Survival of the Thickest is a semi-autobiographical dramedy series co-created by Comedian Michelle Buteau. The two-season fictionalized series is based on Buteau's own memoir that was published in 2020. The series, like Buteau's book, candidly speaks about Mavis Beaumont's (Buteau's character in the show) dreams, love life, and friendship.
Both Seasons 1 and 2 of the series follow talented New York stylist Mavis Beaumont, who is rebuilding her life after a destructive breakup. In this endeavor, Mavis is helped by her chosen family, best friends Khalil and Marley. Other than them, Mavis meets several other characters like her new quirky roommate, Jade, who play a vital role in this journey of rediscovery.
The popular series is accessible across the world on the streaming giant Netflix.
How to watch Survival of the Thickest Seasons 1 and 2?
You can watch this semi-autobiographical series on Netflix. One of the appealing aspects of Survival of the Thickest is that each season is eight episodes long, so for now, the episode count of the total series is sixteen only.
For now the series is available only on Netflix, and it is unknown if it will be available in other streaming platforms as well.
What is Survival of the Thickest about?
Created by Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and Michelle Buteau, Survival of the Thickest is a realistic comedy set in New York. The NYC we see in this series is different from the one we see in previous comedies like Friends. Michelle Buteau herself spoke about the unrealistic part of the thirty-year-old sitcom in an interview with Tudum, saying:
"Watching Friends, it’s like, “Good for them!” That was a great show and the comedic timing was on point. However, you lived in New York and don’t have one Black or Puerto Rican friend? I don’t know."
In the same interview, co-creator Michelle Buteau described Survival of the Thickest as a love letter to the city of New York and all its people, regardless of their body type and s*xual orientation. Her exact words were:
"This is my love letter to New York. It’s my love letter to all the fatty baddies, oddie bodies and beautiful-a** freaks that I’ve met growing up there."
Based on what we have seen from the series, it looks like Buteau has truly put the work to include people of a wide range of backgrounds, body types and identities, something which Friends failed to do in her opinion. While drawing parallels with that popular sitcom, Survival of the Thickest's Michelle Buteau told Tudum:
"My Central Perk is a drag restaurant, because I grew up going to drag bars and even performing in them, and drag is as American as apple pie. We don’t have to hide, especially now."
She continued:
"This is the time to put your sign in your window and your T-shirt on from Etsy. Allyship looks different in a lot of ways, but if you have the opportunity and the platform and want to say something, it’s really important for us to live outside of a hashtag and actually do something."
Will there be a Season 3?
The second season began streaming on Netflix on March 27, 2025. The entire eight-episode season is available on its entirety on Netflix. However, it will be a while before we learn whether the series has been renewed by Netflix for a third season.
What did you think about Michelle Buteau's latest offering? Are you hoping for a Survival of the Thickest Season 3?

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