On Friday, August 10, Netflix is launching a docuseries called “Afflicted.” The series chronicles the stories of seven chronically ill people who are searching for answers to their baffling symptoms, and for relief.
“Afflicted” features ME patient Jamison Hill, a former bodybuilder and personal trainer, who became sick at the age of 22. His disease progressed to its most severe form, leaving him unable to speak, eat solid food, or leave his bed. His moving personal essays have been published in Men’s Journal, The Washington Post, VICE, and the New York Times. He was featured in “Forgotten Plague,” a full-length documentary about myalgic encephalomyelitis. Jamison maintains a popular blog on ME.
Visit him at jamisonwrites.com.
You can watch the trailer HERE.
You can read an interview with Jamison HERE.
I’d like to mention that this series may not have been produced without flaws, some in the ME/CFS forums have mentioned the show can be grating in terms of how well it seems to respect its subjects, whether intentional or not. Jamison and others on twitter seem to feel conflicted about what the shows message ended up being. Personally I watched the first episode and even in the beginning I’m not sure where the makers of the show are going with this… when one is filming for this type of film it can be hard to know what the director and editors and producers all want to display their message as, and even they can each be in conflict with what the show should be.
Also worth mentioning, even in the first episode there are some flashing lights and sounds which can be rather draining, beyond your average documentary.