Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Man-child's mature world is more tragedy than comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Flaked
What's the Story?
On the surface, recovering alcoholic Chip (Will Arnett) has a pretty cushy gig as the unofficial "mayor" of Venice Beach, California, with perks that include his pick of pretty women (Lina Esco and Ruth Kearney), a loyal best friend (David Sullivan), and a cult following among the laid-back locals. But skilled as he seems at doling out advice and platitudes, he has seriously FLAKED when it comes to his own life. Good thing nobody knows it but him.
Is It Any Good?
When it comes to flat-out comedy, Arrested Development brought out the best in Will Arnett. But for those expecting the second coming of Gob Bluth, Flaked will feel more like a fake-out. Actual laughs are rare, and Arnett's Chip is painfully unlikable as a protagonist. And though it's billed as a comedy, "dramedy" is much more fitting, thanks to an oddly placed plot twist that comes late in the show's first season and changes everything in a "huh?" kind of way.
It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that a droll comedy about an aging alcoholic won't interest most teens. But even parents will find it hard to fit Flaked into their weekly binge blocks, which is the opposite of what Netflix was going for. It's not that the performances are weak; on the contrary, the cast is notably strong. It's just that the story doesn't really hold up -- or make you laugh -- as much as you might have hoped.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Flaked's take on alcoholism, addiction, and the recovery process. How accurately does the show portray the lives of recovering alcoholics, and how seriously does it portray the challenges they face? What are the real-life consequences of alcohol dependency?
How does Flaked compare to other streaming comedies? Does its tone and structure represent something new, or is it serving up more of the same? What's behind the trend to mine comedy from personal tragedy?
How does Chip measure up as a role model? Are we supposed to root for him -- or even like him? How does Flaked's title play into his personality?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 11, 2016
- Cast : Will Arnett , Ruth Kearney , David Sullivan
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate