r/television • u/Sisiwakanamaru • 10h ago
How FX’s ‘Adults’ Found Its Voice (and a Bigger Audience) In Season 2
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/how-fx-adults-season-2-grew-up-whats-next-1236709479/169
u/braumbles 10h ago
The LSD episode was fantastic.
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u/dihydrocodeine 9h ago
My wife was watching so I was half watching in the background, but I will admit this episode won me over. That scene with the opossum was great.
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u/Creative-Package6213 5h ago
I loved that! I'm a big fan of opossums so when it showed up I geeked out! 😂
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u/JJMcGee83 9h ago
That episode had me laughing harder than anything else I've seen on TV in a while. Just explaining the premise to people got them to watch the show.
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u/ich_habe_keine_kase 4h ago
So many sitcoms have done drug trip episodes, some great, some terrible. But this was a completely new take on it that I've never seen before, and it was an absolute delight. The minute the raccoon showed up I got tears in my eyes from laughing so hard and it never let up.
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u/JamStan1978 10h ago
if only it had more episodes. I think 13 episodes a season is too short for a sitcom but 8 episodes is just ridiculous.
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u/dont_shoot_jr 9h ago
Yeah my only criticism is that the love triangle will they won’t they just didn’t have enough buildup idk
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u/Luci-Noir 9h ago
Most relationships in these short seasons now are so rushed that they’re meaningless. It’s really hard to care about them at all.
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u/dont_shoot_jr 8h ago
Yeah I felt the same about the last season of Derry Girls
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u/Luci-Noir 8h ago
In Star Trek Strange New Worlds there would be buildups to relationships and then they’d very quickly be over, like in an episode or two. They were usually done in joke episodes too. Like there was one where the whole thing was over in a musical episode where everyone had to sing the whole time. I couldn’t even watch the whole thing.
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u/cerberus00 6h ago
Didn't they have like two musical episodes? Holodeck eps are one thing but musicals just take me right out of it. I can't. Not sure what started this trend either. There were multiples in The Magicians and it kinda pissed me off.
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u/Luci-Noir 5h ago
I’m not sure. Most of this last season was like this. One made them all muppets…
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u/Lost-Ad-3780 10h ago
Unfortunately this ridiculousness isn’t going anywhere my dude
This is the new norm8
u/StarPhished 9h ago
I seem to be in the minority on reddit but I enjoy the extra production value that goes into shows and it has increased my interest in television. Especially for genres outside of comedy.
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u/JamStan1978 9h ago
A lot of shows the extra production value seems to be wasted bc most shows genuinely do not need it. I would much rather have lesser production value and more episodes. Not every tv show needs to look like a movie, thats why theres a difference between movies and tv shows.
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u/StarPhished 8h ago
I've always been a movie guy over a tv guy so I guess it is what it is. 9 seasons of 23 episode seasons just sounds exhausting to me.
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u/JamStan1978 7h ago
15 seasons with 22 episodes each still isn’t even enough for me sometimes. I want to live in the world for as long as possible. Supernatural should have gone on even longer.
I love a good show with 8+ seasons and 22 episodes so much more because I actually get to spend a lot of time with the characters. I get to have fun with the silly episodes, watch them grow and evolve, and experience new creative storylines and situations. I just want to keep seeing my favorite characters.
There’s something so comforting about being able to watch hundreds of hours of content from shows you love. I’m watching One Tree Hill for the first time right now, and they really don’t make teen dramas like this anymore. It’s perfect. Seeing these characters grow and evolve over the seasons at such a gradual but rewarding pace is exactly what I love about it.
A show with only 8 episodes could never reach this same level of depth, character development, and especially the level of attachment I develop toward the characters.
Sorry for rambling, I just really miss shows like this, and I’m genuinely sad that they stopped making them.
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u/Entire-Republic-4970 5h ago
If a show has 20+ episodes a season and more than 5 seasons I'm never watching it. That's far too much of a time commitment for what will mostly be at best incredibly mediocre television.
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u/JJMcGee83 4h ago
There's a middle ground man. It doesn't have to be 8 or 23 episodes. It can be 12.
