HBO is teaming with clinical psychologist Dr. Ali Mattu for the ‘It’s OK’ campaign, dedicated to discussing and destigmatizing mental illness. As part of the that, Dr. Mattu is taking a look at characters from different HBO shows and analyzing how their experiences could shed light on different mental issues, starting with Tyrion Lannister and depression.
Specifically, Dr. Mattu uses Tyrion’s early days on the show — the ones where he does a lot more drinking and has a lot more frivolous sex — as a way to talk about anhedonia, where one no longer takes pleasure in things that used to be enjoyable. Check it out:
Dr. Mattu also discusses the spectacularly dysfunctional relationships of the Roy family on Succession…
…and Hannah’s struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder on Girls:
Do any of these ring true? It’s a bitter irony if Tyrion was pulled out of his depression by meeting Daenerys and finding purpose only to watch her…well, you know.
I think these are pretty interesting, and laud HBO for trying to spread awareness about these issues. What other HBO shows could make could launching-off points? Tony Soprano went to a lot of therapy in The Sopranos. Pretty much everyone on The Wire was suffering from trauma in one way or another. And dear god, the video Dr. Mattu could make about Cersei and Jaime’s messed-up relationship…
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels
