Psychobitches Season 1 Episode 2 Part One

In Psychobitches season 1 episode 2, we are introduced to a new group of leading ladies whose mental health issues take center stage. Part One features a variety of female characters from history and literature as they gather together in the afterlife to discuss their neuroses and vent about their past lives.

The episode opens with Florence Nightingale, who has been summoned by the other women to discuss her obsessive-compulsive disorder. As the founder of modern nursing, Nightingale is revered by the other women, but her intense cleanliness rituals are causing her a great deal of anxiety. Using her signature shrill tone, Nightingale is able to control the group with her sharp tongue and steely gaze, but even she is not immune to the pressures of OCD.

Next up is a slightly less well-known figure: Mary Seacole, a Jamaican-British nurse who worked alongside Nightingale during the Crimean War. Seacole is here to discuss her own anxiety disorder, which stems from the racism and discrimination she faced as a woman of color in Victorian England. Her story is a sobering reminder of the ways in which institutionalized discrimination can contribute to mental health problems.

After Seacole's testimony, we meet a different kind of character: Cinderella, as portrayed by national treasure Sharon Horgan. Horgan's Cinderella is a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking modern woman who has apparently been plucked from her own time and inserted into this group of historical figures. With her thick Irish accent and irreverent attitude, she provides a much-needed dose of levity to the episode.

From Cinderella we move on to Lady Macbeth, whose bloodthirsty tendencies are revealed to be less of an innate character trait and more of a coping mechanism for her own mental health issues. She's also there to reveal a bit of her tragic backstory and let the group know that she has a soft spot under all that murderous angst.

Finally, we meet Betty Friedan, the American writer and feminist activist who penned The Feminine Mystique. Friedan is struggling with depression and anxiety, but her powerful intellect and unwavering devotion to the cause of gender equality helps her find some solace among the other women. Her presence is a reminder that even modern-day figures can face mental health challenges.

Part One is a strong episode that keeps up the pace and packs in plenty of laughs amidst the more serious discussions of mental illness. The performances are uniformly strong, with Horgan's turn as Cinderella being a particular standout. The set design is also worth noting, as the afterlife setting is colorful and whimsical without being too saccharine.

Overall, this is an episode that delves into the complexities of mental health in an entertaining and accessible way. While the subject matter is certainly serious, the show manages to strike a balance between humor and pathos that makes it a compelling watch for audiences looking for something a little offbeat.