After killing it in films for many years, Seth Rogen has returned to his roots (form of) with a number of TV reveals during which he stars and/or works behind the scenes. Considered one of his most up-to-date grew to become a success on Apple TV+ method again in 2023. The present just lately returned for its second season, with new episodes streaming weekly from August by means of October 2025. Contemplating the right Rotten Tomatoes critics’ rating this comedy has obtained so far, it’s clear Rogen is certainly the king of TV comedy.
The Present Captures the Magnificence and Challenges of Center Age
The Apple TV+ present in query isn’t The Studio, although that multi-Emmy-nominated comedy hit it out of the park, too, and marks considered one of Rogen’s finest TV roles. Moderately, it’s Platonic, which Rogen stars in in addition to serves as an government producer. Rose Byrne co-stars as Sylvia with Rogen as Will, two former school finest buddies who had a falling out years prior. When Sylvia hears by means of the grapevine that Will is getting a divorce, she reaches out to inspect him, with out revealing that she is aware of.
As soon as the 2 get collectively, nevertheless, they simply get previous the preliminary awkwardness and slip proper again into their previous methods. The hatchet is buried, and their codependent nature creeps again in. They’re there for an additional. They love each other (platonically, after all). However additionally they feed off each other, get into hassle, and meddle in each other’s lives.
It’s no marvel Platonic struck a chord with followers, notably 40-somethings who may be going by means of among the identical challenges the characters are, albeit in a far much less entertaining, made-for-TV method. Will is pressured to take , onerous take a look at his life now that his marriage is over, for instance. He’s a slacker who has at all times dreamed of opening his personal brewery. However he lacks the drive and confidence to take the leap of religion and even discover out if he may succeed.
Sylvia, in the meantime, gave up her profession greater than a decade in the past to take care of her children whereas her husband, Charlie (Luke Macfarlane), a profitable lawyer, was the breadwinner. Along with her children now older and extra self-sufficient, she has time on her fingers and isn’t positive what to do with herself. Ought to she return to work? Begin her personal enterprise? Or proceed in her snug place as spouse and mom? Someplace alongside the best way, she misplaced her id exterior these two defining roles.
The story additionally explores the concept that, whereas a straight man and girl can completely be platonic buddies, not everybody of their orbit may be snug with the bond. Vital others would possibly even be jealous. Is it justifiable jealousy? As soon as buddies grow old and have households of their very own, the place do the boundaries lie, and the way lengthy can (or ought to) you maintain onto the previous?.
Platonic is a must-watch present for these of their 30s and 40s. It masks these severe subjects with comical conditions, encouraging these going by means of their very own existential or mid-life crises to take a step again and get chuckle. Rogen and Byrne have labored collectively earlier than, after all, on films like Neighbors, so it’s no shock they’ve improbable chemistry, which helps promote the premise. What makes the story so entertaining is that you simply by no means really feel sorry for these characters. Since you in all probability see a little bit of your self in both (or each), you merely need to root for them to tug out the perfect in each other.
Season 2 Hits It Out of the Park As soon as Once more
A couple of weeks and 4 episodes into the discharge of Season 2 and the season’s Rotten Tomatoes rating is an unimaginable 100%. That excellent ranking is not any small feat to attain, particularly a number of weeks into launch. Sources like LatinaMedia.Co notice that the present has not “misplaced its edge” and continues to be “dumb within the smartest method, a cringe comedy with actual emotional stakes hiding just below the floor.” The Occasions references Platonic’s sophistication within the “exploration of relationship boundaries,” whereas New York Journal/Vulture says the present “walks a tremendous line between depth and lightness, substance and ease, and appears like a present that would run for years.”
Past the comedic facet, what’s so nice about Platonic is the messages hidden beneath the floor. It’s not as apparent as with reveals like Ted Lasso and Shrinking. You really want to dig deeper to chop by means of the heavy comedy and determine what Rogen’s signature chuckle actually means in a single second, or why Sylvia is actually doing what she’s doing. This digging makes the eventual discovery much more satisfying than while you’re hit over the pinnacle with it each two seconds, you, Mr. Lasso.
Whereas the middle-aged Gen-Xers and even “elder Millennials” will relate probably the most to the tales in Platonic, it’s additionally a typically humorous present that anybody would love. Episode 4 provides slapstick, ridiculousness to the story when Will and Sylvia find yourself within the hospital following a freak accident on a golf course, exhibiting that the collection is just not afraid to poke enjoyable at itself in probably the most absurd methods, too.
Rogen has confirmed he has his finger on the heart beat of the small display already, concerned in initiatives like The Boys, Gen V, Preacher, Invincible, and, after all, The Studio. If Season 1 of Platonic prompt he had a knack for TV comedy, the reception to Season 2 crowns him the bona fide TV comedy king.
Stream Platonic on Apple TV+.
Platonic
- Launch Date
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Might 23, 2023
- Community
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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Nicholas Stoller
