Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drugs, sex (and yes, love) all show up in grown-up romcom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Love
What's the Story?
Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust) are two 30-something single people living in Los Angeles who meet and strike sparks but don't immediately fall in LOVE. Mickey's distracted by her job at a local satellite radio station, where she suspects her flirtatious boss will fire her for not returning his feelings; for his part, Gus just got out of a long-term relationship and fears his position as an on-set tutor for a tween on a supernatural TV show isn't as secure as he hopes. In between AA meetings and band jam sessions and housewarming parties for friends who've just had babies, they slowly develop an appreciation for each other. Is it love? Is such a thing even possible in a cynical age?
Is It Any Good?
Rambling, clever, and populated by realistic and charming characters, this story takes its time getting somewhere, but patient viewers will find the journey worth it. Cocreated by Judd Apatow and Leslie Arfin (Girls), this series bears the stamp of each: profane and pitch-perfect conversations about oral sex, whose job it is to hose bird poop off the patio furniture before the guests arrive, and whether Toy Story 3 and Cars indicate that Pixar has lost its touch are absorbing to watch, even if they don't advance the plot briskly. Who needs that, anyway? The basis of the plot is the old "will they or won't they?" but the question actually seems superfluous when it's this much fun to watch them just going about their daily lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how realistic the show seems. How do the characters act and look more like "real people" in this show? Consider costumes, settings, and plot in your answer.
Families can talk about love and romance in the media. How do TV shows and movies portray relationships? Are they usually true to real life?
Many shows that are set in one city are filmed in others; Vancouver frequently stands in for New York, for instance. This show is set in Los Angeles. Where is it filmed? How can you tell?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 19, 2016
- Cast : Paul Rust , Gillian Jacobs , Dave Allen
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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