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As a film enthusiast with a keen eye for authentic representation and a heart for inclusivity, I wholeheartedly recommend adding We Might Regret This to your watchlist. This sitcom is a breath of fresh air, not only for its humor but for its bold portrayal of disability in a nuanced and relatable way.

Add We Might Regret This to your watchlist.

In the initial segments of the recently launched BBC2 comedy series titled “We Might Regret This“, the main character Freya is unexpectedly found engaged in an intimate moment. Subsequently, she’s portrayed relieving herself in an alleyway and using drugs in a restroom. The show revolves around a young, unpredictable woman who incidentally has a disability.

“Kyla Harris, who portrays Freya and is also a co-creator of the show, shares that she’s had a habitually untidy lifestyle throughout her life, a trait she feels many people can connect with, regardless of their disability status. Harris aims to add depth to narratives centered around disabled individuals. Freya, a 30-something Canadian artist, has relocated to the UK to be with her 50-something boyfriend Abe (Darren Boyd). Due to her need for constant care, she initially employs a live-in personal assistant who doesn’t meet her satisfaction. In an attempt to improve her situation, Freya enlists her friend Jo (Elena Saurel) to take over the role instead.”

The television series draws inspiration from the true-life adventures of Harris and Getty. They first crossed paths at film school two decades ago, and similarities can be drawn between Harris’ character in the show, Freya, and Harris herself, as both are disabled and have personal assistants (PAs). Interestingly, Getty has previously worked as Harris’ PA. However, it’s important to note that the series isn’t strictly based on real events. Instead, it blends their shared experiences into a unique narrative. As they’ve encountered some truly bizarre situations related to care and problem-solving, they often found themselves laughing at the absurdity of it all. While I can confirm that Harris has indeed relieved herself in an alley before, the specific incident depicted in the series is fictionalized. They found themselves in those unusual scenarios, and their reaction was typically: “This is preposterous! Nobody’s discussing this.” This is why they decided to share these overlooked experiences on screen.

Similar to her on-screen character, Harris is a Canadian artist residing in the UK who migrated around 15 years ago. Prior to authoring “We Might Regret This“, she had experience as a bank receptionist and owned an art gallery. “My professional path hasn’t been very successful, but everything seems to have led me here, even though it may sound clichéd.”

The show offers an insightful and humorous critique on how people with disabilities are sometimes perceived, often poking fun at the “you’re so brave” mentality. In one instance, Freya is presented with a modeling opportunity. However, during the photo shoot, she is praised for embracing all athletic bodies in sports, yet her explanation that she can’t physically hold a golf club goes unheeded.

In my critique, I found it intriguingly paradoxical when a modeling agency, purportedly championing inclusivity for all, is itself ableist – a term that refers to discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Having faced such biases in my own modeling career and auditions, these experiences resonate deeply with the ongoing dialogue about diversity within the industry.

lighter instances intermingle with heavier ones in the narrative. In the third episode, Freya acquires a robust electric wheelchair, or power chair, which she grapples with emotionally, mirroring Harris’s personal struggles.

She had long believed that using a power wheelchair would make her feel even more disabled due to societal prejudices against people with disabilities, which she unknowingly absorbed. However, when she finally got one, she felt it provided her with a sense of liberation rather than limitation. Her most cherished moment from the episode was at its conclusion, where Freya ventured out in her wheelchair at night for an exhilarating ride along the road alongside a group of motorcycles. Filming this scene was particularly moving for her.

I thought that somehow I’d be more disabled if I had a power chair because of society’s ableist narrative

Harris aimed to portray on-screen the blend of ups and downs that life encompasses. “We all face struggles, we all know joy. To me, living with a disability is the most human experience one can have; it teaches you so much about yourself and others,” she expressed. However, when discussing the broader representation of disability in television and cinema, there’s still room for improvement. “There have been numerous discussions about diversity, but disability is often overlooked in these dialogues,” she points out.

Harris emphasizes the significance of having genuinely disabled characters portrayed by actors who are themselves disabled, rather than non-disabled individuals. In the professional world, this is often referred to as “disability washing” or “cripping up,” and it mirrors the concept of blackface. Here’s hoping that in the near future, the notion of casting a non-disabled actor for a disabled role will become obsolete.

During the production of “We Might Regret This“, they equally emphasized employing a cast and crew with disabilities, ensuring a comfortable environment for all through a dedicated access coordination team. Harris finds such practices commendable and hopes that more sets adopt similar inclusivity – positioning this show as a step away from stereotypical narratives of sorrow and inspiration.

She intends for viewers to gain an understanding that it’s okay to embrace one’s true self without shame about their bodies. She believes everyone has basic human needs like eating and using the restroom, and these shouldn’t be sources of embarrassment. Furthermore, she doesn’t endorse the concept of ‘normal’, but encourages accepting and normalizing various experiences so that we can all comfortably be ourselves.

2024-08-15 15:34

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