“Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things is about a woman – Clare (KATHRYN HAHN) – who becomes a revered advice columnist when her own life is falling apart.
When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny is on its last leg. Her daughter, Rae, will barely talk to her. And her once-promising writing career is non-existent. So, when an old writing friend suggests she take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she’s the last person for the job. But after reluctantly agreeing, she realizes that she might just be completely qualified.
As the letter writers force Clare to revisit her most pivotal moments – the death of her mother, the fallout with her brother, even some awful sex in the back office of a funeral home – she excavates the beauty, struggle, and humor in her own life to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that it’s our stories that can ultimately save us. And maybe even bring us back home.” (HULU)
Kathryn Hahn delivers a very human and moving depiction of what it feels and potentially looks like to carry around trauma and pain for many years. Her slow development throughout the series is palpable and lends itself to the full circle moment beginning in episode one and ending in episode eight. The series doesn’t end with a perfectly wrapped bow, but it does suggest that growth is near.
While I am aware of but have not read the book that this series is based on, I’m intrigued to know how far away from the story the series went to illustrate these points. The struggles between mothers and daughters, daughters and sons, wives and husbands, and daughters and estranged fathers was very well balanced throughout. The flashbacks and callbacks helped to cement each episode in the whole arch of the story.
Kudos to the cast for such layered performances in this dramedy. The parallels from blossoming advice columnist to adult and children in the throes of personal peril, are blended beautifully. The relationship between husband and wife was believable, even down to the discomfort of being around each other in cohabitation situations.
This show really tackles how issues fester and miscommunication lingers allowing for poor decision-making and acceptance of circumstances you wouldn’t otherwise tolerate. The teen angst being fueled by the same level of disconnect as parental infidelity was a wild revelation, but exciting to watch unfold.
The way the show doesn’t expressly finalize anything and allows the viewers mind to fill in gaps on accept solely what they’ve seen as all there is to see was impressive. The stories don’t exactly butt up against each other. The stories pick up in order but not from day to day.
If you’re looking for a quick binge watch of some content that exudes a good storyline, has fully formed and multi-dimensional characters, and exhibit’s tangible qualities about life in the real world and the seemingly impossible struggles we face, you may enjoy this 8-episode exploration into humanness and forgiveness.
