Our take
It’s one of the oldest problems in the history of mankind: can men and women be friends? Romantic comedies, since their inception, have tried to answer this question in various quirky ways, and almost always, the answer is a resounding no. The two leads must end up together because the chemistry is too strong, and besides, love can only end in romance. Right? Platonic is one of a handful of shows that knows there’s no straightforward answer to that question. It’s thoughtful and nuanced as it subverts rom-com expectations and refuses to rush into a template happy ending. Even more impressive is the fact that it gives us a hefty dose of reality while still being light-hearted, funny, and charming. Whether that’s thanks to the easy chemistry between Sylvia and Will (played by longtime collaborators Rose Bryne and Seth Rogen) or to the refreshing experience of having a familiar dilemma be treated with newfound profundity, there’s no doubt that Platonic puts a fresh new spin on the genre.
The story
A platonic pair of former best friends approaching midlife reconnect after a long rift. The duo’s friendship becomes more consuming—and destabilizes their lives in a hilarious way.
Elsewhere
"The show really belongs to Byrne, who is at her best when she plays a woman severely in need of a good time."
— Rachel Syme
"Platonic ends up being something that isn’t necessarily too much of a good thing, but more miss than hit beyond the surefire duo at its center."
— Steve Greene
When stay-at-home mom Sylvia hears about her estranged friend Will’s divorce, she decides to call him up and catch up, reviving a relationship she thought she’d left behind in her 20s.
The aesthetic. You wouldn’t expect it from a show about a mid-life crisis, but Platonic is such a cool-looking production. As the hip owner of a hip bar in downtown LA, Will is dressed to the nines in his flowery crochets and earth-toned corduroys. And even though Sylvia is often set up as Will’s pragmatic opposite, she looks just as cool in her tailored loungewear and smart-casual fits. Other actors might have made Will and Sylvia look too much like characters wearing these, but Rogen and Bryne are naturals—possibly because they already dress this way in real life, but that doesn’t take away from how good they make the show look. Also, I would be remiss not to mention Gandalf the Iguana, who deserves a special mention in this category. The joke about him displaying multiple emotions perceptible only to characters onscreen is objectively hilarious.
I know it’s not ideal to see Seth Rogen play yet another man-child, but trust me, this is a good one.
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.
