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Parents' Guide to

Better Things

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Mature single-mom comedy is raw -- and refreshingly real.

TV FX Comedy 2016
Better Things Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Genuine339
Genuine339 Adult
October 11, 2021
age 10+

Better things

Good show
chris D.
chris D. Adult
October 14, 2016
age 17+

Mom may be over the top but it is a good time

OK so I watched the show and here is what I can see from it yes the mom is clearly not a role mode parent and never promises that she is she swears and drinks in front of the kids and has a huge temper at times but I see that she is trying to improve the quality of her actions and become a better mom the show is hilarious at the least and a good laugh with valuable lessons for adults that everyone can improve on their skills in some way or another
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Single mother Sam Fox (Pamela Adlon) isn't sure if there are BETTER THINGS ahead for her and her three daughters, Max (Mikey Madison), Frankie (Hannah Alligood), and Duke (Olivia Edward). But she knows that what she's giving is as good as it gets -- for now -- as she splits her time between the mundane tasks of motherhood and her career as a working actress, not to mention check-ins with her mom, Phil (Celia Imrie), who lives right across the street. And with that much juggling, she's bound to drop a few balls, right?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Unapologetically raw and refreshingly real, Better Things is one of the better things on television, particularly for moms who can relate to the doing-it-all-while-drowning narrative. For amid all the crass talk and completely thankless tasks (from dinner prep and dish duty to cleaning out the dogs' ears), you'll also find wonderfully surprising moments of truth that remind you how fleeting and precious those moments can be -- and that, in the end, what you're doing is mostly worth it. Ridiculousness and all.

Better Things was written, co-created (along with Louis C.K.), and performed by Pamela Adlon, a real-life mother of three (and an Emmy-winning actress best known for voicing Bobby on King of the Hill) who dedicated the project to her daughters, and that's a detail that definitely shows. It's not necessarily because it's appropriate for them to watch right now -- because it probably isn't. But when they're old enough to truly appreciate it, they'll have a heart-achingly accurate portrait of a parent who tried her best to make things better.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Better Things' take on parenthood and raising kids -- specifically daughters -- in the modern world. What's particularly hard about being a single mom, and how does it affect the family dynamic? Who are the most important people in Sam's support system?

  • Who is the intended audience for this show, and how can you tell? Is Better Things completely bad for kids?

  • How does Better Things compare to other comedy series that focus on single motherhood, both past and present? What's it doing differently, and does it work?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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