Streaming Review: "Uncoupled" (Netflix)
Friday, July 29, 2022 at 8:00PM
Neil Patrick Harris stars in the latest Netflix comedy, "Uncoupled."By: Christopher James
When Emily in Paris first premiered, The New Yorker coined the term “ambient TV” to describe the show’s mass appeal, despite a critical drubbing and the memefication of its protagonist by the public. It’s a show made specifically for people to not concentrate on. It’s just looney and lighthearted enough to make audiences feel good. However, once you peel back just one layer of the surface, you can’t help but laugh AT it, rather than with it.
Darren Star, who gave us both Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, returns to Netflix for his new gay-centric comedy Uncoupled. It’s co-created by fellow lover of froth, Jeffrey Richman (Modern Family, Desperate Housewives). It seems like equality means the LGBTQ+ community also needs its own piece of “ambient TV.” Uncoupled is slick, watchable and fun. It’s also maddening, featuring characters that seemed to have been born yesterday on some fun house version of Manhattan. Much like Emily in Paris, the inanity is part of the charm.
If you turn your brain off, you can float down the lazy river of Uncoupled’s charms. For those that watch with a more discerning eye, they will either make fun of the proceedings or be turned off by some of the off-brand sharp notes that don’t hit quite right.
After 17 years, Michael finds himself dumped by his boyfriend, Colin (Tuc Watkins).When we meet Michael Lawson (Neil Patrick Harris), he seems to have the perfect life. He lives in a gorgeous New York apartment with his sexy, rugged boyfriend of seventeen years, Colin (Tuc Watkins). For Colin’s 50th birthday, Michael has planned a romantic dinner followed by a lavish surprise party. The only hitch: Colin breaks up with Michael as he opens the door to the surprise party. Throughout the show’s eight episode first season, Michael tries to put himself back on the dating scene, navigate heartbreak and find out what he truly wants from a relationship. He also complains a lot, like a lot.
All Neil Patrick Harris has to do is flash his pearly whites and six pack abs to endear himself to his audience. Each one of those abs are needed, as Colin often comes off as insufferable and whiny. Particularly in the first few episodes, Michael spends much of his time being prudish, paranoid and mopey. It’s understandable given the breakup - the show barely gives us a glimpse into why Colin was so unhappy that he would implode both their lives with nary a signal. However, it’s not dramatically compelling. Plus, Harris never does a good enough job sketching out who Michael was pre-breakup to make us care about what happens to him throughout the series. When the show becomes more pratfall focused later in the season, like when Michael and his friends go on a drunken ski weekend, Harris and the show finally find their footing.
Marica Gay Harden is on the other side of the "First Wives Club" coin as a woman who gets dumped by her rich husband.
The show is much more fun and wild around the fringes, particularly with certain supporting characters. As with most things, Marcia Gay Harden snatches the MVP trophy of nearly every scene. Her character, Claire, is an obscenely wealthy and difficult woman who Michael pursues as a real estate client. What’s his in? She’s going through a hard divorce that seems just as abrupt as his breakup. Marcia Gay Harden approaches each scene with a unpredictable gusto, scathing one moment and throwing caution to the wind in others. It’s terrific fun.
In fact, Uncoupled works best when it’s a dopey, scripted version of Million Dollar Listing: New York. As Michael’s business partner, Suzanne, Tisha Campbell wrings laughs out of some of the cringiest jokes. Yes, she’s a cliche - a single gal in New York City who is too attached to her son and punchlines.
Every single person needs their group of colorful friends, and Michael is no different. For advice, companionship and nights on the town, he turns to philandering local news anchor Billy (Emerson Brooks) and sad-sack art dealer Stanley (Brooks Ashmanskas). Both have some fun with their one-note characters, but never feel like real people who have a shared history with Michael. In particular, Ashmanskas does an admirable job trying to add depth to Stanley, the group’s Eeyore, but is betrayed by the shallow writing at every turn.
Central to the show’s issues is Tuc Watkins’ portrayal of Colin. It’s never clear what he wants or why he leaves Michael. If the show was laser focused with Michael’s journey to loving himself, this could be forgivable. However, Colin remains a figure, both physically and narratively. If Michael isn’t incessantly talking about him, Colin pops up to remind us that he’s a person we just can’t figure out. Even if this is the point of the characterization, Watkins never gives us a glimpse into the character’s interiority. It’s baffling and infuriating.
