Being Erica

I can imagine a young woman watching this show and saying to herself: "I'm 30-something, like Erica. I'm plain, but cute in the right light, like Erica. Why isn't MY biggest problem in life deciding which of the numerous male models that are constantly throwing themselves at me should I date?"

That issue aside, I did enjoy this show for the most part. Some of the story lines were silly, bordering on stupid. And yes, some acting and scenes were so awkwardly bad as to be cringe-worthy and difficult to get through.

But I did enjoy it, and wished there had been more seasons.

After having been fired from her job, dumped by her boyfriend and collapsing from anaphylactic shock after consuming a nut-laced coffee all in the same day, 30-something Erica Strange wakes up in hospital and meets a mysterious man known only as 'Dr. Tom'.

Erica learns that he is a therapist and she has been chosen to be one of his patients -- what she doesn't know is that Dr. Tom has the ability to travel time and his 'therapy' involves sending Erica back in time to various, regretful, moments in her life to allow her the chance to gain a new perspective and learn.

Initially reluctant, Erica refuses Dr. Tom's help, but after being shamed into feeling like a big loser who can't get her life together by her family she writes a list of her life's biggest regrets and so begins her journey into what 'being Erica' really means.

I watched a handful of episodes of 'Being Erica' a few years ago and it instantly grabbed my attention with it's quirky 'Sex and the City' meets 'Quantum Leap' concept. Unfortunately, as it aired in the mornings here the UK and my schedule wasn't always consistent I didn't see it all the way through to the end, despite being hooked.

I put 'Being Erica' on my list of movies and TV shows I wanted to revisit, and now, thanks to the gift of Youtube I've spent the last week of 2018 and the first week of 2019 binge watching the entire series from beginning to end -- and let me tell you, what an ending it was! (Spoiler alert: I cried)

The promo for this show really doesn't do it justice; though incredibly quirky and comedic at times, the promo really underplays the philosophical aspect of the series and how thought-provoking and emotionally engaging it was.

A thoroughly underrated show that I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in time-travel, philosophy or metaphyics... or just anyone who has ever experienced the pain of regret.

"Being Erica" is one of those shows clearly targeted at the "Sex and the City" audience: female-friendly, hip, nice to look at. Ho hum. But before you can click on the remote, you catch a glimpse of Erin Karpluk in the role of Erica Strange, and you're hooked. She is so natural, so lovable - she inhabits the character effortlessly. She can be wistful without being whiny, insecure but not needy. She is also a virtual chameleon who can morph into whatever situation the show's time travel premise requires.

The writing is so fresh and witty. Other Canadian shows have a tendency to be too real and mundane, utterly humourless. Being Erica is funny without trying too hard; the humour seems to flow out of normal situations and conversations, as it does in real life.

The entire premise of the show is that the audience gets behind Erica and roots for her little victories in a harsh world. And we do.

This is a hidden gem of a show that needs an audience. Someone should send a tape of the bat mitzvah episode to Ellen or Oprah. If either of them saw it, the show would surely have a champion who could help ensure its survival.

This is the first time I'm addicted to a Canadian show on a Canadian channel! It is such a great show with very interesting characters and a heart warming romantic subplot. I really like how each story centers on the fact that Erica has to go back in time to change something in the past so she can deal with something in the future differently. I really like how this show has quirky and insightful dialogue and I like how Erica is someone many people can relate too. I think many of us would have liked to change something in the past and Erica does that but, at the same time things don't always end perfectly which makes this show more realistic and interesting. This is a show where a normal person is put in an extraordinary situation but because she's a real person with real problems, she can pull it off and she does!

"Being Erica" is:

* fresh

* fun

* positively female identified (I watch out for that)

and every week's episode contains a life-affirming message that helps both Erica and potentially the audience.

The acting is superb and I wish the show was on more than once a week. Luckily CBC posts in online so you can watch repeats whenever - bless them!

Finally, "Being Erica" showcases the hard-working Canadian book publishing industry, which can only help with self-sustainability efforts.

The show gets me and I dig it, through and through!