A Review: "Adults" on Hulu
— is it really the gen z version of friends, how i met your mother, or new girl?
I started watching the Hulu original show, “Adults,” last week and I finished all eight episodes in a matter of days. I am one of the biggest fans of sitcoms — if you ask me what I’m currently watching, it’s most likely a sitcom that I’ve already seen before. So when I found out that there is a new sitcom for me to watch, I was already there, my finger hovering over the play button on Hulu. Say less.
When I found out that the show is centered around a group of friends who live together and they’re in their 20s, my mind was made up. I was obsessed. No need to convince me.
Many people have been comparing this show to Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and New Girl — even as far as calling it the “gen z version” of those timeless shows. But is it really the “gen z version,” or is it just another sitcom that revolves around young adults in their 20s, just figuring out life and love and friendships and career while living their lives? Are we going to put generational ranges in front of everything? The Gen Z hairstyle, the millennial tuck … I mean, let’s just call this show what it is: a sitcom. A good sitcom.
But before I get into my sharing my thoughts, let’s recap what the show is about and who the main characters are.
Synopsis:
According to IMDB, “Adults” is a twenty-something ensemble comedy centering on codependent housemates navigating adulthood together despite their flaws.
Main Characters:
Samir (played by Malik Elassal)
Billie (played by Lucy Freyer)
Paul Baker (played by Jack Innanen)
Issa (played by Amita Rao)
Anton (played by Owen Thiele)
All five characters don’t have a set career defined for them — Billie seems to be the only one with a desk job (which becomes a major plot point in the first two episodes), while the rest have seemingly blue collar jobs. It’s unclear what Paul Baker and Anton do for work, but I don’t think the point of the show is to know and understand their career paths and what they do for work. It’s a show, set in Brooklyn, New York, about friends navigating adulthood together, not climbing one corporate ladder.
Each character knows each character in their own way. It’s like a web of connections. Samir and Billie knew each other from high school … and that’s all I know. Paul Baker is the latest friend to join the gang, in episode one, when Issa announces she’s dating him and invites him to move into the house. But it’s clear that he becomes a part of the group quickly with his effortless, adorable charm and wit.
My Review:
My initial thoughts? It’s worthy of an Emmy nomination. But it won’t get one. I’m easy to please, but I think this should be in the running with Abbott Elementary and English Teacher. It brings the ensemble comedy that Abbott brings, and the sarcastic humor that English Teacher does. Will it win awards? Probably not, because Abbott, Hacks, and (unfortunately) The Bear are in the same category. But if Adults plays their cards right with season two (and releases more episodes in that season), then we’ll see. It has the potential.
Season one brought us only eight episodes, and I agree with the masses that there should be more (at least 20, to be considered a sitcom) but in my humble and honest opinion, I think eight was the right choice. These eight episodes were a great jumping off point for what could come in later episodes. The first few episodes introduce the group together; these episodes (episodes 1-3) tell us how this group gets along with each other as a whole — which is, by the way, amazing. We then start to see these characters split off into groups of two or three — which we begin to see in episodes 1-3, but it escalates in later episodes. For example, Billie and Samir are an obvious pair, because they knew each other from high school. The later episodes hint at a potential romance blooming between those two, but it’s very, very subtle to the point that if the writers decided not to pursue a romance between Billie and Samir, they don’t have to and the audience won’t feel the whiplash. (However, I am a fan of this ship so I hope to see more of these two!)
I also liked seeing Billie with each of the characters and in her romantic relationships outside the group. To resort to comparing this show to Friends, she closely resmbles Monica Gellar, without the OCD tendencies. Well, the perfectionist tendencies anyway. In later episodes, she particularly is paired with Issa. Girl friendships in sitcoms can be a hit or miss, with Monica and Rachel, and Cece and Jess being standouts; I was worried how they were going to pair Billie and Issa, but their friendship surprised me. I frankly forgot how they first met (maybe we’ll get that in season two), but the way they show up for each other in unlikely ways shows a unique friendship that hopefully we see more of in later episodes. Without spoiling any specific episodes, there was a moment in the last episode where Billie lent her support for Issa in her own special way that was really sweet.