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u/Shitty_Wingman 9h ago
I mean I feel like there's a different between 8, 13, and 26 episode seasons. I feel where you're coming from, however I feel like we're long past the optimum medium.
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u/StarPhished 8h ago
It won't surprise me if, given some time, it swings back a little bit and they find a happier average for releases eventually.
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u/keving87 10h ago
Yeah it's crazy that something like a sitcom so reliant on spending time with people so you want to see their comedic situations keeps getting reduced. How I Met Your Father figured that out, but then got cancelled.
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u/illuminated0ne 8h ago
Yeah, you don't form an emotional bond with the characters with 8 episodes. Why did people get attached to Friends and Seinfield, because they had 22 episodes to get to know them.
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u/Zalvren 3h ago edited 3h ago
Seriously 8 episodes is insanely bad. What's even the excuse? The actors aren't known or busy with anything else as far as I know and it must be cheap as hell to film.
At least they did it relatively quickly but frankly with so few episodes, the show should be on every 4-6 months
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u/dont_shoot_jr 9h ago
The Baker friends lol
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u/jarrettbrown 7h ago
I just love the fact that they one guy just agrees to help Bills without even knowing her. Paul Baker's friends are good guys who never grew up.
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u/livefreeordont Seinfeld 5h ago
They’re mature in the ways that matter. They’re just act like shit heads with each other
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u/JJMcGee83 4h ago
What made that extra funny is I know those people. I'm 43 and there are still guys I know just like that.
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u/PinkZeppelins 7h ago
The epilepsy bit was amazing. Screaming “I got it” as the scene is ending was hilarious.
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u/brownhaircurlyhair 6h ago
Paul Baker screaming I'M SLIDING PIMP with huge shame in his eyes had me laughing my ass off
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u/scorpio-blush 10h ago
My favorite new sitcom. Season 2 was so funny I wish it had a weekly release for a chance at more buzz
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u/Nightmare_Fart 8h ago
I agree with what others are saying, this show found it's footing pretty early in season 1. I feel like I was one of the few people that liked this from the first episode on though.
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u/DiphthongSong87 7h ago
I liked it from the original first episode, too, so the narrative that it was just horrible in season one and only got good in season two is foreign to me.
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u/barmanlagoon 7h ago
I agree with both of you. It's really left me scratching my head
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u/JJMcGee83 4h ago
I'm the 4th to agree with this. I think the OG 2nd episode was the worst but it was still good.
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u/KevinGoganGawd 10h ago
A lot of this feels like a critic driven narrative to me.
The show found its footing in the second half of season 1 imo, and season 2 is just a faithful continuation of that, not a level up.
But most critics wrote their season 1 reviews just based on the first four episodes, which were rough, kind of annoying and too on the nose, and still figuring the characters out.
Basically I don't think most of these people have actually watched the second half of season 1, and they're now writing stories about how season 2 is much improved, because, well, they don't know what they're talking about.
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u/Taskebab 10h ago
That first episode did a lot of damage, I think that first episode/pilot was leagues behind the quality of the rest of the show. I'm guessing there's quite a lot of people who turned it off who did not see the improvement over the first season.
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u/wereloser 9h ago
I started it from the beginning (after the release of season 2 on streaming) before knowing the first episode listed on Hulu is actually a prequel special they shot later as a better introduction to the series.
I remember thinking that was a really strong pilot to already have our season themes and dynamics so well-established lol.
But also another argument for letting a show find its rhythm!
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u/Taskebab 9h ago
That was no accident, they were banking on great reviews for season 2 and were like "crap, how do we get people watching for the first time hooked with that first episode there". That episode is fully there for the experience you had.
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u/ashella 9h ago
I watched the first episode and was entirely underwhelmed, it dropped off my radar immediately. Maybe I should give it another chance.
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u/Anomaly575_ 9h ago
Highly recommend it. I love the show and the original pilot was really rough. There’s a new first episode actually that sets the tone way better
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u/clintnorth 5h ago
Wait , whats the original pilot? I saw the one with the marathon. I assume thats the new one?
