Common Sense Media Review
By Weiting Liu
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sex scenes, drinking in tired friends-to-lovers romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Benefits with Friends
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BENEFITS WITH FRIENDS, Bia (Bruna Marquezine) is a free-spirited actor who avoids emotional attachment and her bestie Victor (Sérgio Malheiros) is stuck in an unfulfilling long-term relationship. As they navigate challenges in their dating lives, their deep bond is tested, forcing them to reconsider what they truly want in love. Against the vibrant backdrop of modern Brazil, they start to explore whether friendship can evolve into something more.
Is It Any Good?
This Brazilian romance dramedy delivers a mix of glamor and melodrama. Benefits with Friends has an unconventional heroine Bia—emotionally unavailable and pessimistic about love. Meanwhile, her struggles as a no-name actor in her 20s can make her feel raw and relatable. Marquezine's charisma can also make her compelling to watch even though her character isn't always likable. The show matches the chaotic Bia with Victor who wants stability in life and creates a simple juxtaposition to engage audiences.
But the show leans heavily into soapy tropes, making the duo's emotional developments appear predictable and flat. The mediocre performances don't always convey the complexity the characters are meant to have and their struggles eventually become shallow. And both Bia and Victor's lack of chemistry with most of their other partners weakens the central theme of love and connection. Ultimately, the show is watchable but significantly flawed, carried more by its famed leading actress than solid storytelling.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Bia and Victor's dating philosophies in Benefits with Friends. Do you relate to either or both of them? What can you learn from their mistakes? How can you have a healthy romantic life?
The show features characters drinking alcohol in various situations. How realistic are the consequences of their drinking? What messages does the show send about alcohol consumption?
The show includes diverse representation with a strong female lead and an Afro-Brazilian co-lead. Why is diverse representation in media important? How does seeing characters from different backgrounds affect viewers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 12, 2025
- Cast : Bruna Marquezine , Sérgio Malheiros
- Networks : Hulu , Disney+
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 28, 2025
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