Next to Normal - Act1 Finale
Added 2025-08-05 22:06:18 +0000 UTCComments
Im of 2 minds of the ECT and their relationship... Technically they are TOXIC for each other. She cant cope with the death of her son and its a net negative to everyone trying to help her as she ultimately refuses to even try to move on. The husband is also toxic for her because he is always going to want it to be how it used to be instead of what she is now. And that forcing her to be like his memory of her will inevitably break them both. But about the ECT... In this moment, if she had it her way, she would be dead. Im not saying her choices dont matter but she CLEARLY isnt in the right mind to even make decisions for herself. As extreme as ECT is, the alternative is her dead or in a psych ward for the rest of her life because she CLEARLY is a danger to herself
Downside dn
2025-10-05 09:15:30 +0000 UTCI'm so sad to see there is no Act 2, I would have really loved to see your reaction to it. I understand of course, but if you ever feel up to it I think there's a lot of value to resolving the open wound of act 1.
SimulatedChloe
2025-09-30 01:48:35 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you watched at least act 1 of this - it's great to see someone so deeply appreciate this on so many levels. There's so much depth put into every facet of this- even little things like the recurring staging of "cleaning up" vs. letting the mess exist, or the use of specific colors, has meaning, and it's cool to see someone like you pick up on so many of them on first watch (e.g. the rotating stage as "spiraling"). Act 2 is actually LIGHTER in many ways, with only one song that really shreds me because I have some lost child trauma. But I respect you immensely for taking care of your own mental health over continuing to make the content. Also- during A Light In The Dark, you mentioned that you weren't sure if it was selfish of Dan to be guilting her / making it about him or if that was fair. Suicide TW- but I actually had a friend try to kill herself a week ago, and one of the only ways I've actually gotten her to stick around is by reminding her that I've been trying to have a baby for 4 years, just had a new embryo implanted, and that the grief and trauma of losing her could very easily make it so they never develop or I lose them. And if it works then I'll need her to be there to be their aunt and help me. Is that selfish? Probably, yeah. I try to balance it with reminding her how joyful it will be to meet them and as many reasons from her own life as I can find, but when none of those feel worthwhile to her, ANY reason that will convince her to stay long enough to find her own reasons is something worth trying, for me. She won't get the chance to develop her own reasons if I don't put mine on her for a little while. It's complicated to be sure but I want to give her any chance I can. Just wanted to give an additional perspective from someone in Dan's shoes.
Kateydidit
2025-09-05 03:39:56 +0000 UTCWho watches this for enjoyment? I do. I'd never seen or heard it before, but my wife was familiar with the soundtrack, and so we went to see it. This production was recorded in London on a fairly limited run, and I saw it 5 times. It's hard to watch, but it's beautiful. What is art for if not to elicit an emotional response? Sure, some of it hits very close to home for me, and I guess for you, and for a lot of people, but I find it to be worthwhile overall. While it doesn't get everything right, I feel like it does a lot to destigmatise certain topics, and to make things relatable to a wider audience which I think, from a mental health perspective, can only be a good thing. With regard to the swearing, this version is censored for PBS. The version they plan to release (which is, um, floating around out there - I know of one reactor who's obtained it) is not censored. Finally, regardless of whether you continue or not, I want to thank for you this reaction. It's easily one of the best I've seen, and I think I've watched all of them so far! I would echo what others have said: while Act 1 does everything it can to destroy you, Act 2 provides a lot of comfort (at least, it did for me).
Neil Bullock
2025-09-04 14:20:38 +0000 UTCWho watches this for fun - Me. I've dealt with bipolar. I've dealt with a similar loss. Though I did not experience delusions, so much of this rings so true and there's a validation in that. And the songs are banger of course. For me, I always described depression as it's own animal with a self preservation instinct. This is the only depiction of that parasite I've seen. It will do anything to keep its host going so it can continue to feed off it. Acting as comfort and protection while destroying you at the same time. When anything threatens its continued survival, it will rail against it and convince the host to reject anything that might separate them. Everything about the son is incredibly spot on and so layered. Look how he comes after Dan when Dan is cleaning the aftermath and thinking about the possibility of facing the world alone. That character is simply everything and I wish I could bottle him up and spill him out on the carpet of every therapist I tried to explain him to. Mortius, if you decide to go on to Act 2, I think you'll find a comfort in the ending. Without going into spoilers, you've already described how the show ends. While many might find it unsatisfying from what you've been saying throughout this reaction, I think you'll find it extremely validating. There are still tears to be shed, Act 2 gets a bit more removed from the standard depression experience making it a bit easier to watch.
