This 100%-Rated Drama Speaks About Things Other Shows Are Afraid Of – Yet Almost No One Saw It

In today's world, suicide and depression remain semi-taboo topics. In movies and TV series, suicide is often portrayed as either a dramatic plot twist or a central tragedy meant to be mourned.

This approach does little to help us understand the root of the problem, rather, it perpetuates fear and misunderstanding. The Australian show Totally Completely Fine is a bold attempt to start a different conversation.

What Is 'Totally Completely Fine' About?

Vivian is a 20-year-old Australian whose life is spiraling downward. She drinks too much, tries every drug imaginable, struggles to maintain healthy relationships, and sleeps wherever she can. Beneath this chaos, however, lies clinical depression.

She lost her parents in a car accident in which she was a passenger and is tormented by the question of whether she caused it. After her grandfather passes away, she inherits an old mansion with a stunning view of the cliffs south of Sydney.

The location is idyllic, but there's a catch: the cliffs are a popular suicide spot. Her grandfather managed to dissuade over two hundred people from jumping with his kindness and patience. Now, this mission falls to Vivian, who sees no meaning in life herself.

'Totally Completely Fine' Speaks Candidly About Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Totally Completely Fine doesn't sugarcoat reality or smooth over rough edges. Vivian teeters between her desire to live and her reluctance to wake up in the morning and her flashbacks are as blurry as her memories of the disaster. The viewer is given only hints, and must fill in the details themselves.

Most importantly, the show isn't afraid to depict how suicide prevention works. It's not about heroic speeches or dramatic last-second rescues – it's about long, tedious conversations where you just have to be present.

Vivian's grandfather did this for years, and now it's her turn. Ironically, a girl with neither the patience nor the will to live proves to be incredibly effective – she doesn't try to convince anyone, she simply listens, and that's often enough.

'Totally Completely Fine' Balances Between Tragedy and Comedy, Remaining Honest Until the End

Gretel Vella, the show's creator and known for her writing on The Great, built the series on contrasts. Vivian is both funny and tragic, and her attempts to rebuild her life are comical and heartbreaking.

The supporting characters are also well-developed, each with their own story arc. However, the main strength of Totally Completely Fine is its honesty, the series doesn't provide easy answers or promise a happy ending.

It simply shows that even in the darkest abyss, you can find someone who will reach out to you and that saving others is sometimes the only way to save yourself.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Totally Completely Fine'?

• Totally Completely Fine has 100% from critics and 90% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.2/10.

Where to Watch 'Totally Completely Fine'?

Totally Completely Fine is available to stream on AMC+.