Watch Single Drunk Female
- TV-14
- 2022
- 2 Seasons
-
6.8 (5,068)
Single Drunk Female is a Freeform original series that premiered in 2022. The drama-comedy follows the life and experiences of the millennial main character Samantha Fink, portrayed by Sofia Black D’Elia, who must confront her destructive habits head-on after a public meltdown leads to a serious wake-up call. The show skillfully blends humor with more serious themes, providing a deep and insightful exploration of the main character's journey towards sobriety and self-discovery.
Samantha Fink is a high-flying, hard-drinking executive in her late 20s, living in New York City. Her high-pressure job and partying lifestyle come with a heavy dose of social drinking, which eventually spirals into full-blown alcoholism. Her alcohol-fueled blunders contribute in part to her frequent crises. Following a crushing public debacle, Sam finds herself forced to take stock of her actions and lifestyle, returning to her suburban hometown to face the destruction she left behind.
Feeling lost and directionless, Sam grapples with her mounting personal and professional problems while staying with her protective, perfectionist mother Carol, played by Ally Sheedy. Their strained relationship forms one of the central conflict lines throughout the series. Shot in Sam's hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, Single Drunk Female paints a portrait of a woman forced to mature and recognize the importance of meaningful connections and personal growth.
The series does not shy away from the harsh realities of alcoholism, treatment, and the road to recovery. With Sam’s sobriety forming the narrative crux of the series, viewers gain a nuanced, immersive insight into the challenges and triumphs that accompany the journey towards self-improvement. Sam utilizes therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to navigate her path to sobriety, with these scenes often providing a raw depiction of her struggles.
Single Drunk Female employs clever wit, relatable situations, and a biting sense of humor to deal with these profound subjects. In times it showcases raw emotionality while at other moments it exudes an uplifting vibe, creating a captivating balance that keeps viewers engaged.
The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative. Apart from Carol, key characters include Sam's younger brother Jeremy (Ben Rosenfield) who holds a resentful grudge over Sam's past actions, Brittany (Rebecca Henderson), Sam’s direct, open-hearted sponsor, and Felicia (Sasha Compe're), her accomplished hometown friend who unwittingly becomes a part of Sam's new lease on life. Each character brings distinct personalities and perspectives that enrich the storyline and Samantha's overall journey.
Its choice to handle the topic of alcoholism and recovery through a youthful, female lens sets Single Drunk Female apart. Sam’s character is vibrant, flawed, engaging, bringing viewers along on her path, fraught with ups and downs, aiming toward healthy growth. This remarkable revelation of character challenges societal norms surrounding alcoholism, typically often reserved for middle-aged male characters.
Creator Simone Finch, known for her work on "The Connors", along with producers Jenni Konner and Leslye Headland, forms a powerhouse of female talent behind the scenes. They deliver a series brimming with authenticity, capturing the complexities of young adulthood and the struggle of substance abuse with unflinching honesty.
What makes Single Drunk Female truly stand out is its sensitive yet unabashed realism. It avoids the trap of glamorizing addiction or descending into tragedy, opting instead to lay bare the messy, chaotic, and often funny aspects of life. Despite turmoil and occasional chaos, the show’s ultimate tone is one of hope, expressing that change, healing, and growth are possible.
The series skillfully embodies the spider web of issues entangled in Sam's life, portraying the struggles related to her career, love life, friendships, self-esteem, and strained family relationships. Each episode offers viewers a chance to deeply resonate with Samantha as she slowly seeks to get her life back on track.
In all, Single Drunk Female brews together an array of themes, emotions, and experiences. Its distinct blend of humor, drama, and examining hard-hitting topics gives viewers an engaging, thought-provoking series. Despite the heavy subject matter, the show balances with elements of comedy and heart, effectively demonstrating that life’s hardest battles often come with a side of humor and hope.
Single Drunk Female is a series that ran for 2 seasons (20 episodes) between January 20, 2022 and on FreeForm