‘Ginny & Georgia' Puts A Spotlight On Depression And Addiction In Season 3

Forbes

4 hours ago

Felix Mallard and Sara Waisglass on 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix.
When Ginny & Georgia premiered on Netflix in 2021, it looked like a fun popcorn binge-watch, but viewers quickly realized this series is much more than a soapy teen drama.
Series creator and executive producer Sarah Lampert gave fans a sexy, fun show while also putting the characters through real-life issues, including eating disorders, personality disorders, and self-harm, to name a few. This season, depression and addiction take center stage with Felix Mallard's character, Marcus Baker.
Mallard, alongside Sara Waisglass, who portrays his twin sister, Maxine, sat down and spoke with me about tackling such serious subject matter for a television show. Their performances are pure perfection and both took their portrayals very seriously.
Jennifer Robertson and Felix Mallard in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix.
'When you want to tackle something as serious as this, you want to treat it with a level of reverence and a level of love that people watching don't feel spoken down to or people don't feel like they're being made fun of, but they can really see their own emotional journey through it, you know? And with something like substance abuse, depression, and mental health, I think it requires a level of care and a level of understanding, and it's a delicate topic, so to be able to approach that is important," explained Mallard. "Hopefully, we did that in a way that people can resonate and feel understood instead of made fun of.'
Felix Mallard and Sara Waisglass talk about their characters' struggles in season three of 'Ginny & ... More Georgia' on Netflix.
While Marcus is unable to hide his depression and addiction, Maxine is the opposite. Counter to her brother, she's the outspoken, happy-go-lucky, popular girl who masks her loneliness and sorrow.
Waisglass explained why it was so important to show this duality. 'That was something I was really proud of, that the writers did, because I don't think depression is one size fits all. I think everyone experiences it in a different way. I think one of the most shocking things is when you see someone who you think is brilliant and funny and amazing and has the best energy, and you understand that they struggle with mental health. It's always a shock, and I love that we're diving into that this year because I don't think anyone would look at Max and call her depressed. But I think she just deals with it in a different way, and her coping mechanism is to make everyone else happy, because if she can't make herself happy, she can at least do that for other people, which I think is a beautiful quality of hers.'
She added that Ginny & Georgia also does a great job of showing what it's like to love a person who's struggling and how mental health affects everyone. 'It's not just in first person, but second person, third person. It's something that really does affect everyone. I like that we showed all sides of it.'
When asked what it was like to portray a lonely, ostracized Maxine, Waisglass said it was painful. 'Whenever we do scenes in a classroom, it brings me back to high school. I did not have a single classroom scene this year, but I felt like I was in high school. Reading the scripts and seeing the hilarious scenes that I wasn't going to be part of reminded me a lot of when I was younger, and my friends hung out without me. It was very painful. I think it's something that everybody goes through. It's a rite of passage because it forces you to stand on your own two feet and recognize who you are and what you bring to the table, and that rejection is not about you. It was a very hard storyline to be part of; it hurt.'
Lampert entertains the audience while tackling mental health in a unique way that doesn't feel heavy-handed or preachy and instead feels inclusive, respectful, and kind. 'The show's theme is that everyone is fighting a battle you can't see,' said Lampert in an interview before the new season's premiere.
This has led to an audience connecting to the show on a deeper level. Lampert is dedicated to covering these topics accurately; she and her team have worked closely with Mental Health America since season one to craft these storylines.
Season three premiered on June 5, and this show gets better with each season. The ten-episode third season is a rollercoaster ride, and the finale is phenomenal, with two cliffhangers in the last few seconds that will leave fans salivating at the bit for season four.
The story centers around Brianne Howey's Georgia Miller, a mother who will do anything, moral or not, for her children. In a separate sit-down interview pegged to the third season, Howey and co-star Antonia Gentry spoke about how every character this season goes on a mental health journey.
Felix Mallard, Brianne Howey, and other cast discussed the topic of mental health in season three of ... More Netflix's 'Ginny & Georgia.'
When asked what she thinks Georgia's mental health issues might be, Howey replied carefully and admitted that her character suffers from a personality disorder. 'The show works very closely with Mental Health America to make sure that we aren't glorifying any of the wrong things and that we're handling all of these subjects with the utmost respect and care. I do think Georgia has narcissistic qualities. That being said, I think Georgia is the type of narcissist who is capable of change, and that's what has been really compelling this season to see for Georgia. Every character goes on a mental health journey. But yes, especially Ginny and Georgia.'
To the fans anxiously waiting to see what happens next, the writers are back at work. 'The theme of season four is origins and cycles,' Lampert divulged, adding that though the original plan was to end Ginny & Georgia after four seasons, they realized there is more story to tell. 'We are not done yet.'