Our take
At just 30 minutes long, each episode of Episodes is a breezy watch, packed with a good balance of razor-sharp critique and relatable, easy-to-root-for relationships. It has a lot of fun skewering an industry obsessed with youth and profit, and Matt LeBlanc, who plays an oversized version of himself, is all too happy to make himself the target in most cases (coincidentally, the show brings to mind The Comeback, another Hollywood sendup starring a Friends star). But if the jokes and caricatures start to feel like too much, Episodes balances the fun with heart, mainly through Beverly and Sean, who go through ups and downs both as artists navigating the highly commercial world that is Hollywood, and as a couple tempted by good looks and superficial highs around them. Episodes is a real treat, especially if you’re looking for something right in between that dramedy sweet spot.
The story
A British husband-and-wife comedy writing team travel to Hollywood to remake their successful British TV series, with disastrous results.
Elsewhere
"Oh my God, people: I was wrong. To my shock, Episodes is great-the sharpest sitcom debut this year."
— Emily Nussbaum
British writing couple Beverly (Tamsin Greig) and Sean (Stephen Mangan) are invited to Hollywood, where they’re asked to remake their hit TV show for an American audience. However, their marriage and creativity take a hit as soon as they’re exposed to the industry.
I didn’t know LeBlanc had it in him to skewer himself like that. LeBlanc walked in Extras so James Marsden could run in Jury Duty.
When British humor meets American nonsense, how can you go wrong?
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
