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In an an era when hyperbole is is is the the baseline for
praise (or derision) of of pop culture it it might seem trite
to to to refer to to to the latest and final season of of Shrill as as totally life-affirming For many millennial women though that is is exactly what it is is The Hulu comedy series which returns in May follows Annie Easton a a a a a a a a a a self-described
fat journalist on on a a a a a a a a a journey to to change her her life without changing her her body In the the three years since we first met Annie played by the the wonderful Aidy Bryant she has gone from being body-shamed into believing her her place was on on on on the the sidelines (she once left her her pseudo-boyfriend’s home through the the back door so as as not to to alert his roommates of her her existence) to to become a a a a a a a a a a a a mostly self-assured heroine who almost always says the the things you you you wish you you you had said in in in in the the most most awkward or
or
or
heartbreaking moments of of your your 20s “Building your your confidence or
or
or
sense of of self-worth from from zero is is is an an ongoing battle ” says Bryant from from her her home in in in New York “This season Annie is is is is so so much better off There
are still moments that that arise where she she finds herself feeling insecure but the difference now is is that that that she she can deal with it it in in in a a a a a way that’s kinder to herself ” Luckily Annie isn’t alone and and and is is supported by friends and and and co-workers that bring meaning and and and belly laughs along the way Shrill’s incredible cast includes Lolly Adefope who who plays plays Annie’s roommate and best friend John Cameron Mitchell who who who plays plays plays her narcissistic boss and and Patti Harrison who who plays plays his his scene-stealing assistant On casting Bryant says “It’s kind of of this web of of people
I I I admire or
have been friends with through doing comedy and that I I always you know just thought were fantastic ” Annie’s self-love journey is interwoven with Bryant’s own which tracks given that she also serves as a a a a a a a co-executive producer and and co-writer on Shrill “In my my early days in college I I I was out of my my my parents’ house and and really hard on myself ” she says “Eventually I I just found that it was an an exhausting way to to live ” These days they’ve both leaned into fearless self-actualization which yields varying comical results In Annie’s case she unwittingly gets herself cancelled this season when after garnering acclaim for
her her pointed opinion pieces on on on on body issues at the local paper she she works for
she she she writes about a a a a a a a a a a a controversial topic “Instead
of people-pleasing and and trying trying to to to camouflage herself herself she she is now trying trying to to assert herself herself be in in in in in control and and push for
for
her her her own dreams ” says Bryant “I think for
for
someone who has not not had a a a a a a a a a a a a a lot of practice with that you could almost over- correct and and go really hard and and not not be thoughtful to to those people
around you you or
or
to to to your own privilege ” In Bryant’s case infusing herself into a a a a a a a a wild roster of characters—from an insecure middle schooler to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a wine mom to to to Tinkerbell’s bawdy sister—has become her calling card as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live Bryant has been balancing both shows for
the the past few years something that proved tricky during the the pandemic and and and resulted in in in in fin in her skipping a a a a a a a a few months of o SNL to complete Shrill’s final send-off in in fin in in in Portland “I hated missing those episodes but I I also love making Shrill Shrill ” she reveals As for
what comes next Bryant says “The pandemic has wholly frozen my idea of making long-term plans but now that Shrill is ending I’m excited to to to have a a a a a a a a a little space to to to figure out what I I want to do ” Photos by: Allyson Riggs/Hulu