Unstable

I'm quite surprised by Unstable. I starts as an umpteenth Rob Lowe comedy, with its fair share of cheesy lines and cringy acting but then it grows into something rather good, and turns flaws into qualities. There is something around episode 2 that somehow perfectly tune everything into place, and jokes that would miss on others occasions somehow hit the mark. There is something that clicks, and it's like someone turned on the humor translator.

The pace is really great, it doesn't drag on when the events are unfolding and you crave for more, yet it allows space for some slower situations that requires a bit of breathing.

I really like the consistency between episodes and scenes, : they don't start off the next episode coming back on something for the sake of stalling, and you don't get lost in a maze of conversation fillers that adds nothing to the show. Actions have consequences and the characters display a refreshing normalcy in their behavior, apart from their emphasized personalities. Their goals are understandable, the stakes are clear, and the obstacles are challengeable. The main storyline is fluid, all the detours the shows takes from it are worth the trip and it only adds extra flavors. Also, it's clear someone on set paid attention to details : the position of the mug, the outfits, the direction of the walk... It just wraps everything with an additional layer of likeability. Every character has its own little subplots, which give them some thickness and texture and everything is perfectly calibrated and connected.

This said, there are some things that itches the rational part of my brain but the show keeps me interested and focused so that I don't ruminate on these issues. Unstable has a low rewatchability value, but it managed to make me hit that Next Episode button like I rarely do.

I was planning to just play this as background noise but found myself tuning in. It's not a HAHAHA type of comedy nor slapstick. It's more serious set up with characters who are unserious, chaotic, unhinged, and campy. The whole bit is just dry dead pan and sarcastic humor. You'd laugh because it's ridiculous and somehow true too.

Reminds me of IT Crowd mixed with Big Bang Theory and Park & Rec. I found the characters fit the cast so it felt natural especially Rob Lowe's character who's an eccentric narcissist. The overall banter exchange is also fun to watch.

There's some little serious sweet moments but it's overall just unserious. Just watch the 1st episode and if you like it then you'd like the whole bit because it keeps a constant vibe. It follows a thin storyline but aside from that is episodic.

Loved the first season. The science, the relationships, Rob Lowe's combination genius/mental illness. Even the son working at getting out of Dad's shadow. Anna as the glue and so clever in her purposely "mundane" role. It was funny with lots of witty lines and retorts. And so happy it was renewed. And then the second season started. Forced and cloying family drama. A new character who is complete cringe and deserves zero screen time. Complete waste of the two lab women who were central to season one. Not a single chuckle the first three episodes. And I can't watch anymore. It's worse than pulling teeth. So I leave with that.

From the creator of the the brilliant Better off Ted and it shows.

If you like that show (especially the science/lab bits) you'll like this and if also like Rob Lowe in stuff like Parks n Rec and The Closer then you'll love this.

Its basically if you took Rob's Parks n Rec character and put him in charge of Better off Ted lab.

Add his real life son for some nice bonding over the loss of the wife/mum and this show has some nice tender moments too.

As others have said this is very fast/fake talking - its knows its funny and its trying to be, not realistic. That style might not be for everyone but I personally love it.

The first season was great. Unique, funny and all the characters worked well together. The dads quirkiness and the sons desire to not live under his shadow was a great 2 character dynamic. The researchers all trying to accomplish their goal on a stressful deadline with external forces trying to steal the company away made for good comedic tension. And the therapist (Fred Armisen) living in the basement is quirky and hilarious.

Sadly the second season introduces Georgia (Iris Apatow) who leeches the life out of every scene she is in. Her presence is awkward, bland, and not funny at all. You almost begin to dread seeing her on screen because of the energy it robs from every episode. Her character is shoehorned into the series (possibly as a way to engage millennial viewers?) but other then half-shirts and selfies adds nothing to the dynamic between characters.