I never watched medical TV shows before. I never wanted to be a doctor; I usually get grossed out by all things medical to be honest. But I learned about this show in a specific timing that made me interested. You see, I was just hospitalized for a couple of days, and the day I came back home I saw an ad for This is Going to Hurt, and started watching, I didn’t even know it was gay when I started.
This is Going to Hurt is an adaptation of a book by the same name by Adam Kay. The book is a memoir of Adams experiences as a young doctor in the NHS working in gynecology and labor, set around 2006. It follows Adam as he struggles to balance his draining job with his personal life and relationships.
At the beginning of the show, we meet Harry, Adams long term boyfriend, and we get thrown right into their issues. It always breaks my heart when the couple loves each other but still can’t make it work. In this story, it’s because of Adams job, his emotional unavailability as well as him being mostly closeted. We also follow Adams relationship with his family and his close friends, as he tries to be a good friend and son but struggles greatly. Another main relationship in the show is the one between Adam and his SHO Shruti. Shruti gets her own plot line aside Adam, and we see the personal development they both get from their bond, as well as a tragic end.
When it comes to overall queerness, it’s not crazy, but it still shows a realistic view of being gay in 2006, that kind of ‘we’ve come so far but there is still a long way to go’. Adams relationship with his sexuality is interesting but mostly hinted at, and his relationship with Harry is a rollercoaster of love and sadness. This isn’t the poster child for the upcoming Pride month, but pride and queerness are still present themes in the story.
Another strong theme is mental health. It manifests through most main characters, especially Adam and Shruti, and I personally saw a new side of medicine professionals in that aspect. The stress they’re under, the expectations and actual struggle for life. It reflects very realistically the response to depression, exhaustion and anxiety, which is interesting but heartbreaking to watch. You get very attached to the characters, it’s easy to empathizes with their struggles and aches.
To finish this off, honorable mention the fantastic cast and amazing direction. I truly enjoyed watching this show, and I wholeheartedly wasn’t expecting that. 5/5
