Parents' Guide to

My Mad Fat Diary

By Polly Conway, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Edgy but heartfelt British coming-of-age tale wows.

TV Hulu Drama 2015
My Mad Fat Diary Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • My Mad Fat Diary TV Show: Scene #1
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Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

suzie1
suzie1 Adult
April 4, 2022
age 13+

Inspirational

I’ve never been so thankful that this series was published. It has shown me a lot such as strength, courage and inspiration. I never thought a series would touch me like this but it had. I would recommend anyone to watch this as to some it’s a lot hard to seek help as people don’t have the courage but this series shows you how to be strong and how to love yourself.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Darque Dreamer
Darque Dreamer Adult
May 1, 2019
age 18+

Edgy and in your face.

The show and message itself are great and very realistic. It's about positive body image, mental health, coming out, being honest with one's self, and raging teenage hormones. The main character Rae likes to draw graphic pictures of nudity and body parts in her diary. She also thinks overly sexual thoughts about any male she finds attractive. She does catch a glimpse of her older female neighbor completely nude from the waist up. She also sneaks a peek at her boyfriend in the shower, where we see his bare behind. The gay male character of the show sneaks a peek in the boy's locker room at the gym he works in, where we see nude male buttocks and genitalia. There is lots of talk about losing virginity and pressure to have sex before leaving high school. I would not recommend it for those under 18, but it is nice for the young adult age group (20-35) wanting to reminisce about teen angst.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's 15-year-old Rae Earl's (Sharon Rooney) first day out of the mental hospital, where she's spent the better part of a year recovering from a suicide attempt. Coming back to the real world isn't easy -- there's her enabling but well-meaning mom (Claire Rushbrook) and a school full of peers who think she's simply been vacationing in France, including her beautiful, spoiled best friend, Chloe, and a new crew that includes goofball Chop, handsome Archie, and aloof but charming Finn. Thank goodness Rae has hospital bestie Tix and kind psychologist Kester (Ian Hart) and her MAD FAT DIARY to rely on when things get really rough.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (3):

This outstanding series is a must-watch journey into the teen mind. Pitch-perfectly played by Rooney, Rae's outlook on life is both hilarious and devastating, and viewers of any age will find themselves sucked into the roller coaster of teenage angst and triumph (most notably, her budding romance with Finn is a delight to watch unfold). A soundtrack of mid-'90s Brit-Pop hits (think Oasis) grounds the series in a particular time and place, though the issues addressed are pretty much timeless.

Very few shows deal with mental health and body issues as well as My Mad Fat Diary; in one poignant scene, Rae "unzips" herself and steps out to reveal a smaller body, an image that many teens dealing with the pressure to be thin can relate to. Rae also isn't perfect -- as viewers root for her to succeed on her journey to well-being, she makes a lot of cringe-worthy missteps but always moves forward. Nearly impossible not to binge-watch, her 15-episode journey is a welcome addition to the teen TV canon.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Rae's transition from the hospital to her home in My Mad Fat Diary. What kinds of challenges does she face? How does she handle temptation to return to old habits?

  • Families can talk about friendship. How do Rae's new friends help her? What are the most important qualities in a friend?

  • Families can also talk about mental health. Does this show address it differently from other shows you've seen? How?

  • How do the characters in My Mad Fat Diary demonstrate compassion, empathy, and courage? What about perseverance and self-control? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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