‘Single Drunk Female’ Recap: ‘Shamrocks and Shenanigans’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Single Drunk Female’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Something that is genuinely concerning about stories that revolve around the power of addiction and the journey of recovery… is that a great deal of them tend to gloss over the recovery process. Instead, the story will focus heavily on the struggle and the pain of addiction and the gravity of the decision to recover and well, that’s concerning simply because… the recovery process is perhaps the most important part of the journey. Since this is where people learn powerful new coping skills to deal with their addiction and it is a little strange that stories wouldn’t want to focus on that as well, but it does make sense as to why.
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After all, there’s real drama and entertainment value to be found in a story in showing us the character’s battle with addiction and what drove them to it, and there is catharsis to be found in knowing they turned out okay. But it would be just as powerful and engaging to watch those characters work toward a better tomorrow, and it would be equally as satisfying to watch them learn the skills needed to cope and thrive in that brighter day and thankfully… there is a story out there that is focusing on the real steps that happen during recovery by way of the Freeform series, Single Drunk Female. For the next episode in this magnificent and bold series about addiction and recovery, takes the time to focus upon one of the most difficult steps that an addict of alcohol in this instance, will encounter as they work toward sobriety.

Specifically, how the everyday world cares not about one person’s recovery and offers powerful temptation to recovering alcohol addicts by way of holidays that celebrate what they now shun. A feat that ‘Shamrocks and Shenanigans’ accomplished, by allowing for us to accompany Sam and James and Mindy, as they dealt with the fact that St. Patrick’s Day was upon them. Which meant that these brave souls had to navigate constant temptation and genuine societal pressures, since this is now a holiday that is synonymous with drinking and partying and well… how our heroes handled such matters in this tale was powerful and brilliant and downright engaging. In part because Mindy had quite the amazing idea on how positively reinforce sober behaviors… courtesy of a game.

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One where the person in recovery would see every challenge to their sobriety as something akin to a video game. Wherein, saying no to a drink that was being offered or finding a new way to best behaviors and statements that downplay sobriety, would help the person in question… level up. Allowing for them to find satisfaction in doing something for their sobriety and well, this was a wonderful idea through and through. Because it kept Mindy and James from succumbing to temptation when they had to go inside a bar and retrieve James’ house keys, since his roommates had them handy in an attempt to get him to ‘party hearty’. But what matters more here, is that this is at last… a look at the struggles that those in recovery go through and how much we treasure party culture over sobriety and what’s amazing is that this intimate look at such matters, didn’t end there.
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For Sam struggled the most with this particular day over anyone else. Because she really did shape her life around partying and drinking and without it in her life on a day that was once important to her… she struggled with the pull between two worlds. For she knew how easily she could go out there and get what she wanted, but she genuinely wanted to stay sober and rather than reflect upon the back and forth and let temptation fester… when an opportunity to do something constructive arose, she took it. For Beth needed a (former) best friend’s perspective on her wedding dress and Sam came to the rescue there and offered genuine help to Beth and found a little healing in the process. Since she quietly learned what it means to be selfless and how good deeds can heal us in ways we never thought possible. But most important of all, she made it through the day sober and conquered another challenge.

If anything, this was just a brilliant episode when all is said and done. Because it really did offer up a raw and visceral look at the challenges one finds in recovery and why the mantra of ‘one day at a time’ is so important. Because it is baby steps like these that help folks in recovery to cope and find strength and this series deserves a round of applause for putting that kind of struggle on display. Since now we understand what the fight for sobriety looks like and how the world can make it so difficult and well, now that we’ve reached the end of a properly inspiring and engaging chapter in Sam’s incredible journey, it will be quite interesting to see what other eye-opening lessons and moments await us as Sam continues to fight the good fight to stay sober. Until next time.

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