Alex Remon
2025-09-03 06:32:46 +0000 UTCI know you've said you're not going to do act two, and I don't blame you for not wanting to record it, but I do hope you listen to it on your own when you're in a safe headspace. You've passed the "worst" of the musical, it really does go up from "wish I were here", (even though it doesn't seem so immediately after) As always, take care of yourself đş
Shiloh
2025-09-03 06:23:08 +0000 UTCHi Mortius, i just saw that on the collection of next to normal you wrote the series won't continue past this point. I was just wondering if that is really the case and if you want to give us a reason for it. If not that is of course also a valid thing for you to do. I do have to say i find it pretty sad because i was really looking forward to your reaction to this incredible good Songs and performances from everyone in the cast. I also struggled with some mental health issues during a Phase of bullying in my school years. Now this is thankfully behind me. But these intense emotions and music Always bring me some kind of comfort. Keep on doing what you do i stay around even if you don't continue next to normal. PS i love your StarKid reactions
brigitte MĂźller
2025-09-01 21:00:02 +0000 UTCCan't wait for act twoâşď¸
Oddity
2025-08-21 20:12:03 +0000 UTCTold myself I cried enough in the last reaction that I wouldn't for this shorter video
vangogh_green
2025-08-14 08:57:46 +0000 UTCyou asked who watches this for fun, and I would be one of those people. oddly enough this show has kind of become a comfort show to me and for the first time in a long time is what got me to start doing media break downs and analysis again (something i used to do weekly and sometimes daily for years) after years of just feeling numb and not finding joy in something that used to. You could probably even say that this musical was my light in the dark
Rory
2025-08-09 05:36:46 +0000 UTCI hope this comment doesnât feel aggressive, itâs not supposed to be. Iâm just very emotionally invested đ
ShayOhMy
2025-08-08 12:49:23 +0000 UTCDan be like âkeep us far from what keeps us apart,â Love, honey, sweetheart, what keeps you apart is the grief over the death of your child. Maybe instead of trying to take her away from it try to come and join her, keep her company in the pain. Feel it, too. You lost a son too. (Thisâs me every time I listen to this show. Throughout all of it. I love Dan so much, heâs so human, and strong and the love he has for his family is always breaking my heart, but he also does everything he can to avoid his own grief. And Diana is stuck avoiding reality. And thatâs whatâs keeping them apart. The son even said it in âI Am the Oneâ- when Dan asks âtell me what to doâ the boy answers âlook at meâ. Itâs all Diana wants from him, but Dan wonât/canât do it right now, and I donât blame him just like I donât blame Diana, but itâs just so hard to see.)
ShayOhMy
2025-08-08 12:44:45 +0000 UTCAs most people have said, yes, ECT does have a modernized and safe version. They don't quite portray it correctly in the show. Treatment is normally 4-6 weeks with 2-3 sessions per week. Patients can do things after, though it's not advised that they do things like driving. They go in, get set up, and the actual electric part takes about 10 minutes. It's kind of similar to TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) which uses magnets to rewire the brain. Also, yes, the therapy field has so many acronyms it's kind of ridiculous. Source: I am a therapist.
KitKait
2025-08-07 05:35:45 +0000 UTCNot my specialty but I have friends that have done it. Modern ECT is treated almost as a last line of defense, itâs like a targeted reset for the parts of the brain that that are misfiring. Higher risk/more of a Procedure than most medications, and it can have some lingering side effects, which is part of why itâs not standard across the board, but itâs generally safe and can give you DRASTIC improvements in a very short timespan. The one thing people say next to normal didnât quite get right mental health wise is how they talk about the ECT, which kind of makes sense since it was written 20 years ago
itsmiira
2025-08-06 18:04:11 +0000 UTCIâm not going to say too much because itâs not something Iâm super knowledgeable on, but yes you are correct, there is a modern and safe version of ECT. Just like every treatment, it doesnât work for everyone, but apparently it has helped a lot of people. Didnât I See This Movie is such a brilliant way of addressing the stigma around the procedure, because I would react the exact same way if it was suggested to me. I think of One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest and American Horror Story when I think of ECT, not something safe, clean and ethical (albeit not without potential side effects⌠I guess, again, like any treatment). I also found only found out about this because of Next to Normal, itâs yet another amazing thing about this show. Iâll probably add more in the replies if I think of anything else, but for now have a great vacation!
