Platonic Season Two Early Review

For our review of the first season of Platonic, click here.

Platonic proved to be a success when it first premiered on Apple TV+ back in 2023 and now, the second season of the hit comedy series is soon upon us. The new season picks up a few years after the events of Season 1, continuing the saga of best friends Will and Sylvia, as they do their best to be each other’s rocks, while they contend with new mid-life hurdles. That being said, sometimes rocks break things, and they learn that life is as unpredictable as their friendship.

Despite the 2-year gap, this new season simply continues with what made the first so successful, retaining much of its charm. Just as funny, charming, and relatable as ever, the series thrives in the hilarious and grounded situations it places its leads where many viewers can see themselves, and the kind of outrageous experiences they find themselves in, reflected on screen. As the first season maintained a healthy balance between Will and Sylvia’s storylines, favoring the latter, the new season wisely switches things up and has that balance tilt more towards Will, approaching the development of both characters by pushing them forward in a heartfelt way.

As always, Will and Sylvia’s friendship remains the highlight of the series, with a big part of that being the natural chemistry of Rogen and Byrne, who are a comedic match made in heaven and for which the series would not have worked if not for them. Working together so many times over the years (often with series co-creator, writer, and director Nicholas Stoller), it is hard to think of ever getting tired of seeing them onscreen together in anything, as they have only gotten better over time. Their excellent chemistry is the main attraction, as their experience as real life friends translate to their performances as their dynamic mirrors that of Will and Sylvia.

Meanwhile, the supporting cast are given are given an increased role this time around, Luke Macfarlane’s Charlie and Carla Gallo’s Katie. Moving on from Charlie’s jealousy arc that dominated much of the first season, this season gives Macfarlane more to do, as Charlie is afforded a more substantial arc that is both deeply funny and relatable, especially for a lot of middle aged men and women. Similarly, Katie is given a huge upgrade, and one that puts her in contention for this season’s MVP. Gallo is hysterical and as the season goes on, the more entertaining she becomes, particularly in her scenes with Rogen’s Will. On the other hand, this season also features some delightful guest stars, including Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett, just to name a few, who each provide some big laughs.

While not faced with too many glaring issues, season two does fall a bit short of the first and does feel slighter as a whole. Though the freshness factor of the first season may be gone, there are moments that feel like the new season is merely offering more of the same. Along those lines, as the first season leaned more on an episodic structure for its story, the new season employs a serialized structure in its early episodes, as they focused on Will’s upcoming wedding to his new boss and Sylvia offering her services as his wedding planner. As a result of this new focus, much of the returning supporting cast are, for the most part, sidelined throughout the season to the point of being barely noticeable, and that absence can be felt during several key moments.

At the end of the day, despite some minor issues, Platonic Season 2 is a worthy sophomore season, delivering fans more of what they love. Though it might not be as deep as it could have, considering its subject matter, but as it stands, it serves up a hilarious and heartfelt watch that has its heart in the right place. For fans of Rogen and Byrne, this new season is a must watch. Here’s to hoping that they continue to collaborate for the rest of their careers, because they have consistently proven that they work so well together and clearly enjoy each other’s company.

still courtesy of Apple TV+

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/