Every generation needs a comedy show that hilariously speaks to their times. Adults aims to be that for Gen-Z.
The FX series premiered on May 28 and introduced a group of friends from New York who are just trying to do adulting without ruining their lives.
From work pressure to relationships and other adult things, such as medical proxies, it pokes fun at the mid to late twenties, when someone is expected to know everything, despite feeling like a child inside.
Adults is brash and unapologetic, to the point where sometimes it can feel like too much if someone’s oversensitive.
The pilot episode shows a publicly indecent act. Later, sexual abuse and the culture surrounding it are derisively tackled.
Not in a mocking, dismissive way but in a manner which conservative comedians think they are joking but are just being pieces of sh*t.
Episode 2 finds the three friends all sharing a bathroom at the same time, as if it is breakfast in the kitchen.
Adults is messy, just like adulting is, and that’s why it works.
Who’s Doing What with Who?
Relationships and sex are another aspect of being an adult that can be complicated when someone’s trying to find stability in their life.
It can be hard to do the right thing, and relationships can suffer as a result.
Dynamics are introduced relatively early.
Samir (Malik Elassal) is the caretaker, taking on that role to avoid the fact that he might be in love with Billie (Lucy Freyer).
Issa (Amita Rao) is in a happy relationship with Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), who is just the boyfriend, but is close with her friends.
Then there’s Anton (Owen Thiele), who is hard to read and presents an air of measured control because someone has to keep these fools from succumbing to their worst instincts.
He’s mysterious, although it’s unclear why.
Chaos Is On the Horizon for Anton
I understand why Anton tries to remain in control, as that might be his only way of staying sane. However, life doesn’t play by one person’s rules, and Anton is about to find out.
Being a comedy, Adults doesn’t dwell on the dramatic aspects of these relationships; instead, it uses those as a driver for comedy.
However, real sh*t is happening beneath the surface, and things might have gotten serious between Anton and Paul Baker.
One of the unresolved issues in the group is whether Paul Baker should move in with them.
Everyone loves him, and he’s generally a fun person to be around.
Anton is sucked into this fun side when they take Billie to the hospital and are left with nothing to do.
He and Paul Baker find themselves having fun playing stupid games, and for the first time, we see Anton’s walls come down.
Do We Smell a Messy Romance?
Anton is the first one to accept that Paul Baker would be fun to be around.
This entire friend group is queer in my eyes and may be in writing.
Paul Baker corrects Issa when she uses the pronouns “they,” saying he’s cis, but doesn’t say he’s straight.
Issa at some point calls him sexually-fluid, which you know … 💅🏿.
Paul Baker moving in would put him and Anton in close quarters, fanning the flames of their alleged attraction.
How will that affect the friend group? Will it deal an irreparable blow?
It will be interesting to see how the show navigates as a love triangle like this one, where gender and sexuality are factors.
Cishet love triangles are usually straightforward, so it’s refreshing to see this one take a different approach.
Side Note: Seeing Thiele in an upgraded role, contrary to what Overcompensating gave him, makes me so happy.
Adults Season 1, Wednesdays on FX.