Lindsey
2025-08-06 07:14:26 +0000 UTCI definitely donât think whatâs between Dan and Diana is healthy at all, but it is so human and incredibly understandable.
Ratatosk Clarke
2025-08-06 06:13:13 +0000 UTCI hope its not like longer than a month between act 2? I just know longer distances between acts can be harder for you when it comes to remembering stuff
Ratatosk Clarke
2025-08-06 06:06:58 +0000 UTCAlso I totally get what you're saying about Dan almost Guilt tripping Diana. He is. And I do get that like she needs to make informed decisions however, I also know from my own time when I was in a similar mindset to Diana in this moment for vastly different reasons. Guilt was an effective tool to keep me from doing anything and I know people say it's not healthy or whatever but in those moments honestly anything that could get her to do something that would keep her around I can't see as in any way unethical (Except full out lying to her) Sorry this show give me so many feelings and thoughts
Katlyn Steinmuller
2025-08-06 03:03:15 +0000 UTC"who watches this show for enjoyment?" me!!
MalcolmArtisry
2025-08-06 03:01:21 +0000 UTCYou asked who watched this show for enjoyment. I do. The first day it was out I had it playing while I was at work. I had to go to the bathroom multiple times so I didn't have my coworkers asking why I was about to cry. In the time period it was on pbs I think I watched it at least once a day. I have the music on my spotify. I got very bad news one day where me and my partner called off cause I was emotionally fucked up and he was helping me keep it together and this is what we watched as my comfort show. IDK about anyone else but for me it's a mentally unwell person who feels seen even if I don't have Diana's diagnosis. I should mention this is my actual favorite musical even before this proshot and this proshot made me like not hate the other version but definitely like it a lot less.
Katlyn Steinmuller
2025-08-06 02:59:26 +0000 UTCalways have big feelings abt Dan desperately wanting to hold Diana but second-guessing himself abt whether thatâs actually something heâs allowed to want/do right now
Fae
2025-08-06 01:37:37 +0000 UTCI gotta say I've really been appreciating your reactions to this musical. It is funny at times but also really centers around very dark and difficult topics. I have seen plenty of people at this point in the musical villainizing Dan or Henry, or Nat...you don't do that. You can point out the not so healthy bits while also stating that, yeah....this is complicated. Dan isn't perfect but also he has been holding things together for 16+ years at this point. And that is exhausting. I will always say to people when I recommend this musical, it's very human. VERY human. I am very excited to see you react to part 2, it has some of my favorite musical numbers ever. <3 Thank you for handling the topics in this musical with such grace.
Thistle
2025-08-05 23:54:40 +0000 UTCthat scene plays out the same way in the uncensored proshot. from what i can tell, the only difference in video editing is cutting to a different character or a wide shot when a character is swearing in a way that's obviously misaligned with the dubbed line. i think the editing for the blood is a stylistic/narrative choice rather than censorship
lauren
2025-08-05 23:30:42 +0000 UTCI don't know if it's as many patients as Dr. Madden says, but ECT is genuinely many times used for medication resistant mental illness treatment! I've had two friends go through it with great results. This is such a fascinating musical that addresses so many difficult topics where there is no right answer. I've watched it four times since you started watching it, and I always find something new to think about and analyze every time I see it. I'm glad you checked it out, or I would never have checked it out myself!
Haley Mullins
2025-08-05 23:19:35 +0000 UTCSomething staging wise I donât think enough people are noticing too is the use of red. The son has a red backpack when something bad tends to occur, the candles on the cake were red and the folder the ect paper work in is red
Mary Baine
2025-08-05 23:12:58 +0000 UTCthey also cut out some of the staging for PBS, Iâve been told by people who saw it live that blood on the stage starts bleeding out of the box when they sing thereâs a world. Iâm wondering when the UK movie theater version released if theyâll put some of those details back in.
Mary Baine
2025-08-05 23:11:09 +0000 UTCS T I G M A
Mortius
2025-08-05 22:41:51 +0000 UTCâ¨TRAUMA! â¨The Musical!
Shiloh
2025-08-05 22:23:43 +0000 UTCi'm guessing stigma was the forgotten word- i do that all the time omg
Clementine Mesich
2025-08-05 22:18:48 +0000 UTCLet's goooođ
Shiloh
2025-08-05 22:06:55 +0000 UTC
