{"id":28371,"date":"2023-01-10T14:04:05","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T13:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1766218"},"modified":"2023-01-10T14:52:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T13:52:50","slug":"ginny-and-georgia-season-2-addresses-key-unresolved-issue","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/ginny-and-georgia-season-2-addresses-key-unresolved-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"Ginny and Georgia season 2 addresses key unresolved issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Hannah Shewan Stevens\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 10 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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This article contains discussion of topics including self-harm that some readers may find upsetting.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

From teenage sex to unhealthy parent-child dynamics, Ginny & Georgia<\/a> is a smorgasbord of challenging topics that are seldom depicted sympathetically on-screen.<\/p>\n

The Netflix<\/a> series centres the mother-daughter dynamic between the titular Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and Georgia (Brianne Howey)<\/a>, depicting its high points and moments of great emotional upheaval, one of which is Ginny\u2019s self-harming.<\/p>\n

In season 1, the creators touched on her compulsion to punish herself, but didn\u2019t explore the reasons behind her troubling behaviour. Thankfully, the picture has been widened in the follow-up chapter, with the audience gaining further insight into Ginny\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\n

Season 2<\/a> opens with a distressed Ginny processing the news that her beloved mother murdered her ex-husband. It\u2019s a destabilising revelation, regardless of the circumstances in which Georgia acted, and we see the teenager consider harming herself before her brother Austin (Diesel La Torraca) jolts her back to the present.<\/p>\n

After Ginny confides in her father Zion (Nathan Mitchell), he encourages his daughter to attend therapy and it\u2019s through those interactions that we achieve an understanding of what\u2019s fuelling her distress.<\/p>\n

The reasons for self-harm are as diverse as the people who display that behaviour but in the show, Ginny\u2019s actions are driven by a need for control, which was sorely lacking throughout her childhood.<\/p>\n

Alongside that, the narrative also explores Ginny\u2019s full spectrum of emotions, including the shame she\u2019s carrying, to which Dr Lily (Zarrin Darnell-Martin) swiftly informs her that while certain coping mechanisms are unhealthy, she is allowed to be more forgiving of herself.<\/p>\n

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Antonia Gentry as Ginny. Amanda Matlovich\/Netflix<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

It\u2019s also important to note that while Ginny does confide in her father, which is a vitally important first step, and the importance of opening up cannot be overstated enough, it is just the first step in a mammoth journey and not a cure.<\/p>\n

Although heartbreaking, Ginny & Georgia\u2019s exploration of self-harm touches viewers\u2019 hearts without leaning into hysteria, which is no small feat given the highly sensitive nature of the subject matter.<\/p>\n

And crucially, we never see exactly what Ginny is doing, or her scars. Instead, the camera remains firmly on her face, using Ginny\u2019s emotions to tell the story rather than employing a voyeuristic lens.<\/p>\n

The series also combats the widespread belief that self-harm is always a cry for help. For many, it\u2019s a method of coping with emotional pain, hurting themselves in secret, just as the protagonist does.<\/p>\n

But as expected, Georgia eventually discovers the truth, which she learns while reading her daughter\u2019s journal, which results in an emotional scene between mother and daughter.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Brianne Howey as Georgia and Antonia Gentry as Ginny. Netflix<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

After being quizzed by a hysterical Georgia, Ginny pulls down her trousers and shows the physical impact of her trauma, and once again, we\u2019re not permitted to see her scars because we don\u2019t need to. The concern splashed across Georgia\u2019s face is more than enough to convey her heartbreak: \u201cWhy would you do that to yourself?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ginny\u2019s response captures the conflict that comes with self-harm: \u201cI hate it. I want to stop.\u201d She has no desire to hurt herself, but is unable to break the habit, as is the case with any addiction.<\/p>\n

And while it would be remiss to ignore the impact that this has on both of Ginny\u2019s parents, the overall focus remains\u00a0 on the teenager. The impact of her actions extend beyond her, but the person hurting themselves should always sit at the centre of the conversation.<\/p>\n

When creators take on tough topics, audiences can become unwilling voyeurs who are fed sensationalised vulnerability without any sensitivity, which ultimately does more harm than good. But Ginny & Georgia\u2019s sensitive, honest depiction of self-harm doesn\u2019t fall into that trap, seamlessly balancing drama and education throughout season 2.<\/p>\n

And importantly, the show refuses to wrap up Ginny\u2019s journey into a neat little bow, which illustrates the non-linear nature of healing \u2013 Ginny isn\u2019t immune to relapsing \u2013 and refuses to simplify a complex issue for the purposes of entertainment.<\/p>\n

For information and support, please visit the\u00a0NHS<\/a> website. The following services can also help: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n