Is this funny to the unscarred?

[AustenJ]

I binge watched the first 2 seasons of the made for Netflix series, Love. The show is about the romantic relationship between Gus (a nonBPD) and his undiagnosed BPDgf Mickey. Mickey is an alcoholic, gaslights, pushes and pulls, has a dysfunctional family life, has a total lack of empathy, rages, triangulates, gives the silent treatment, and has impulsive sex among other common BPD characteristics.

The final 6 episodes of season 2 really hit home in regards to my r/s with my diagnosed xBPDgf. Gus was away on business for an extended time with strict instructions to call/text Mickey every day. Within about 5 days, out of sight out of mind, Mickey begins ignoring Gus's texts and calls as she is embroiled in her own self-made drama. We are introduced early on in the series to one of Mickey's many exes who runs into her at a party with Gus. Mickey's ex gets her alone and rages at her for putting him into 2 years of therapy after she discarded him. And as you guessed it, when Gus is out of town, Mickey recycles this same ex, and they have wild sex for a couple of weeks while clueless Gus (I was clueless Gus for a very long time too) has no idea even though there have been many many red flags gift-wrapped by Mickey that he is unable to see through his rose-colored BPD goggles.

There is a ridiculously poignant scene in the final episode of season 2 where this crazed ex (most of us have been there) shows up at Gus's apartment to confront Mickey for discarding him again when Gus returns to town. Gus, of course, is momentarily out of the apartment getting sodas when the ex confronts Mickey, wanting to fight for her as he knows things are different between them this time... .she dumps him because she thinks she can be happy with Gus and wants a future of marriage and children. The ex relents after predicting, "You will destroy Gus." The ex hides on the balcony as naive Gus returns and Mickey entices him into sex as the ex then slinks out of the apartment as they get busy... .

Mickey works at a talk radio station in LA and produces a show for a quack talk show therapist who wants to get with her. He's a total jerk, but, of course, that doesn't stop Mickey from sleeping with him in the early stages of her relationship with Gus. The therapist even outs his sex connection with Mickey to Gus at a radio station party... .and of course, Mickey gaslights Gus, and he forgives her. This same therapist, after Mickey tells him that she has been screwing around on Gus with an ex, calls Mickey a "f*cking nightmare."

So finally to my question... .I think the intent of the show is to be a romantic comedy. I found this show all too real because I have been deeply scarred by a BPD r/s. Do you think others who have not been in a BPD relationship think that this show is funny? Does it just present as the normal ups and downs of a romantic relationship? To me it was a cautionary tale... .there were scenes that made my skin crawl... .the only thing remotely funny, in a very dark way, was that I was clueless Gus for so long, and I was also the crazed ex wanting to fight for my crazy ex... .

[Swhitey]

Wow,

That actually sounds uncomfortable to watch. My ex and I started to watch that show, but both of us hated the Mickey character and stopped watching after 3 episodes or so. I think you are on to something there with your observation though. I'm sorry that you had such a hurtful experience, especially one that closely resembled a dark rom-com. I might be able to relate too much to that series as well and based on your review, I will not be tempted to watch it.