Indie Web Series: ‘All My Friends Are Married’
Adulthood can seem complicated in terms of each individuals accomplishments and how we reach them. Some reflect a steady balance in their professional and personal lives, while others tend to either rebel or enforce the important rules in order to be successful in their lives. All My Friends Are Married is a show that accomplishes to reflect every scenario in an effective and comedic way.
The web series deals with the complexity of emotions of Lauren, who struggles to survive adulthood in New York City. This is due to the fact that our main character is presented as a single woman who fails in her attempts to balance out her situation with her friends, which are all in relationships and share specific beliefs. With an imaginative representation in each chapter, the series’ mix of irony and comedy, depending on the situation, is what makes Lauren’s journey both relatable and interesting.
Created by Mercedes Brazier-Thurman, All My Friends Are Married becomes a smart platform in representing the inner voice of struggle that all women face at some point in their lives. This mixed in with not shying away from the awkwardness of some situations in Lauren’s life remains the core strength of the show as the story progresses. This includes opening the conversations about how the combination of hope, love, and faith can be compromised by external factors such as fears, and delayed assurances, among others.
The execution of the show is quick and witty, which counters well with the humor in each episode. As mentioned before, Brazier-Thurman accomplishes a brilliant satire in incorporating well-known media such as quiz shows, infomercials, and books in order to represent how Lauren sees the world in her mind and how each form presses the “correct” way for women to act in different situations. This is complemented by a great mix of spectacle and comedy, which connects the viewer completely in terms of how our main character is feeling.
This resembles excellently in episode 2, which serves as the highlight of the season. The episode presents Lauren’s visit to the gynecologist and how she envisions each question asked by the Doctor as a lightning quiz round. The scene turns out brilliantly as it accomplishes to poke fun at the awkwardness that some women feel during their appointments, in order to later shift the tone of the scene by Lauren coming back to reality after confessing that she is not sexually active in her late 30’s.
It is not to be missed that this episode pertains to a very important climax for Lauren, who begins to shed her layers away during the last episode, in order to break herself free from the repercussions caused by her circle. These are embodied excellently through her two friends Michelle and Paula, who can also be credited as a representation of double standards and their effects. This last point shines specifically during the last scene of episode 5 when Lauren gives up on trying to do the right thing for her friend’s speedy relationship and leaves the door open for the curious thought of how Lauren could change if a second season is ever launched.
Mercedes Brazier-Thurman’s creation stems from a mix of her experience along with stories of friends and family members who were all in worry about being single in New York City. All My Friends Are Married was launched on YouTube in February 2019 and brought in over 3,200 views during its first episode. The series is comprised of 5 episodes, which last 4 to 5 minutes depending on the subject depicted. This has prompted the series to become a favorite amongst its audience due to its themes, comedy, and collective group of creatives composed of women.
The show includes a cast of diverse actors including comedian Andrea Coleman, who anchors the show from one episode to another with great comedic timing and wittiness that balances out well with the more dramatic elements in the show. Megan Griffith, Gulshan Mia, Rotimi Paul, Louis Lavoie, and Collin Batten round out the cast for the season with good performances as well in their respective roles. The original production is produced by Huriyyah Muhammad and directed by Ekwa Msangi.
The series has also been the recipient of various recognitions in festivals including the Baltimore International Black Film Festival, NYC Web Fest, Women of African Descent Film Festival, and Trinity International Film Festival, among others. It is presented through The Black TV and Film Collective, a company that serves as a production hub for Black artists who strive to achieve a sustainable career in Television, Film, and Digital Entertainment. All My Friends Are Married serves as one of the various projects of the company, which also created the series Keloid, as well as producing workshops that delve into table readings, working during the COVID-19 era, and orientations.
All My Friends Are Married is a series that succeeds in getting the message across in a comedic and creative way. The show proves that looking at situations in a funny way can also spark the different conversations that stem from how the strict rules of society can influence people and their behaviors, while others are affected in the process of not accepting the qualities established in this lifestyle. Check out this original story in the digital platform community, as it proves to be more than just a third wheel.