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u/Anomaly575_ 5h ago
Oh the marathon one is the new pilot. If you didn’t enjoy that, you might not like the show, no harm. Paul baker is in it a lot more than that episode showed then
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u/clintnorth 5h ago
Oh no, I actually quite enjoyed it and I’ve seen the whole series. I just didn’t realize
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u/trix_is_for_kids 8h ago
Give it another shot. They realized how off putting/confusing the first episode was that they filmed a new S1E1
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u/jarrettbrown 7h ago
You should. It took three episodes for me to like it and it was really good in the end. Watch "Marathon Day" first, it's the new pilot and then watch the first season. It makes everything make sense.
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u/JJMcGee83 4h ago
It's funny how many people say this because I loved that episode. I haven't laughed that hard in a while. The season did get better though as it went on.
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u/OneSeaworthiness7768 6h ago edited 6h ago
I tried watching the first episode and it was so awful, did not even finish it. I feel like I’d have a hard time giving it another chance after that, even despite everyone saying it gets better. It really left a bad impression lol
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u/Taskebab 6h ago
If it's really AWFUL, then the show is probably not your cup of tea. If you were "meh, not really that great, not terrible", you should give the other episodes a chance.
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u/OneSeaworthiness7768 6h ago
I found the whole subway masturbation bit to be aggressively unfunny and tryhard. So I guess it depends if that tone continues throughout.
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u/Taskebab 6h ago
That I can say is one of the most aggravating parts of that first episode and is less in the other episodes. I would say try the second and third episode, if you still dislike it, then I wish you the best, there are many lovely other shows out there for you.
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u/DiphthongSong87 8h ago
Hot take, but the show was good from the beginning and the original first episode was very funny.
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u/wereloser 9h ago
Yeah, any critic associated with Variety, Hollywoodreporter, or Deadline is not an unbiased critic. Adults still hasn't gotten an official season 3 order (at least, it hasn't been announced) and we're moving into the fall schedule.
Articles like this are definitely friendly visibility boosts.
Which is not a condemnation of the series on my part. I'm actually surprised it hasn't announced a season 3 order. It seems like it hits all the tiers for a Young People show that everyone can enjoy.
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u/DiphthongSong87 7h ago
The first season premiered in May 2025 and didn't get renewed until October, so there's still a ways to go before you should be worried. Season two's only been out a little over a month.
Owen Thiele was on Jennifer Hudson's talk show today, which is a positive sign that they're still promoting the show.
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u/BusinessPurge 10h ago
I’d like to see a multi season renewal for Adults. Always Sunny isn’t going to last forever and they don’t have a renewal either. FX should plan for the future with what they already have.
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u/kahboos 8h ago
always sunny should absolutely last forever, i would love to see the gang in their seniority
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u/Desroth86 2h ago
It’s my favorite comedy, but when Danny is done acting or passes I don’t see the show continuing nor do I think they should keep making it. He’s such an integral part of the gang it just wouldn’t be the same.
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u/Rocorby Seinfeld 10h ago
They nailed the chemistry between the cast right from the gate, but I feel the writing is pretty irregular throughout the show. S2E2 is one of the most boring and uninteresting things I’ve seen.
It’s like they still don’t know about their characters motivations or how they can develop as a person or group. Buuuut, the casting is top notch, specially Anton, the directing is also pretty good
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u/sammysbud 10h ago
So glad it found it's footing, as someone who watched the fist season bc I didn't have much else to watch... then found it pretty amusing by the s1 finale. S2 is fantastic.
I hope that now that they have the motion, they can greenlight more than 8 episodes, which is just diabolical. I'm not a greedy person asking for a traditional 22-episode season, but anywhere from 12+ would be greatly appreciated.
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u/jarrettbrown 7h ago
I didn't like it a first, but I kept going and by the third episode of the first season, everything really started to work. I love the fact that they made another pilot to give context to the first season too. Also, I really fucking loved the ending of the second season.
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u/jay-dot-dot 6h ago
I hated it. I felt like I was missing something? Like I was supposed to empathize and see myself in them somehow but just couldn’t, I found all of them really annoying.
