प्लटॉनिक

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.

What a great little show. After four episodes, I think it's safe to say this one's a winner. I'm not a huge Seth Rogen fan in particular, and I just know Rose Byrne from a few movies. But as the two friends at the center of this contemporary comedy, they have chemistry. Each episode is written by a different writer, but they all have the same sense of humor, it seems. Nothing feels too contrived, either. Nor does the fact of the main characters friendship overwhelm the stories. It's not until episode four that we deal with Byrne's husband feeling a little jealous, a little left out. And it's resolved, ultimately (spoiler alert?), with communication, love, and understanding. Imagine that.

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.

As Episode 1 of "Platonic" (2023 release; 10 episodes ranging between 27 and 33 min each) opens, we are introduced to Sylvia, her husband Charlie an their 3 kids, arguing what to watch. Sylvia then learns on social media that Will, her erstwhile best friend whom she hasn't seen in years, is getting divorced. Charlie encourages her to reach out to Will, to show her support. At this point we are less than 10 minutes into episode 1.

Couple of comments: this marks the grand reunion of director/co-writer Nicholas Stoller, and leads Rose Byrne (as Sylvia) and Seth Rogen (as Will). All three were also on board for the feature film "Neighbors" and its sequel. "Platonic" provides a familiar perspective on the issue of whether members of the opposite sex can be the best friends without, well, the sex. Both Sylvia and Will are flawed, and hence very relatable, characters, with their ups and downs. The chemistry between these two feels natural (or maybe it's just 2 great performers doing what they do well: acting). With episodes being about a half hour, all of this breezes by in no time.

"Platonic" premiered in late May on Apple TV and so far 4 episodes have been released. The remainder 6 episodes are coming on a weekly basis, on Wednesdays. If you are in the mood for a modern relationship comedy, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.