Michael leans on his friends, Stanley and Billy, for emotional support and nights out on the town.Something seems to have turned within Darren Star. Sex in the City is obviously a cultural defining megahit, with a footprint that launched the premium comedy landscape as we know it. While that was fresh and provocative, Uncoupled seems pedestrian even when it’s being a little naughty. Sure, it’s fun to see Neil Patrick Harris struggle to take a good looking dick pic. However, it doesn’t feel super attuned to the life of gay men. In one episode, Michael chides a younger man for being on prep and not using condoms. Intergenerational divides between gay men have been dramatized in other shows much better than this. A generous reading of Uncoupled would call it quaint. A less generous read would be that it is out of step.
With all that said, the eight half hour episodes go down incredibly easy. Without even thinking, one could accidentally binge over the course of an afternoon while working. Uncoupled is maddening, old-fashioned, cringe and lazy, but boy is it watchable. Chalk another point for “ambient TV.” C
Are you planning on watching Uncoupled on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.
Darren Star, Neil Patrick Harris, Netflix, TV Review, Uncoupled
Reader Comments (9)
Chris -- i think you're very hard on this show ;) Granted, I agree with a few of these criticisms and I have only watched a couple of episodes but I like what I'd seen so far. At least we agree that it's very watchable. We were like "ANOTHER?" the second the first episode ended.
I'll be curious to see what the general consensus is but I imagine we'll hear similar complaints. gay shows tend to struggle getting good reviews. This is wild conjecture of course but they seem to face unfillable expectations from gay audiences and general homophobia dismissal from straight audiences. I remember how savaged LOOKING often was despite being excellent across the board (much much stronger writing/acting/directing than this show of course but still faced tough reviews)
I binge watched Un Coupled. In many ways, like And Just Like That, this series is a fond recall of the best of Sex and the City for those who loved the six season urban comedy.
Successful realtor Michael Lawson is the new and improved Carrie Bradshaw. Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Jessica Parker share a camera ready vulnerability that immediately engages viewers. We identify with their characters and that invests us in what happens to them.
Carrie had a long term on and off again love affair with Mr. Big. There is a delicious moment in And Just Like That where a mourner at Big’s funeral remarks, “Am I the only one who remembers what a prick he was to her?” Michael’s lover Colin is a prick, too. He abruptly ends their relationship with a text, (not a post it note). When Michael’s business partner, the festive Suzanne (Tisha Campbell) sees Colin, greets him and slugs him in the chest, it is a satisfying moment.
Other events replay Sex and the City highlights. Samantha once had a hook up with a spectacularly endowed man that presented basic physical challenges. This happens to Michael, too. One individual in Michael’s circle contracts breast cancer. The reveal is at a wedding, just as occurred in Sex and The City.
Time will tell if these characters can become as iconic as Carrie and company. As for now, I am captivated by the first season cliffhangers and look forward to the next batch of episodes.
I binged this show today and it was exactly what I thought it would be: lightweight, breezy, and incredibly watchable with supporting characters who were far more interesting than the lead. It wasn't perfect, but it was fun. A lot of the complaints I've seen about it have to do with it being "wealth porn", but I thought that just added to the escapist element. I rarely enjoy NPH, but this role was a good fit for him.
Tisha Campbell (I always root for her) and Marcia Gay Harden are very fun on the show.
I'm so over reviews bashing gay content that's just fine.
That caption says Marica instead of Marcia.
Did you know that "marica" means "fag" in spanish?
Went through something very similar to this a few years back, and they get a lot right.
I binged the whole thing, and it was actually a little tough at first, but Harden And Campbell made it more fun. Then the second half was just kind of better and fun. So, overall-I liked it. And I watch a spin-off with Harden anyday.
DIJAMIN CUAN!!!! Hadiah Melimpah SETIAP HARINYA!!! AYO DIJAMIN GAK NYESEL GACOR!!!
kartupoker | lapak303 login
DIJAMIN CUAN!!!! Hadiah Melimpah SETIAP HARINYA!!! AYO DIJAMIN GAK NYESEL GACOR!!!
kartupoker | lapak303 login
This show is frothy. Something to have on in the background while doing something else. NPH is always watchable, as is Marcia Gay Harden. And the real estate porn is fun too. Is that Debra Monk as Michael's mom? I didn't know Tisha Campbell's work, but I already love her.
My favorite line from the first episode from Suzanne (Tisha), "Who knew gay guys were just as awful as straight guys?"
I'm not necessarily the demographic for this show, but I'll keep watching. It's entertaining.