Angelica Babiera | Arts Editor
Featured image: Vanessa Matsui spoke with Excalibur about her show, Ghost BFF, and mental health. | Courtesy of Ghost BFF
In a world filled with unlimited access to thousands of T.V. shows, it’s very hard to find a good, engaging series nowadays. Many go through a process of elimination to find their new favourite show. At the heart of it all are social media sites, which become the dominant advertising platform to determine a show’s quality, while article reviews become second-hand sources.
I only have this article to capture your attention and direct it towards Ghost BFF, a Canadian show directed and written by Vanessa Matsui. It follows the friendship of two girls named Tara and Amy, who are essentially inseparable—that is, until Tara, following a period of depression, decides to take her own life, leaving behind a heartbroken Amy. Three years later, when Amy is about to marry a conservative man, Tara’s ghost suddenly appears during the couple’s engagement announcement.
Now before you go back to your daily routine, let me tell you this: although this article might be your second go-to in deciding whether you should devote your time into watching Ghost BFF or not, I’ll cut to the chase—you should. It’s worth the binge watch as soon as it comes out, and it’s better not to “Netflix and Chill” with this show. Ghost BFF is worth your attention. Here’s why:
It’s beyond funny:
Although Ghost BFF deals with serious issues regarding mental health, it’s still very much a funny show. There has not been a time in each episode where I haven’t laughed from the comic relief squeezed into every scene. In the first episode, viewers find themselves going through the anxiety and grief Amy experiences as she meets her boyfriend Mitchell’s parents on the anniversary of the day of Tara’s death. Throughout the episode, the viewer’s attention is captured by a very freaked out and drunken Amy as she tries to solve a puzzling situation. Her messy composure in front of Mitchell’s conservative parents makes the whole ordeal hilarious.
There’s an underlying theme of mental health:
Matsui’s inspiration for the show loosely came from a dear friend of hers, who, following a period of depression, nearly committed suicide. Tara experiences the same thing, but actually takes her own life. Ghost BFF sheds light on the power of mental illness, which can make life a living hell. It also conveys how we may not know that our loved ones are suffering, due to the facade that they often put on. The show allows people to talk about these serious topics, and hopefully change the stigmatized narrative surrounding mental illness.
“It was difficult creating this show. I’m super sensitive about being respectful towards people and their experiences with depression and anxiety, and wanted to create something that would be impactful and truthful. So, a huge amount of research (thanks to the folks at The Centre For Mindfulness Studies, who helped with this) and personal soul searching, went into writing this script. I wanted to use humour, as it can be powerful and cathartic. I learned through my last project, Crankytown, that an effective way to talk about taboo topics is through comedy,” Matsui says.
It’s relatable:
If you know anyone who suffers from any form of mental illness, then yes, this show is definitely relatable. However, even if you don’t know anyone who has mental illness, you can still connect with the show. Ghost BFF is not just a one-sided angle to mental health and life problems. If you’re feeling lost with your life, or having issues with your past and future colliding, then Ghost BFF can be as relatable to you as sleeping.
As Matsui says: “Perhaps, Amy is inspired by my own experience watching close friends of mine suffer from depression, and imagining what life would have been like without them… I also like the dynamic of wanting to be an adult, but also not quite done with being a kid yet.”
The cast. The cast. THE CAST:
Each character and actor in the show is undeniably talented, funny, and witty. There’s a connection between them all that makes the characters have realistic relationships with one another, especially with Matsui and her co-star, Tiio Horn, who plays Tara. Viewers can tell that there’s a story behind their friendship—something stronger and deeper than just a fictional plot.
Ghost BFF is definitely a show I’ll be looking forward to watching, because let’s be real—there’s nothing better than a comedic show that sheds light on such a serious and deep issue like mental illness. It’s entertaining, yet it gets people talking.
For more information about the upcoming series, you can visit their website at https://www.ghostbff.com/
