Parents' Guide to

On the Verge

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Uneven comedy has strong women, sex, cursing, adult themes.

TV Netflix Comedy 2021
On the Verge Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

marisaford
marisaford Adult
September 19, 2021
age 13+

Great show.

There is a little bit of language but overall so funny.
Charley177
Charley177 Adult
September 12, 2021
age 18+

Disappointed

I really wanted to like this, but just couldn’t. As a woman in her 40s, with lots of girlfriends in their 40s and 50s, I found the ladies to be completely unrelateable. Their problems were weird and nonsensical and just not reflective of what women in this age group are dealing with or how they behave.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

ON THE VERGE is a comedy series about four 40-something women and best friends trying to work their way through their individual midlife crises. Julie Delpy plays Justine, a French American chef who runs the kitchen at L.A.'s Chez Juste and is trying to write a recipe book commissioned by her dysfunctional boss (played by Giovanni Ribisi) while raising her son with her taciturn husband, Martin (Mathieu Demy). Her friend Ell (Alexia Landeau) is a struggling single mother who has three children from three different men, while Anne (Elisabeth Shue), a pot-smoking clothing designer, seems to be living a perfect life in a house she inherited. Meanwhile, Yasmin (Sarah Jones), a feminist married to a well-known software coder, is trying to restart her career in politics after taking time off to raise her son. Being middle-aged has them negotiating marriage, motherhood, and careers, but they are each trying to reinvent themselves in order to live their lives in ways that reflect who they really are.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This uneven dramatic comedy series, which begins before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, features four women who rely on each other's friendship for help as they navigate being in their 40s. The women's strong friendship, their sense of agency, and Justine's attempt to make sense of the world through her writing are reminiscent of Sex & the City, and the show's focus on women entering midlife is also refreshing. But the characters aren't particularly well-rounded or, in some cases, likable, which makes them hard to relate to. Meanwhile, the narratives sometimes lack cohesion, and the humor isn't sharp enough to keep it feeling upbeat while the women deal with their troubled relationships, parenting, and the ups and downs of their careers. No doubt there are folks who will identify with some of the themes presented here, but others may find On the Verge lacking.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the messages the series sends about women and aging. Why are these women motivated to make changes in their lives? Are all the changes positive?

  • Does On the Verge challenge the way media has historically portrayed women in their mid-40s? If so, how?

TV Details

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