like you do is such an important job, thank you for showing what can be done.

Posted

I am very pleased that I peaked your interest in the show. I hope its turning out better than I can ever present it. If anyone is having trouble downloading it and really dont want to go out of their way to get the DVDs (I would if I had the resources to or if stores still held them), you can always go to http://www.cbc.ca/beingerica to still watch it for free on its official broadcast channels website.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Awesome. It fills me with great joy you guys got into it. I just finished the entire series a week ago, watching with my sister as opposed to my brother this time around. She wasn't into anything with that kind of depth a couple years ago, but she was ready for the show's message this year. I feel like it's like that quote "the teacher will appear when the student is ready." When you're up for some enlightenment, you gotta let the show into your life. Which is weird of me to say because it's just a show, but that that's how damn powerful the writing is imo. Anyways cheers folks! Hope you can successfully share it with other people in your life as well :D

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

What a great show, I don't watch TV other than morning news. but this has been a breath of fresh air, Sad that this types of shows are usually foreign, Like Dawkins "Root of All Evil" etc. makes you realize how far behind the US tax farm is in comparison.

 

I have watched up to the end of season 3 and I keep seeing similarities with the show and what Stefan talks about on his podcast.

 

 

If you have not reached the end of season 3 and do not like spoilers do not keep reading.

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STOP SPOILER ALERT

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For example: In one of his shows Stefan mention allowing people to own their

decisions and not allowing them

to avoid the consequences, and Erica stops covering her friend Jenny.

 

Or when Stefan says that trauma was useful at one point but we need to realize when

to let go when it no longer serves us. And Erica

Group therapy friend and last love interest before she becomes a doctor is told by

Dr Tom to let go of the

fear of commitment that he developed to deal with his abusive mother.

 

Or the time Stefan mentioned that "Money does not solve money problems. And there's Erica going from Rag to riches and back.

 

 

It would not surprise me one bit if Erica's brother committed suicide and made it

look like an accident.

. I say that because I heard Stefan say that the other day.

 

 

I wonder if Stefan has seen the show...Being a Canadian show and all :)

Posted

 

If you have not reached the end of season 3 and do not like spoilers do not keep reading.

Instead of using <> brackets, if you use [] brackets then it should work so that someone needs to click a button to show the spoiler.

Posted

Instead of using <> brackets, if you use [] brackets then it should work so that someone needs to click a button to show the spoiler.

 

Worked like a charm, Thanks

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Hey Morse Code, looks like an awesome suggestion. Much appreciated. Watched first 5 min of Episode 1. Loving it so far! And also thanks for enriching my vocabulary arsenal by teaching me a new word --> dramedy!

 

Stephen, thank you for sharing. That indeed must have been a horrible experience to be strapped down and unable to move properly like that, and feeling near death as a result... must have been enormously traumatic. Healing the true baby-self  like you do is such an important job, thank you for showing what can be done.

You're welcome, R. Thank you for acknowledging my experience and sending me compassion. <3

Posted

I am greatly enthused that so many of you have gotten into this show. It's a diamond in the rough! I finished the entire series a couple months ago and I still feel its lessons ringing true with me to this day. I think I want to turn it into an annual series to watch since it's so short, each time showing it someone who hasn't yet lol.

Posted

I am greatly enthused that so many of you have gotten into this show. It's a diamond in the rough! I finished the entire series a couple months ago and I still feel its lessons ringing true with me to this day. I think I want to turn it into an annual series to watch since it's so short, each time showing it someone who hasn't yet lol.

I agree, I felt like writing down the lesson of each episode. :)

 

Question for ya:

 

Maybe I'm a bit of a party pooper but I would have liked it if they dealt with the drinking. It seems that there was a lot of drinking in the show and nothing was said about it. At least Erica's partner switch from coffee to tea. It seems there was a lot of coffe drinking as well, thoughts?

 

  • 2 months later...
Posted

Sorry for the late reply Diaz, but I dunno, I saw her random drunken episodes to be problematic, but more for comedic effect than anything deep to explore. I think they did address Adam's mother's drinking problems because that was more detremental to her and her family than Erica's once in a while drunken hazes. I think she's only gotten drunk twice right? The only one that comes to mind is where she hugs that ice penis during the Gay Pride Parade lol, and one other time I'm sure happened but can't remember what her drunkness got her to do.

I forgot how much I missed this show btw :( WILL watch again next year. And for those of you who finished it, if you could come back to this thread and tell me what you thought that'd be great. I've been given some critiques in the chat by some telling me that it wasn't deep enough and didn't touch upon childhood trauma like it should have. I dunno, maybe there's more.

  • 10 months later...
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