Big Thoughts from the Tiny Screen - Everything is Connected
I’ve always loved TV and do my fair share of binging, often with shows playing on in the background as I go about doing other things. I do try to monitor the length and timing of intake to make sure it’s not a form of self-sabotage, taking me away from goals or real priorities. As a sensitive empath, I’m also very careful about what I watch so it doesn’t follow me into my dreams and become nightmares. I also keep my eye out for documentaries and programs that will provide a new perspective of the world or others, while balanced with silly comedies and supernatural that are a true escape and get me laughing even when other things in the world aren’t great. And, ever since reading “TV is Better for Your Relationships Than You Think,” and discovering TV characters can indeed play a similar role to shared friends for a couple, I feel even better about finding that awesome show that my partner and I can watch together.
And I do find plenty in the world of tv (along with my world of books) that get me thinking, inspire me or push me to action. I thought I might start capturing more of these moments and shows, and see what comes up for you!
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
One of the shows I love and have re-watched a few times is “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” with Samuel Barnett, Elijah Wood and Hannah Marks. You can find the two seasons streaming across a variety of platforms these days. The show is eccentric and fun, as well as has some deep moments that really examine how we show up in this world and for others in our life.
There is an exchange in Season 2 Episode 5 “Shapes & Colors” that really got stuck into my head. The short context is that one of the main characters, Amanda, is a young woman who has a serious disease that causes her a lot of pain at times. When she finds herself in a different dimension, she discovers, with the help of a ‘wood witch,’ that her disease is actually magic. The magic is powerful, yet still very painful, but she must use it to help save her brother and friends. Amanda is rightfully afraid, and not sure what to do with her newfound knowledge and power, feeling like the responsibility is too much.
The wood witch steps in with some advice, saying, “Fate and chance are not mutually exclusive…and alongside them exists free will…This is only your first step to something much greater in this world and beyond.”
Amanda replies, “There is nothing you can say that will comfort me.”
“Not even, ‘Everything is connected?’” the wood witch replies?
As someone who has experienced a lot of pain on my own life journey to discover “my sensitivities as my super powers,” and recognizing using them as a change agent is incredibly difficult, this resonated with me deeply. My years of darkness gave me empathy, my years of challenging social norms gave me courage and my years of trial and error gave me perspective, all of which have allowed me to be who I am today.
What do you think?