Survival of the Thickest in a nutshell is a bittersweet memory dressed up in a joke but reminding us that even the worst moments contribute to where we’re standing. Based on Michelle Buteau’s same-titled book of personal essays, her television adaptation is a perfect summertime treat, binge-able but perhaps better taken one or two at a time, just to savor them. It’s at its best when Mavis Beaumont (also portrayed by Buteau) is at her best. She’s stylish, witty, hard-working, and sexy, and yes, she’s also fat. But even when she’s struggling, the show’s optimistic messages shine through; the final few episodes has Mavis making decisions that are messy at best and baffling at worst. It’s not always apparent how or why Mavis is coming to the conclusions that she makes, but Buteau’s charm carries the show when the story slips. The cast as a whole is a dream and the selection of celebrity cameos are uniformly a delight. It’s a refreshingly dreamy experience with enough realism to give it a bite, particularly when it comes to Mavis’ appearance and her wishes for what her career could give to others.