We also see Anton, Issa, and Paul Baker — which, by the way, that’s what the rest of the gang calls him: first name, Paul, last name, Baker. We see this trio, but we also see this broken down into groups of two: Anton and Issa, Issa and Paul Baker (a little bit), and my personal favorite, Anton and Paul Baker. Paul Baker (played by the iconic Jack Innanen) is an interesting sitcom character for this show — a staple character, really. I initially wrote him off to be a one and done character, thinking he was going to leave after at least episode three, but once I saw him pairing off with more than just Issa, and even as far as pairing with each character, my heart instantly warmed to him. He quickly became a favorite, if not my favorite character on the show — a sentiment shared amongst the masses. (As an inside joke, Jack even requested Paul Baker fan edits on his spam TikTok. Now they’re all over my fyp.) One of the reasons why I like Paul Baker is that he plays a male character who’s comfortable in his masculinity and sexuality. We see him romantically paired with Issa, but there are subtle mentions to his fluid sexuality, telling us that he prefers both men and women. This is key to remember once he’s been paired up with Anton for more than a couple of scenes. Paul Baker (well, Jack Innanen) has to stay for season two — the audience demands it!
I love Issa; I think she’s clearly understood as the party girl character who’s also an activist for many causes. Many people write her off as flighty and annoying, but I think people said that same thing about Rachel Green from Friends (not to compare this show to Friends again, ugh), so I’m not going to make any snap judgments about Issa. Her individual relationships with each character stands out to me. Underneath that “party girl” bold personality is a loyal and caring heart for her friends, but also a lot of passion for what she believes in. If you haven’t caught my excitement for a season two of this show by now, I’m very excited to see what Issa does in season two. Especially with how season one ended. Like c’mon.
The show itself is good. Some of the jokes are misses, if I’m being honest (and I’m easy to please), but that’s expected with a sitcom. Each episode lends well to the other episodes, but it doesn’t follow an over-arching, or comprehensive, plot. At least a plot that’s completely obvious (unlike a limited series/drama). While not every joke lands, don’t write the show off with just one bad joke or one joke that doesn’t make you laugh. Maybe an episode isn’t as funny — does that mean you write the show off for good? I mean, the show and its writing is a tad cringy, but that’s what makes it a sitcom. You’re going to sit there, reading this, and think that every line in Friends, New Girl, or How I Met Your Mother (or any other sitcom) wasn’t cringy? It does carry a lot of “gen z humor” which I can maybe assume why viewers call it the “gen z version of Friends" — I understand that mindset. But I think that takes value away from this show. Let this show stand and speak for itself. Because it can and has proven that it can. The show revolves around this group of friends. Do they vaguely resemble the cast of Friends? Can I draw comparisons from Adults characters to Friends characters? Yes, and I already did. That’s inevitable with shows and movies. But this show is able to stand on its own with its own brand of humor, wit, and charm. (And can largely improve with season two!) This show brings unique characters and stand-out cast members to play these characters. Owen Thiele (who plays Anton) is a host of a very popular podcast (that I will be tuning into eventually) and is working on another sitcom — yet he still is a very special and crucial part of this show.
Maybe the people who don’t like this show don’t find the “gen z humor” funny. Maybe the humor is forced. Maybe they think that this show is trying too hard to be the “gen z Friends.” Whatever it is, those opinions are valid. But to me, this show brings its own brand of humor. And whether you find it funny is up to you.
We need a new ensemble comedy about a group of twenty-somethings who are navigating life on their own (and with each other) for the first time. Maybe that will help us, in the real world, realize that life isn’t supposed to be as hard as it seems to be. The ensemble comedy has been around for decades, but unfortunately, there hasn’t been one that stands out — on its own — in recent years. Maybe this group ensemble of twenty-somethings living in Brooklyn will be the 2020s testament that we are wired for community. I think this show is worth watching. Here I am, eagerly anticipating a season two announcement.
Have you watched this show? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!