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I’ve been waiting for this discussion for years! Okay, a week or two but it feels like years...;) Excellent discussion for part 1. The topic of TV shows that portray complex and loving female friendships is an important one and the way Dead To Me pulls it off within the melodrama confines is especially impressive. It does seem that there are more shows from the 70s and 80s that tackled this than current decades. At least for 40s-50s age women. I think of Broad City being, a great example of 20s-30s age women friendship.

Yeah, season 3 of DTM was especially emotionally rich. One of the best final seasons of a show in recent memory. And I’m including Better Call Saul, which was less emotionally resonant to me than Dead to Me.

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There wasn’t one episode in Season 3 where I wasn’t crying. It was so moving and addressed mortality head on but with grace and compassion. I definitely am still pondering on aughts shows that feature middle aged women focused themes beyond Sex and the City which is over the top. I’m hard pressed to know others but if think of any, you know where to find me.

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How could I forget Tig Notaro's "One Mississippi" (https://www.hulu.com/series/b2002dea-698c-4b7b-a3a1-56a326c73732) or Bridget Everett in "Somebody Somewhere" (https://play.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYZ1SZwrtOrZElQEAAAAb?source=googleHBOMAX&action=play)

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You are allowed. I am not sure that either show featured much in the way of close middle-age platonic female friendships though. Tig mostly confided with her love interest/s. And Bridget Everett's best friend is a man. (unless I'm misremembering something.)

If you said Better Things, with Pam Adlon, I'd agree with you. Though there isn't just one friend who she has a deep relationship with. That show, though, to me tackled a lot of important issues women face, from mothering, trying to work while mothering, and so many more.

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Just came here to say I need to finish season three and then I’ll be back! Eek! So excited!

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Yes Jen! Come back.

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