In season two, Adults matures into one of the funniest shows on TV
FX's endearing comedy gets whipped into shape for an entertaining but far-too-short sophomore run.
Photo: FX
It’s a rallying cry in our current phase of the streaming era: TV seasons need more episodes. Ensemble comedies, in particular, are getting shortchanged, with even established shows receiving the type of paltry, six- to 10-episode orders that were once reserved for midseason and summer replacements. Imagine if famous, took-a-while-to-find-themselves cases like Seinfeld, Parks And Recreation, and the American Office were canceled with as many episodes under their belt as the recently 86’d Deli Boys, Mid-Century Modern, and Not Suitable For Work? Fewer episodes don’t allow the space required to flesh out wacky protagonists and their wackier circumstances.
And, as is the case with FX’s Adults, it can leave you wanting so much more. If the series was a hangout sitcom with enough promise in its debut last year, then in its sophomore run, it blooms into a hysterical and self-assured comedy—further proof that giving a show the room to grow is beneficial. It’s just too bad that, once again, there are only eight half-hour installments to enjoy it in.
Helmed by former The Tonight Show writers and husband-wife duo Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold, Adults embraces the inherent awkwardness and painfulness of being a twentysomething in this (or any) day and age. On top of an unstable job market, shoddy dating apps and prospects, and the intoxicating lure of social media, their characters are dealing with the timeless fear of growing up without knowing who you truly are, and having to learn the ropes while being judged for your mistakes. Shaw, Kronengold, and team grasp that the responsibilities of adulthood are inevitable, and it sucks. At least having overly-dependent pals—whom you live with rent-free, no less—can make the journey palatable and entertaining, especially if it’s as fun a crew as Issa (Amita Rao), Anton (Owen Thiele), Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), Samir (Malik Elassal), and Billie (Lucy Freyer). This charming quintet cements Adults’ status as TV’s strongest and funniest Gen Z sitcom.
Adults prioritizes its humor above all, so even when the subject matter of season two feels played out, the execution still makes it a delight. The new episodes borrow various elements from one of Adults’ spiritual predecessors, Friends: There’s a Janice-like annoying ex in one episode; in another, Issa gets hired at Anton’s corporate workplace to help him out of a jam, only to realize she can thrive in the office as well. There’s also Billie’s case of mistaken identity/false ID card, which feels pulled out of a Monica plotline (an unplanned dance performance is involved as well).
Keep scrolling for more great stories.