Friendship In Modern Media – The Kermode and Mayo Film Review and Prepare to Try

In my experience, friendship in media has not been displayed in popular culture in an accurate and relatable way. I only realised this when I came across the following excellent examples of friendship in media. These were found in the most unlikely places and I would like to share them with you in this article.

My first good example of friendship in media is the long running Kermode and Mayo Film Review podcast. The show features the film critic and writer Mark Kermode and the Dj and writer Simon Mayo. It includes film reviews featuring the new releases as well as the previous box office top 10, usually with an interview with an actor or director from a new film release.

What strikes me about the show is the friendship between the two main presenters. It’s amazing to see a friendship that has developed over so many years. The comfort the two men show with each other’s idiosyncrasies is inspiring as well as showing that friendship doesn’t have to look a certain way.

Its all presented with great cheer and there’s never a sense of any disagreement between them being held onto for long. A true partnership and a testament to there friendship that the podcast has lasted for over 10 years. There inherent enjoyment of bringing the show to there audience each week being infectious and no doubt has contributed to its lasting appeal.

In the radio show, the audience is treated like a friend with great respect and openness to contribution and correspondence from listeners. This could be another reason why the show has had such a long running success. To be able to make everyone feel included and a friend of the show is a real testament to Simon and Mark’s presenting style and openness. They are both family men with children and this also may contribute to how the two presenters interact with their audience. They hold the space brilliantly for all points of view whether agreed with or not. I would say this is a great example of friendship and how it’s possible to relate in a beneficial way.

Another good example of friendship in media is the series of Prepare to Try on YouTube. Where Gav and Daniel try to teach Rory how to play Dark Souls, an infamously hard game, as well as other crazy hard games. In many ways, it shows again the highs and lows of friendship and they are all committed to this gaming journey, which shows many different aspects of their personality. Whether you see these as good or bad it’s all there, way out there. Whether it’s helping or hindering, being annoying or celebrating, supporting, making fun of or being the bigger man, its all here uncut.

I get a real sense that they are good friends and probably better friends as the series progresses. It reminds me of the times when I was younger, playing computer games with my brothers and friends. It brings up a lot of nostalgia for me but also a lot of compassion for these three guys who are just doing the very best with what they know.

Kind of like three brothers from other mothers coming together with a common goal. Finding the journey is far more important and powerful than reaching the destination. A small community of support and friendship, however that may look, and sometimes it can look a bit bonkers. As Dark Souls is a ridiculously hard game, which I completely respect, but I’m very glad that I can experience it through their eyes rather than playing it myself. To hear about the hidden lore is amazing as every character and enemy has been given a complicated and often tragic back story. This really shows me why Dark Souls is so loved and revered by so many gamers.

For me, it’s important to have these examples of real friendship in media. I would say this isn’t something you can show in a film or a TV series. In fiction, there always seems to be a need for drama or plot developments to keep the audience interested. Where a few people sitting in a room chatting, making each other laugh for hours upon hours would be a hard sell to a tv or film producer. For me, it’s great to see this and on the radio or on YouTube are perfect places to have it open for all. To show this reality of life where people aren’t a scripted overproduced construct but spontaneous all-inclusive beings and I recommend checking out the shows.