The Underrated TV Masterpiece of the 2010s
It’s uncanny how one of the greatest TV masterpieces of the 21st century also feels like it’s incredibly underrated and overlooked. While it certainly can be difficult to figure out what to stream nowadays, considering the overwhelming number of options, this fact doesn’t really apply to this outstanding series, which premiered back in 2016.
That said, if you haven’t seen this critically acclaimed dark comedy series yet, and you call yourself a big comedy fan, please do yourself a favor and head over to Hulu right now to start streaming all five seasons of this exceptional show that earned a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%.
Better Things Is One Of The Greatest TV Masterpieces Of The Past 10 Years
Fans of last year’s Best Picture winner Anora will instantly recognize Mikey Madison in the Emmy-nominated comedy series, Better Things. Madison plays Max, one of the three daughters of Pamela Adlon’s protagonist, Sam Fox. Louie fans will certainly know Adlon, who played Pamela in 14 episodes of that acclaimed comedy series.
Adlon created Better Things with Louis C.K., ensuring that the writing and comedy are both top-notch. Sam Fox is an actress who struggles with the pressures of working in Hollywood and juggling being the single mother of her three girls. The self-reflexive showbiz element of Better Things will likely suit fans of The Studio, Hacks, and Entourage.
Although Better Things didn’t win an Emmy Award, Adlon was nominated twice for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. It’s also a great opportunity to see Madison in one of her earliest and funniest roles before the Anora acclaim that earned her a Best Actress Oscar last year.
Better Things Was Criminally Underrated & Deserved More Love
Better Things faced some stiff competition in the comedy categories during its five-season run, which impressively ran from 2016 to 2022. Adlon lost her first chance at an Emmy to Julia Louis-Dreyfus for her career-best performance as Selina Meye in Veep. The following year, she was beaten in the same category by Rachel Brosnahan for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
All things considered, Better Things may not have received the accolades it deserved, but it is truly one of the greatest comedy shows to come out of the 2010s. Its last three seasons all earned perfect Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes scores of 100%, with critics praising the entire series for its masterful wit and poignant observational humor.
Some of the best episodes of Better Things include season 2’s “Eulogy”, in which Sam asks her kids to pretend that she’s dead so she can feel more appreciated, and season 5’s “England,” in which Sam and her fam go on a trip. If you’re looking for an original yet timeless voice in comedy that delivers in its final seasons, Better Things is for you.









0 Comments