Long COVID in pop culture is still surprisingly rare, despite millions of people worldwide living with persistent symptoms. From The Golden Girls to Unrest, television and film have occasionally captured the reality of invisible illnesses, helping audiences better understand the challenges faced by people with Long COVID and ME/CFS.
Television and film have enormous influence over how society understands illness. A single powerful storyline can educate millions of viewers, challenge stereotypes and validate the experiences of patients who rarely see themselves represented on screen.
Although portrayals of Long COVID remain uncommon, several television programmes, films and documentaries have highlighted experiences that closely mirror what many patients face every day. Some portrayals are remarkably accurate, while others reveal how much work still needs to be done.
Why Representation Matters
For many people, television is their first introduction to a medical condition. Accurate representation can reduce stigma, encourage empathy and even influence healthcare conversations.
Invisible illnesses present a unique challenge because symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, dizziness and post-exertional malaise (PEM) cannot easily be seen. Someone may appear perfectly healthy while struggling to complete the simplest daily tasks.
This is one reason why meaningful portrayals matter so much. They help make the invisible visible.
1. The Golden Girls – One of Television’s Most Powerful Stories About ME/CFS
One of the most influential portrayals of chronic illness appeared long before Long COVID entered public awareness.
In the two-part episode Sick and Tired (Season 5), Dorothy Zbornak develops severe fatigue, pain and a collection of unexplained symptoms. She consults multiple doctors, many of whom dismiss her concerns as stress, ageing or psychological problems.
Eventually she is diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Perhaps the most memorable moment comes when Dorothy confronts one of the doctors who dismissed her:
“I’m not crazy, and I’m not lazy. I have a disease.”
The storyline resonated with thousands of patients because it reflected a reality many had experienced themselves.
What it got right
- Multiple medical appointments before diagnosis
- Feeling dismissed or disbelieved
- The emotional impact of invisible illness
- The importance of finally being listened to
What it missed
Like many portrayals of chronic illness, the programme could not fully explore the long-term impact of living with ME/CFS, particularly post-exertional malaise and the day-to-day adjustments patients often make.
The story was inspired by creator Susan Harris’s own experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, giving it an authenticity rarely seen on television.
2. Gilmore Girls – A Family’s Frustration Searching for Answers
Although Gilmore Girls never depicts Long COVID or ME/CFS directly, one memorable restaurant scene captures something many patients recognise immediately.
Emily Gilmore corners Rory’s doctor and demands answers:
“You’re a doctor. Fix her! That’s your job, isn’t it? Fix her!”
The scene is humorous, but beneath the comedy lies genuine frustration.
Families living with chronic illness often feel powerless. They want solutions, yet medicine does not always have immediate answers. That desperation is something many people with Long COVID and ME/CFS know all too well.
3. Unrest – The Documentary That Changed the Conversation
If one film has become essential viewing for understanding ME/CFS, it is Unrest.
Filmmaker Jennifer Brea documents her own experience after developing ME/CFS and connects with patients around the world living with remarkably similar symptoms.
The documentary explores:
- severe fatigue
- post-exertional malaise
- cognitive dysfunction
- social isolation
- medical uncertainty
- the emotional impact of not being believed
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Unrest gained renewed attention because many of its themes closely resemble the experiences reported by people living with Long COVID.
Although the illnesses are not identical, the overlap has helped bring long-overdue attention to post-viral conditions.
Long COVID Has Changed the Conversation
Before 2020, ME/CFS received relatively little media attention despite affecting millions worldwide.
The emergence of Long COVID changed that landscape dramatically.
Millions of people developed persistent symptoms including fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog, autonomic dysfunction and post-exertional malaise after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Researchers quickly recognised significant similarities between Long COVID and existing post-viral illnesses.
While important differences remain, Long COVID has encouraged greater research into biological mechanisms that patients with ME/CFS have highlighted for decades.
Despite this growing awareness, fictional portrayals of Long COVID remain surprisingly rare.
Most coverage has come through documentaries, interviews and patient-led storytelling rather than mainstream television dramas.
Why Invisible Illness Is So Difficult to Show on Screen
Unlike many medical conditions, Long COVID and ME/CFS often have no obvious visual signs.
The biggest challenges happen internally.
A character may look completely well while experiencing:
- overwhelming exhaustion
- dizziness
- brain fog
- sensory overload
- racing heart
- post-exertional malaise developing hours or even days later
These experiences are difficult to capture visually.
Film naturally focuses on dramatic moments, yet chronic illness is often about small daily decisions:
Should I shower today?
Can I cook dinner?
If I go out this afternoon, will I still be able to work tomorrow?
These invisible calculations shape everyday life for many patients but rarely appear on screen.
What Film and Television Often Get Wrong
When chronic illness is portrayed, several common misconceptions appear.
These include:
- recovering after a single treatment
- exercise always leading to improvement
- symptoms disappearing within weeks
- assuming someone who looks healthy must feel healthy
- suggesting determination alone can overcome illness
For people living with Long COVID or ME/CFS, reality is usually far more complex.
Recovery is rarely linear.
Symptoms fluctuate.
Good days are often followed by setbacks if energy limits are exceeded.
Showing this complexity would help audiences better understand what living with these conditions truly involves.
Imagine the Perfect Long COVID Storyline
Imagine a popular television series introducing a character with Long COVID.
Rather than focusing only on diagnosis, viewers would see the everyday reality:
- choosing between work and cooking dinner
- cancelling social plans after exceeding energy limits
- using heart-rate monitoring to avoid crashes
- navigating brain fog during conversations
- trying to explain post-exertional malaise to employers
- balancing hope with uncertainty
These ordinary moments would likely teach audiences more than any lecture ever could.
Why Better Representation Matters
Stories shape public understanding.
Accurate portrayals can:
- reduce stigma
- encourage earlier diagnosis
- improve empathy among family and friends
- increase awareness among employers
- support greater research funding
- remind patients they are not alone
Just as films have transformed public understanding of cancer, dementia and mental health, thoughtful portrayals of Long COVID and ME/CFS could help millions better understand invisible illness.
Final Thoughts
Progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go.
The Golden Girls demonstrated decades ago that compassionate storytelling could validate patients who had spent years searching for answers. Unrest showed the world what life with ME/CFS truly looks like.
Now, as Long COVID affects millions worldwide, there is an opportunity for television and film to tell new stories—stories that move beyond stereotypes and reflect the resilience, complexity and humanity of people living with chronic illness.
Sometimes the next breakthrough in awareness does not come from a scientific paper.
Sometimes it begins with a story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Long COVID been portrayed in TV shows?
There are currently very few fictional television series centred on Long COVID. Most coverage has appeared in documentaries, news programmes and patient-led media. Many advocates hope future dramas will include more accurate portrayals of life with Long COVID.
Which TV show portrayed ME/CFS most accurately?
Many patients consider The Golden Girls episode “Sick and Tired” to be one of the most authentic portrayals of ME/CFS because it realistically depicts medical dismissal and the struggle to obtain a diagnosis.
Why are invisible illnesses difficult to portray on screen?
Symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, dizziness and post-exertional malaise are largely invisible. Much of the illness involves internal experiences and difficult day-to-day decisions that are less obvious than visible injuries or acute medical emergencies.
Why does media representation matter for Long COVID and ME/CFS?
Accurate representation can reduce stigma, improve public understanding, encourage empathy and help patients feel recognised. It can also influence conversations about healthcare, employment and research funding.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding Long COVID, ME/CFS or any other medical condition.