'Adults': A New Sitcom Capturing Generation Z's Complexities
The sitcom 'Adults' explores Generation Z's challenges and themes, offering a contemporary representation of young adulthood.
Key Points
- • 'Adults' portrays five friends navigating life in Queens, New York.
- • The series tackles themes of disillusionment and financial precarity.
- • It adopts a cinematic style with a slower pace of humor compared to traditional sitcoms.
- • The show opens with the serious topic of sexual assault in its pilot episode.
The new sitcom 'Adults', now streaming on Disney Plus, seeks to represent Generation Z's unique life experiences and challenges. Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, the show features five friends in their twenties living in a shared house in Queens, New York. Among the characters is Samir, a self-doubting slacker; Billie, a career-driven individual; Anton, who identifies as queer; extroverted Issa; and her boyfriend Paul, who finds himself reluctantly included in their living arrangement.
This modern sitcom tackles pressing themes such as financial precarity, disillusionment, and evolving societal norms unique to Gen Z. The show opens its pilot episode with the serious subject of sexual assault, a stark departure from the often light-hearted fare of traditional sitcoms. Its humor is characterized as slower-paced and more cinematic, departing from the rapid-fire jokes found in predecessors like 'Friends' or 'How I Met Your Mother'. This approach allows for deeper explorations of heavy topics interspersed with humor.
While the series attempts to capture the spirit of contemporary youth and their struggles, it has faced mixed receptions. Some audiences appreciate its candid portrayals, while others, particularly from older generations, feel that certain characters come off as exaggerated or off-putting. Overall, 'Adults' presents a fresh and vibrant take on young adulthood, reflecting both the perks and pitfalls of life in today's America, with all eight episodes available for binge-watching now.