How did Jack Whitehall’s “Travels with my Father” TV show saved my relationship with my dad

I was scrolling my Netflix app a few months ago and found this show by Jack Whitehall. I’ve watched this guys standup specials before and didn’t really liked it, so I was surprised to be interested in the new project, a show called “Travels with my father”. About the format, it’s a documentary special that follows Jack and his father Michael on a trip through Western Asia, going to places like Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The duo goes through a lot of funny, adventurous situations that amused me for several 30-minute episodes. And that would be all, if I did not had the biggest fight ever with my dad right in the middle of the show’s season.

So my father and I have been dealing with a very challenging relationship since he got divorced from my mom seven years ago, after supposedly cheating on her for a few years. Initially, we disconnected completely, but over the years we got connected again, in a few basic areas, like talking about work or politics or barber shops. That would be all. And then I’ve learned something from Jack’s adventures with his own father.

There’s something special about bonding as father and son.

So I decided to give it a go. It could not be the worst scenario. I had recently quit a fine steady job to become a screenwriter/english professor/social media manager who works for himself. In the midst of all this, I broke up a nine month relationship with my girlfriend (who’s broken up with me actually) and had no paying jobs for over two months. And then it happened.

Somehow, desperate times are powerful tools to help you see how things really are.

My dad and I got engaged into the best relationship we’ve ever had, as he supported me financially and emotionally so I could pursue my challenging dream through a very harsh season. More importantly: he got my back through it all, calling me constantly, telling me to keep moving forward.

That was odd. And you might think I only got connected to him because I somehow needed him, but that was the opposite. I connected to him. And because of that, I’ve found endurance to go through life when it turned bad. But this time, he was really (and still) there. So I’m out of job, broke up with my girl, back to living with my mom, changing completely my career, and my dad is suddenly one of my best friends now. Of course, we have our differences. He is a red state, I’m blue. He is pragmatic, I’m a creative. He is a conservative, I’m liberal. But we get each other. And support each other, and more importantly: we love each other.

Then last week, my dad’s best friend died from a long cancer fight (not corona virus). He was devastated and cried a lot. And I was able to be with him and help him cope with it. And that was priceless.

And all because a British comedian decided to take his father on a crazy vacation on my watch.

I guess it’s what they call a beautiful mess, isn’t it?