Zerocalcare’s Netflix Debut: What Tear Along The Dotted Line (2021) Tells Us About Mental Health
- Eve Andrews
- Nov 30, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 21, 2021
For a lot of us outside of Italy, the name Zerocalcare probably isn’t a familiar one. Say that name in Italy, though, and ears would immediately prick up.
Zerocalcare broke into the comic book world via his blog, Zerocalcare.it, on which he chronicled his life as a thirty-something-year-old struggling comic artist, doing so via the medium of humorous comic strips. Tethered together by an overarching storyline, these comic strips have since been collected and sold as anthologies, alongside Zero’s full-length graphic novels such as La profezia dell'armadillo (The Armadillo Prophecy) and Un polpo alla gola (Tentacles At My Throat).
The appeal of Calcare’s work in his home country of Italy has been astronomical, raising him to the status of one of Italy’s most revered comic book writers of the modern age.
But with Tear Along The Dotted Line (Strappare Lungo I Bordi), Zerocalcare finally takes the international stage via the Netflix streaming platform - and boy are we glad! It’s safe to say that Zero’s has left his newfound, English-speaking audience feeling overdue for something we didn’t even know we needed.
Much like the comics found on Zerocalcare.it, Tear Along The Dotted Line is told in an autobiographical format, as Calcare recounts life events via a mixture of mundane rants and flashbacks. He describes his journey through life as an overthinker, plagued with anxieties as he agonises over the smallest of day-to-day occurrences while forever at loggerheads with his giant, armadillo-shaped conscience. His constant daily fears lead him down a road of self-obsession, equating to a violent wake-up call when life takes a dark and unexpected twist.
The show skillfully leads its audience into the realms of the deep and dark by lulling them into a false sense of security via strikingly relatable depictions of the slightly irritating and the mundane. In doing so, it plunges us headfirst into jarring subjects such as depression, abuse and suicide through a chain-link progression of minor events. Each episode begins with a tangent about some minor inconvenience, which then feeds into a gradually developing, overarching plot.
As well as its sensitivity to various facets of life, another appealing factor of the show is its unflinching honesty. Zerocalcare frequently expresses thoughts that, when they first hit, appear to denote an unflattering character trait on his part. However, it only takes a second or two worth of processing before we are forced to admit ourselves that we, as human beings, commiserate with much of the candid, uncomplimentary thoughts that Calcare shares.
The overarching wit of the show is significantly complemented by its exceptional cast and quirky visuals, with the presiding role of Zerocalcare being voiced by none other than the man himself in the original Italian dub, while the English dub translates Zero’s humour into a British dialect. Whatever your taste, dub or original, either one works well. And with its high-energy, webcomic-esque aesthetic, both versions are sure to draw you in.
Tear Along The Dotted line is a fascinating exploration into responsibility and how life teaches us to hold ourselves accountable for things beyond our control. It works as a compelling, slice-of-life storyline, punctuated with observational humour that pieces together a poignant commentary on politics, self-reflection, mental health, and personal growth.
In doing so, Zerocalcare raises the vital conversation of encouraging those struggling with abuse and declining mental health to seek the correct help, as well as tackling the rampant guilt and self-blame among the loved ones of those who have suffered and/ or lost their lives to the aforementioned issues.
For most human beings, Tear Along The Dotted Line is without a doubt a witty, humorous, poignant and cathartic watch.
We only hope that we will now get to see more of Zerocalcare in the future!
If you or anyone you know is struggling, please consider referring to the resources below to get you on track to finding the correct help. Help is available to everyone.
Take care of yourselves and have a nice day!
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