Platonic Season One Review

Platonic is the latest comedy series from Apple TV that sees stars Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen reuniting with their Neighbors and Neighbors 2 director Nicholas Stoller who directed and co-created it along with his wife Francesca Delbanco. The story follows Sylvia (Byrne) and Will (Rogen), two friends who used to be inseparable over their childhoods and in college until a falling out led to them going their separate ways. Years later, Sylvia is a married mother of three while Will is a partial owner of a local brewery still recovering from a recent divorce. After reconnecting, their long-severed bond slowly began to mend as they attempted to get past the rift that led to their original falling out. Another Apple TV+ series seemingly coming out of nowhere, it is easily one of, if not the very best series of the year so far. It delivers everything one could possibly want and so much more. The series is so much different than Byrne and Rogen’s past collaborations and is arguably their best team-up yet. Not only is it laugh out loud funny, it is also relatable and full of heart.

What makes Platonic work as well as it does is of course the performances from Byrne and Rogen who each deliver their best and most mature performances to date. While both are absolutely hysterical, they also sell the series’ more dramatic moments. Rogen’s comedic chops are without question; however, he is arguably overshadowed once again by Byrne who just has such a knack for comedy. She is responsible for a lot of the series’ funniest moments thanks to her impeccable comedic timing and ability to be extremely silly without going overboard. Byrne and Rogen once again share fantastic chemistry and truly bring that lifelong friendship dynamic between their characters and their many ups and downs to life. Such a natural pair, the two are backed by a talented supporting cast who occasionally steal the show in their own right. Luke Macfarlane, another past Stoller contributor (Bros), is once again likeable, charming, and funny as Sylvia’s husband Charlie. He and Byrne are simply an adorable husband and wife pairing. Emily Kimball impresses despite her limited screen time as Peyton. Meanwhile, the rest of the supporting cast including the likes of Guy Branum, Carla Gallo, and Tre Hale make the series much more enjoyable whenever they pop up.

What’s so refreshing about Platonic is how it avoids the usual pitfalls of similar films and series as there is no ounce of romance between Sylvia and Will and the series never hints or suggests that there may be. While it may not be the case according to the other characters, the relationship between Sylvia and Will was clearly always purely platonic therefore the removal of the usual will they or won’t they romantic angle allows viewers to focus on the fact that they are merely two friends having fun and supporting each other through the good times and the bad times. The conclusion of their arc may be a bit predictable but their journey is so enjoyable that it doesn’t matter. A comedy series first and foremost, the series balances its comedic and dramatic elements in a complimentary way. Every episode is laugh out loud hilarious, however, it also knows when to take itself seriously. Those moments ultimately don’t feel as out of place as they could have been with a less experienced team at the helm. Although it is a series that is likely to relate to audiences of any age who will see themselves in Sylvia and Will, it is aimed towards more adult audiences.

In terms of flaws, Platonic really doesn’t have many and none that take away from the series as a whole. That being said, the first few minutes of the pilot feel oddly rushed and feature some awkward and choppy editing choices. The first time Sylvia and Will reconnect after years, it almost feels like it was cut together by a trailer editing company with how fast the episode jumps back and forth between the two sitting at a coffee table, but thankfully that goes away for good soon after. An argument can be made that the series suffers from a repetitive structure especially early on. Many of the earlier episodes consist of either Sylvia or Will going through something or needing support and then calling the other for help or guidance before they go on that episode’s adventure though that structure fortunately evolves come the second half of the season. One other minor nitpick is that a few of the subplots within the latter episodes occasionally felt a little contrived and less natural.

In the end, Platonic is terrific series worth recommending to just about anyone, but especially to those who are fans of Byrne and/or Rogen and audiences who can see themselves in its main characters and their experiences. While the season wraps up the story in a very satisfying way, it also leaves the door open for a hypothetical season two though the decision on whether or not the series will be renewed remains to be seen. Viewers with an Apple TV+ subscription owe it to themselves to check this one out. Hopefully the series does get renewed and this won’t be the last time viewers get to see of Byrne and Rogen in these roles. Suffice it to say that Apple has a real winner on their hands with this one.

still courtesy of Apple

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/