Michelle Buteau has always been a royal leading lady in my eyes and Survival of the Thickest is further proof. She stars as Mavis Beaumont, a stylist who goes through a messy breakup and has to rebuild her life. And that might just be the best thing that ever happened to her.
Mavis is forced to move into an apartment in Brooklyn with an eccentric roommate and a very fussy cat (which, I feel, is something we all have to go through at some point). Pushed out of her comfort zone, she soon realizes how much of life she’s been missing out on and sets out to make some new connections…and she has a whole lot of chaotic fun along the way.
That includes some bodega mishaps, chewing gum disasters, and some viral fashion moments. One of the best connections she makes is with a drag queen named Peppermint, who steals every scene. I’m also a big fan of Luca (Marouane Zotti), a guy she meets in her journey to figuring out what she wants—he is gentle and charming, encouraging Mavis to open up and take some risks.
Because Survival of the Thickest is a comedy about the rollercoaster that is life, sometimes things go horribly wrong and all you can do is laugh or else you’ll cry. Especially when you have your best friends around for support (and always with a side of sass). But it’s also a series about growth—and how, sometimes, the people you once thought were right for you are holding you back. Or perhaps, the people you meet on your journey are on journeys of their own, and can offer surprising wisdom. Mavis and her friends’ story arcs are emotional ones; together, they figure out how to be better and show up for one another.
Survival of the Thickest is Buteau at her finest; the series is full of heart in all its unfathomable ways. Mavis is a heroine worth rooting for—watching her stand up for herself and also uplift those around her will get you deep in your feels. And it’ll keep you giggling all the way through at the wacky situations that she somehow makes relatable. It’s proudly queer, body positive, and inclusive—this is the kind of comedy-drama we need (and deserve) to see more of!
