Platonic

As a Seth Rogen fan I've been looking forward to Platonic ever since I first heard about it. I loved Rogen and Rose Byrne in Neighbors so I had high expectations for this. Well, it not only met those expectations but surpassed them in every way. I know a lot of people say that Rogen always plays the same character and that's true to a point but I and many others find him very funny. Almost everything he's in does well at the box office. This is first tv show since Freaks and Geeks and that was before he became a movie star. Usually, A-List celebrities like these two don't do tv shows unless it's something really good. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this show.

Two estranged former best friends meet up again and rekindle their friendship. The plot is simple but what makes it work is the chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne - basically if you enjoyed their work in the Neighbor's movies then you will have a pleasant time here. Sure the humor is crude, but that's what makes it stand out from the countless bland sitcoms that currently populate the TV landscape. The first three episodes that launched today are super relaxing and a perfect way to kick your feet up after a long day at work! The only complaint would be that the supporting characters don't really have much of a voice at the moment and I suppose that's perfectly fine as the main focus is on the dynamic between the two leads. It would be super cool if the characters do live up to the title of the show and remain strictly platonic because to be honest there are hardly any shows, comedy or otherwise that feature strong male/female friendships. So yeah, if the humor of the Neighbor's movies are your bag (bonus being this is by the same director of those movies), then stream with confidence.

Sure, it's nothing special in terms of recipe, but the final dish is refreshingly sweet and honest.

Platonic is a mostly feel-good and charming look at adult relationships, friendship and midlife crisis shenanigans with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen's chemistry elevating the material. If you're not into the Seth Rogen brand of humour you might actually be surprised by this performance which shows a more mature Seth Rogen who's still able to pull out some genuinely funny moments of comedy when necessary. In terms of exploration of adulthood, don't expect anything too deep but everything is flowing so smoothly that I ended up watching one episode after the other over two days.

Will (Seth Rogen) just got out of a divorce and is a owner of a brewery while Sylvia (Rose Byrne) is a stay-at-home mom of three kids who's clearly bored with her life, they both end up reconnecting after spending a few years apart. It's a light and entertaining Friday night watch with some good performances all-around. When Rose Byrne channels her inner comedic side she can be effortlessly hilarious and it's almost as if Seth Rogen brings out the best of her which allows her to unleash her wild side.

I got attach to them pretty quickly thanks also to the writing which is not flashy but can be clever at times. It wins you over with the smaller moments that speaks volume. Maybe it's because I just hit my 30's or maybe it's because I always liked Seth Rogen, but this resonated with me without saying I was emotionally moved by the series it does get you hooked with the blend of drama and comedy, all thanks to Byrne and Rogen's charms and wits.

I just think this works without being special or ground-breaking, it immediately becomes some sort of comfort food. In some ways, this might've benefited from the whole season dropping the same day but the first three episodes will be releasing on May 24th. It might lose some people along the way with the week-to-week format. By the end of the series, I was a bit underwhelmed by the finale, it left me wanting more. I still think it was a good watch overall.

It's okay; not terrible, and occasionally genuinely funny.

The script leans quite a bit on snappy banter (including when the characters are texting at unrealistic, overlapping lightning speed) and imo Rogan just isn't up to the task. In any case, some of it feels forced.

The direction has a tendency to gloss over or press forward in tone and pace in a way that often feels a bit careless and not cohesive. I'm sure some people didn't notice or mind what I perceived, but different strokes, eh?

And... generally, it again just doesn't feel cohesive. Subtle, genuine moments smack into exaggerated moments crash into trying-too-hard moments. And none of it is original, markedly creative, or even all that witty.

Many valid criticisms were raised about this show. That it is just another light hearted stoner Seth Rogen production, the netflix version of Neighbours, that the jokes are repetitive, Seth Rogens laugh is annoying, getting old as a manchild-story is not funny anymore and over-hashed etc. Etc.

And to be honest I cannot refute these points. What I can say is that if you are into character comedies with a light tone and consequence free scenarios then you are probably at the right address. Because the chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne is irrefutable. Their interactions are just a great watch. Neighbors did something right, and that was to find the right counterpart to Rogen.