Rose Byrne is officially having a career-defining year. Fresh off her first Academy Award nomination for her devastating turn in "If I Had Legs I’d Kick You" — and that viral, charmingly chaotic Golden Globes win — the Australian star has the entire industry captivated by her acting range. But while she's fresh off the awards circuit, don’t forget that Byrne remains one of the sharpest comedic weapons in the business, especially when she’s paired with Seth Rogen.
Rogen has certainly had a lot of success on Apple TV as of late, what with his absurdly funny Hollywood satire "The Studio" raking in a record-breaking 13 Emmy Awards in its first season — the most for any freshman comedy in Emmy history—and hitting the top of the streaming viewership charts thanks to all that critical acclaim. But the showbiz send-up isn't the only hilarious series that Rogen has on the Apple streaming service: Don't sleep on "Platonic," a great buddy comedy that reunites the actor with Byrne for a performance that is just as essential as her recent big-screen accolades.
The series might not have as much of a spotlight on it as that award-winning behemoth "The Studio," but it's still a very worthy, witty watch all the same, thanks to the excellent chemistry between its leads and the messy relatability of its premise. (More on that in a minute!) The breezy half-hour comedy has already been renewed for a third season on Apple TV, so if you haven't caught the series yet (or just need more Byrne in your life post-Oscars), now's the time. Here's why you should add "Platonic" to your next Apple TV binge.
What is 'Platonic' about?
Stars Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen lead the cast as stay-at-home mom Sylvia and her former best friend Will, newly divorced, as they platonically reconnect after a long rift.
With the fortysomething pals steadily approaching midlife crises, their connection becomes not only an all-consuming, codependent outlet but also a hilariously destabilizing force in their everyday lives and personal relationships. (Speaking of, Luke Macfarlane appears as Sylvia's lawyer husband Charlie, Carla Gallo plays her best friend Katie, Alisha Wainwright recurs as Will's ex-wife Audrey, and Andrew Lopez rounds out the ensemble as Reggie, the main investor of Will's brewery.)
"Platonic" season 2 sees the ride-or-die BFFs continue to contend with grown-up issues, from work woes to wedding planning to the stresses of parenthood, all to funnily relatable effect.
Why you should watch 'Platonic' on Apple TV
Starting with 2014's "Neighbors." Rogen and Byrne have proven to be a winning onscreen duo, parlaying their real-life friendship and considerable comedic skills into believable camaraderie and teasing banter onscreen. "Platonic" is just the latest, and possibly greatest, of their collaborations.
"Even with bold swings and romance off the table, the rambunctious rapport between Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen makes 'Platonic' an ideal relationship comedy," praises the critical consensus over on Rotten Tomatoes, where the show's first season earned a strong 93% approval rating, only to be outdone by season 2's perfect 100% critical score.
Co-created by Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller, "Platonic" also offers up a hysterically sharp depiction of the intensity — and, yes, sometimes toxicity — of non-romantic relationships, especially as those players enter the back-half of their lives. Midlife monotony and millennial dread have rarely been so funny.
Watch "Platonic" on Apple TV now
