Jonathan Tropper is mostly known among Iranian series lovers for Banshee-one of the best action TV shows ever, which still gets people talking with excitement. But fewer people know that he also created another martial arts action series called Warrior, inspired by Bruce Lee's legacy, and it's honestly just as thrilling.
In Your Friends & Neighbors, aside from a cast that overlaps with Banshee, you can feel similar storytelling vibes-especially in character development and narrative setup. We meet a character who, after going through a certain experience, can no longer "be himself." It's very reminiscent of Lucas Hood in Banshee. But this time, Tropper steps into a new, less familiar world-especially for someone known for gritty action.
Here, we follow the life of a charismatic man (played by the effortlessly charming Jon Hamm) who's facing financial ruin and turns to stealing from his wealthy friends and neighbors to survive. The tension of living a double life, assuming a new identity, and juggling parallel stories is deeply felt-again, very Banshee-like. Even the show's raw sex scenes and alluring female characters bring that familiar edge, though maybe not quite as intense, but still memorable.
In terms of theme and tone, the show is clearly about collapse-everything is on the verge of falling apart, as the opening credits suggest. But that collapse is wrapped in a blend of drama and dark humor, to the point where you sometimes forget just how tragic the story really is because of how sweetly it's being told.
Before I started this series, I thought The Studio was the best currently airing show. But now that I've reached episode seven, I can confidently say Your Friends & Neighbors is doing something truly special. Definitely add it to your watchlist.
