You're the Worst

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
You're the Worst Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Boundary-pushing graphic sex and language in funny series.

FX Comedy 2014
Rate TV

Parents say

age 17+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 2 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate tv

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.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that You're the Worst is a high-brow sitcom about two flawed people who begin an unconventional romance. The show is funny and charming but also contains lots of material that may give parents pause. The graphic sex, with nudity (no private parts are shown), thrusting, moaning, very frank descriptions of performance and sensations, and imagery of oral sex are about as realistic as you can find on basic cable. Two characters begin a romance by having a one-night stand, about which they have no qualms. Another character initiates sex with an old flame as a means of securing drugs for a professional client. Characters make jokes and references to drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription medications. They also guzzle liquor and beer and use the booze to justify their poor choices and lower inhibitions. Cursing is frequent and often insulting in a jocular way, such as when one character calls another's car a "sterile suburban piece of s--t." One character smokes cigarettes.

Community Reviews

dfilmpro
dfilmpro Adult
December 18, 2020
age 18+

Trash. Graphic sex (made for TV) in first 5 mins. So funny.

Lame to use raw porn style content to push comedy and television censor rules. If this were Showtime it would be expected, but FX. too bad. For commonsensemedia to say "The show is funny and charming" is ludicrous and irresponsible. I trust parent and kids reviews much more than theirs. I was looking for a light hearted sit-com. this is not it.

This title has:

Too much sex
Anonymous1
Anonymous1 Adult
October 18, 2015
age 18+

Why? 18 and don't know.

To be quite frank although everybody likes a good romcom which I can't even say this is a show like this is basically a waste of money and time even if one has nothing to do which says a lot. This program is sexually fuelled and although it explores other issues and some would class it as funny i could even be disguised as pornography. now let me ask you this why waste time even indulging in a program like this when their is so much better and more funny programs out their and avaliable? It doesn't do anything positive for the mind and even do with out realising you will start to think more sexually which isn't a bad thing but is it a good thing? All in all I do not recommend this program. At all. No way.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In FX's wry, rude comedy YOU'RE THE WORST, Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Geere) isn't exactly a nice guy. The disaffected expatriate Englishman relocated to Los Angeles to chase dreams of fame; instead, he's getting $17 royalty checks for the only book he ever sold. For her part, Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash) divides her time between babying unreasonable music stars as publicist for a major record label, having destructive romances, and begging acquaintances to drive her around town since her license was yanked after a DUI. The two of them are a mess. But, after they meet coincidentally at a wedding and decide to go home together for a one-night stand, they discover they have more chemistry, and more in common, than they bargained for.

Is It Any Good?

The idea of a couple getting together for casual sex and then sticking around for more is hardly a new one, so don't give You're the Worst a try merely for its opening gambit. Instead, watch the show for its very funny writing, courtesy of Weeds and Orange Is the New Black scribe Stephen Falk (on board here as show runner) and for the crackling chemistry between its two leads. As usual, material that could be schlock is lots of fun in the hands of good writers, actors, and directors.

It sounds like sitcommery to have Gretchen steal Jimmy's car in the pilot episode or to have a plot point center on the morality of actually spitting upon another's genitals mid-oral sex. OK, maybe that last one never came up on Friends. Regardless, everything comes together winningly, making You're the Worst a sure bet for adults who enjoy mature laughs with a dollop of hot sex. For teens, this is pretty mature stuff -- save it for the oldest and most sophisticated members of the family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way that the main characters get together. Do most relationships start with sex? Why, or why not?

  • There's a saying that, when characters in a film or TV show "meet cute," they get together by the end of a drama; when they "meet antagonistic" they get together at the middle or beginning. Which meeting style did Jimmy and Gretchen have? When did they get together?

  • On television, people generally get together despite something that stands in their way. What stands in the way of Jimmy and Gretchen's romance? Why are complicated romances more common on TV than simple ones?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

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