After many noble but unsuccessful attempts the world will finally spend a whole year praise Rose Byrne. The start-to-final continuity comes with a minor warning, then acclaimed performance It started in 2025 is the same that is likely to see it, but it is only the beauty of a Sundance premiere with enough Oscar -Surr to order a fall edition: The Park City Public will Fawn everywhere “If I had legs I would kick you” Nine months before everyone else can join the choir.
In a way, 2025’s minor features and Major Liftic Byrnes are mimicking in Hollywood. While Ellen Parsons’ Senior Associates (alias “injuries” fans) has known for almost two decades, there are not 12 comparable actors who can form a jury of her comrades, it has taken an expansive repertoire of roles to prime our favorite Aussie actor for her big year. By flourishing in horror movies (“Lumvande”), Super Hero girls (“X-Men: First Class”) and Blockbuster Comedies (“Bridesmaids” Enough heat to explode to star.
The trailer For Byrne’s upcoming A24 awards jumping hopefully on her turn as “Revelatory”, a “Tour de Force” and “The Performance of a Lifetime” – awards that I am sure are guaranteed, but can still be as easily valid for a different Part, with Next-to-No Shot on snagging trophies, in a series that seems intended to be overlooked.
I refer, of course, ”Platonic. “
Created by Nicholas Stoller and Francesca Delbanco, the entirely title Apple TV+ Series premiere first in May 2023 to a collective shoulder. Much Like The Team’s Previous Collaboration Failed to Become The Theater Juggernut It Deserve To Be, “Platonic” Flew under the Radar as “Yet Another (Blank)”: “Yet Another TV Show That Shoulder Annvae A Movie,” ” romantic-comedy that’s trying to reinvent the romantic-comedy ”(or even “Another Rose Byrne Apple -Show,” not because someone would complain about to).
This did not seem to mean that these superficial assessments were wrong. Yes, “Platonic” reunites the stars and the director of “neighbors” and “Neighbors 2” For another comedy about middle -aged friends captured between their declining coolness and assembly responsibility. But “Platonic” follows a classic sitcom format that pairs disposable episodes with a slightly serialized seasonal arch, both of which are dependent on (and are subordinate) the comic chemistry in their funny joints, Byrne and Seth Rogen.
And yes, these two are movie stars in an Apple series, but unlike the empty calories offered by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon I “The Morning Show,” or the anthology structure that allows Jake Gyllenhaal to lead the first season of “Assumed innocent” Before another actor takes over in season 2, or the highly minded but incorrect stick at genre-bending science fiction that became Colin Farrell blue in the face, “Sugar,” “Platonic” is a hang-out comedy. It understands that an advantage-TV has over film is time, and it gives you five hours per season to enjoy Rogen and Byrne’s intoxicating business-without any of the exhausting self-awareness intended to give weight to the other A-lists’ television time.
That takes us to the Rome-Com part of “Platonic’s” simple but knowledgeable equation. Stoller and Delbanco’s series do not try to reinvent the romantic comedy as much as it used the tools from a romantic comedy to investigate our unruly but equally deep relationships.
Will (Rogen) and Sylvia (Byrne) are best friends. Before the first season, they drove apart because Will was stuck in a bad marriage, but its end led to his new beginning, and college friends jump back to their old ways with both feet. She gives him a questionable makeover (complete with platinum attracts). He saves her from buying a “haunted nightmare” in a house, and back and forth they go. Fun! Guidance! Friendship!
Sylvia and will understand each other, they accept each other and they are energetic of each other – they are just not attracted by each other. Their shared enthusiasm are completely sexless. Sure, sometimes these passions can guide them regrettable roads, but joining is so far outside the table that it is not even on the menu, hidden in the kitchen or remains outside and waiting to be hunted and/or gathering.
Instead, they depend on seizures of nostalgic immaturity – alias, messy night out. She drinks a little more than she would otherwise do, do some drugs that she would otherwise ignore and trust will when she should have talked to her husband, Charlie (Luke Macfarlane). He encourages this behavior as a way to avoid his own mess – a new divorce, a tense workplace, questionable friends – and around and around them. Fun! Impaired assessment! Friendship!
“Platonic” lives in its Outland Exploits because “Platonic” is a real comedy – no qualification necessary. The good times in a Rome-com meeting-Nett, prison, the intense explanations about love-all get their moments here, only with a brotherly twist and an invaluable extension. Their meeting-cut is their reunion. Their prison is their endless camaraderie. Their explanations of love are when they have to own their mistakes or deliver tough truths or show up for each other when they really don’t want to.
That they can do this over and over again, for several years and seasons at the end, is not just a practical result of making a show about friendship, but a brilliant way to take advantage of TV’s plenty of narrative space. Season 2 proves the potential in season 1: that we happily spend time with Will and Sylvia as long as they want to spend time with each other. She can throw him a wedding, he can move into her guest house, they can do what Shenanigan’s normal (and rich) friends get up to, as long as they continue to bring comedy.
And boy, takes Byrne comedy. Sharp as hell and in masterful control over all movements, Byrne must go big for sensational physical comedy segments, just as she stands out to support smaller scenes with robust reactions and stylish comments. There is a scene in a restaurant where Sylvia, while you come from the effects of a weed rubber, try to discover some secrets from her friends, and how Byrne gives her character’s false confidence to every Inebriated gesture and slurred word is nothing else of fantastic. From a solid comic premise, she builds a skyscraper of giggles, and “Platonic” gives her plenty of area to expand.
The series is not cheap on the complications with adult friendship either. Our central duo’s misunderstanding tends to escalate to tipping points and force Will and Sylvia to worry that they are actually poor influence on each other. But Stoller and Partbanco (a married couple themselves) recognize these fears and without dismissing them, push forward as true friends should. Shit happens when two like -minded people get worked up with the same idea. It is more important to recognize to share an unfiltered connection to someone, anyone, is a rarity in this world. Relationships are difficult. People make mistakes. Love wins. (And there is a reason why truisms start with the word “true” or three quarters of it, anyway).
“Platonic” stands out in the moment of silent depth. The second episode of Season 2 confronts the strange code change that can happen when old friends meet your new love interest, and it does not disappear from revealing or explaining the subsequent difficulty. Section 4 turns the script on the trop of a friend who is screwed up by going to the wrong person at the worst time. The second half of the season sharply proves what makes some people replaced. There are even romance in some parts, just not the type that leads to long kisses at sunset.
“You don’t crush my life,” Will tells Sylvia. “You help make my life better. You are the only person honest with me, and it’s just easier to scream at you than to get my shit together.”
Damn. Yes. Truth! What is easier may not always be what is right, but “Platonic” makes it Oh-so-easy to appreciate good TV, and there is nothing wrong with it.
In a few weeks, maybe before season 2 is even, the conversation around Rogen and Byrne will have moved on. The “studio” is ready for A big night at Emmys In September. “If I had legs I would kick you” Will start its slow rollout on October 10. They are both great achievements, and Byrne especially deserves her flowers. Just don’t be surprised when everyone else is talking about Oscars and Emmys, you are waiting for your chance to pick up “Platonic.” It is not the main press for any of the star, but it doesn’t have to be – it just has to continue to show up.
Here is season 3.
“Platonic” premieres Wednesday 6 August on Apple TV+ with two episodes. New episodes are released every week through the final on Wednesday 1 October.
