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My Mad Fat Diary S2.E04 “Friday”
Welcome back! Last week, Rae and Finn were on…and then Rae and Finn were off. NOOOOOOO.
But first, a drink…
The Official FYA My Mad Fat Diary Drinking Game
Drink once every time:
Rae doubts herself
Rae compares herself to someone else
Rae’s diary includes a drawing of genitalia or swear words
Rae’s mum says something dorky but well-meaning
Karim manages to communicate how lovely he is
Drink twice every time:
Rae sasses Kester
Rae gets positive attention from members of the opposite sex (take a shot if she actually acts on it without overanalyzing)
Rae does something to set back her progress
You exclaim, “I love this song!”
2.3 “Girls”
Dear Diary
Rae and Finn are navigating the awkward post-break-up stuff, and it is heartbreaking for all of us, too. Finn can’t be friends with her, he’s practically crying, Rae is practically crying, I am practically crying…what a mess.
This also means that, because Rae is trying to give Finn the space he asked for, she can’t really hang out with the gang. Plus, Archie didn’t say anything when the homophobic jerks at school targeted Rae (and her supposed magic vagina—otherwise why would Finn be with her, they said), so he’s out, even though he tries to apologize. By song. And balloon.
Chloe, on the other hand, wants to get Rae into the popular group, alongside turbo-bitch Stacey. What could go wrong? She only has to pretend that she’s never heard of the Backstreet Boys instead of ranting about how they are ruining the music of the day, and sit by quietly while Stacey cuts everyone and everything down in a successful bid to make herself feel better. Sounds like a great group, but hey, Rae is lonely.
So lonely, in fact, that when Stacey finds out that Rae can’t eat in front of other people, Rae admits it and Stacey says her secret is safe…until, of course, Stacey decides her birthday party will be at a restaurant specifically to put Rae on the spot. Rae manages to eat a slice of pizza in front of everyone – which cheers her – but the dramz aren’t over yet.
Popular girl Lois has a secret boyfriend…who is no one else but Archie. After he promises Rae to stop pretending he’s someone he’s not…so she outs him to Lois, which is sort of the right thing while at the same time, is totally not.
Liam keeps getting closer to Rae, doing his whole charming-asshole-but-actually-an-asshole thing, despite how many times I scream at the television that I hope he chokes. Also, have you noticed that he talks with his mouth full? He is the shittiest piece of shit that ever came out of Satan’s butthole. I find it difficult to find words to express my utter loathing for this character, but if he were real and I was confronted with a choice to let the entire galaxy die or save him from choking, I would have to think about it for at least five minutes.
But hey, at least everyone bands together to kick Stacey out of the popular group.
JUST GET BACK TOGETHER WITH RAE.
Shittiest Teen Comment
Rae actually held it together pretty well around her mother this week, even with her mother’s pregnancy hormones causing snack-related meltdowns.
Most Awkward Mum Moment
I loved it when Rae walked in on the pregnancy club in her living room. Best possible birth control for a sixteen-year-old, I can only imagine: a bunch of sweaty and uncomfortable pregnant women exercising on inflatable balls, and (I would guess) cursing the men who put them in that specific position.
Best Song of the Episode
For 90s nostalgia, Weezer’s “Undone – The Sweater Song” was welcome, but if we’re honest with ourselves, “Let’s Get It On” while Rae was talking about how much she loves food was clearly the best choice. I, too, think melty, bubbly browned cheese is proof that a supreme being exists (and a pleasure akin to rubbing olive oil on a cabana boy’s abs.)
The Moment When We Are All Rae
Twice. The part about not getting to get the new Weezer album brought me back to the days where your only other option was taping the single off the radio and hoping you didn’t get the DJ talking over the first few bars. (My god, it was the dark ages, I tell you!) The other? Rae’s commentary about being alone and pretending that you don’t want to die. Being by yourself at public meals, concerts, and other places where having company is typically expected—if I didn’t have a book with me at that age, I would have fidgeted myself to death.
Quotable Rae
On Chloe telling Stacey off, “In the game of bitches, there’s only room for one Queen Bitch.”
2.4 “Friday”
Dear Diary
WHY. WHY. WHY does Rae keep falling for Liam’s bullshit. She’s so charmed by his delinquent crap that she can’t seem to see that he’s a giant phallus with an annoying face. They keep getting closer in group therapy, and it’s the biggest train wreck I have ever seen since I was sixteen and also thought assholes were charming. It’s hard to watch the show when you’re constantly covering your eyes and screaming, “WHY!” The problem is, she’s mistaking his assholery for “bravery” and “fearlessness” when in reality, he’s inconsiderate and selfish. You expect him to go on the internet and proclaim he’s “brutally honest, just keeping it real,” and start sentences with “I’m not a racist, but…” On top of that, he’s dating popular girl Amy, who is jealous of Rae, and wants to fight her. For Liam. WHY?!
Not. Even. Close.
In between the hanging out with the living embodiment of That Guy Your Mother Warned You About, Rae realizes that she really needs to apologize for outing Archie to Lois. In turn, Lois is blackmailing Archie: if he doesn’t tell everyone the truth, she will. After Lois drops that bomb, Rae and Archie go off on a roadtrip to escape; by the end, they decide to face their fears.
Finn teaches Rae self-defense tips, and lets it slip that he’s dating someone, which results in Rae “accidentally” punching him in the face. Then Kester advises that Rae to talk to Amy privately, to avoid a fight, which goes well until Amy’s friends show up to egg her on.
Rae asks Liam to speak to Amy, but finds him in the middle of a panic attack—when she calms him down, they kiss. NO!!!!! Just picture me running toward the TV in slow motion, screaming. For some reason, that didn’t change the outcome of the episode. No idea why not.
Rae decides to confess the kiss to Amy, and Chloe takes a punch for her…which disgusts Chloe when she finds out Rae had actually done what Amy was paranoid about in the first place.
Meanwhile, Rae’s mother and Karim have decided the baby will be raised in Islam, which means Rae’s mother is converting, there’s a call to prayer at the buttcrack of dawn, and her mother is getting rid of all the pork in the house. “I’m getting too old for this shit,” she mutters, and it’s a light moment amongst all the crappiness.
Ah, a man in uniform.
Shittiest Teen Comment
It’s not actually shitty, at least not intentionally. “I can’t believe you’re giving up bacon. You’re like the queen of bacon. Bacon is your life.”
Most Awkward Mum Moment
Her mother is so proud of Karim’s crossing guard job that she proceeds to make out with him lustily. Ewwwwww.
Best Song of the Episode
Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” in the beginning does a good job of highlighting how Rae feels around Liam.
The Moment When We Are All Rae
As much as I hate Liam, I hate him from the perspective of an adult. We’ve all been attracted to someone like him, whether romantically or just as friends—someone who seems to have it together but is actually just mean.
Quotable Rae
To Archie on him coming out: “It doesn’t matter that you’re scared. It’s what you do when you’re scared that matters.” BRB there’s something in my eye.
Well, that’s it for this week. What do you think? Did you ever fall for a sexy jerk who turned out to be just an asshole? Are you volunteering to wipe Finn’s tears away?