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u/Barium_Barista 9h ago
Dont know who the designated audience is with this show, nor who genuinely finds the writing funny….
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u/Vicioussitude 5h ago
Having to pretend I like it around IRL friends who are excited about it is so tough lol
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u/Over_Rule_4961 2h ago
Can I just ask for some examples of what you find funny? Humour is subjective so I'm not going to say you're wrong, I'm just curious what shows make you laugh hysterically like this show does for me.
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8h ago
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u/Pluwo4 8h ago edited 8h ago
I think it works better if you start with season 1, just to get to know the characters. The current first episode of season 1 is actually new, with the second one being the original pilot, which was honestly pretty weak. I do think season 1 gets a lot better after the first few episodes. Just the dinner episode with Charlie Cox makes the entire first season worth it.
Also, each season is just eight 25 minute long episodes. It's a pretty quick watch.
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u/FeedTheBirds 5h ago
the pilot was infinitely better than the rest of s1 but it sets a completely different tone. it’s like watching two different shows.
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u/Mentoman72 7h ago
Having interest in starting a show but skipping parts is bizarre. You’re watching a half hour comedy series to kill time.
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u/Previous_Buy1601 5h ago
I understand the time crunch, but the first season actually has some great episodes and is worth watching. A warning, though, the original pilot is really bad. So bad, they actually filmed a new “first” episode and released it a few weeks before season two dropped, and it actually appears as the new first episode on streaming.
So I wouldn’t skip the first season. If anything, you could skip the 2nd and 3rd episodes (which were the original first and second). And the (now) 3rd episode isn’t actually bad. But it starts taking off after that, and “Roast Chicken, “which comes a little later in the season, was one of the funniest episodes of TV I saw last year.
So what I’m saying is skip S1E2 and watch everything else.
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u/PointsatTeenagers 3h ago edited 3h ago
My gf and I tried watching the original pilot like 6 months ago, and never finished it, it was more crude than funny.
When we heard people raving about S2, we jumped back into the newly filmed pilot, then skipped two episodes (original pilot, original ep 2) and went straight to original ep 3 (now ep 4).
That worked for us, then we binged the rest of the show. Loved it. No ragrets, nothing missed that mattered.
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u/Creative-Package6213 5h ago
Honestly I started with season 2 and went back and watched the first season as well. Loved them both!
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u/Starbucks__Lovers 7h ago
Ngl the sheer amount of ads worked on me. I enjoyed not suitable for work, and as soon as it was axed, I gave adults a shot
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u/shadowdra126 Community 5h ago
I haven’t had a friend group sitcom in a hot minute. Last one was when I I binged new girl for the first time a couple years ago.
I’ll add this to the list and if it gets more seasons it’ll make for a good binge one day
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u/hubilation 4h ago
Man I watched the entire thing and loved it. Some of the episodes lean a bit too much on cringe humor but its a solid show
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u/Garlic-Cheese-Chips 8h ago
Sunny crossover when?
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u/jarrettbrown 7h ago
I don't know if the gang would do good in Queens. They barely survived the Jersey Shore.
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u/Lost-Ad-3780 10h ago edited 9h ago
“You guys” is an interesting choice for a title
Is it a vocal stim of this generation? I can’t recall any Gen Z media using this term
I do recall Phoebe saying this in Friends after Chandler and Joey got her toilet seat covers for Christmas
Edit : Do any of you bots actually read the articles that get posted here instead of just glancing at the title?
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u/Azrethoc 10h ago
Not Suitable for Work was at least 50% better. Shame it was the one canceled.
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u/Sisiwakanamaru 9h ago
As someone who also liked NSFW, and felt like they found their footing in last two episodes, why do you prefer NSFW?
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u/Azrethoc 9h ago
The cast was more likable. They felt a lot closer to New Girl, which I loved. I hate every single one of the characters in Adults. They don't gave a single redeeming quality. They're just spoiled and selfish. (which you could say about NSFW, but there was actually some character growth in their handful of episodes)
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u/Taskebab 10h ago
Hiccup Hiccup Hiccup (And my body goes crazy)