Adults (TV Series)

''Adults'' is an American ensemble comedy series created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw about a group of friends in their twenties experiencing adulthood in Queens, New York. The show premiered on FX on May 28, 2025. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Premise

''Adults'' follows a group of young friends—Samir (Elassal), Billie (Freyer), Paul Baker (Innanen), Issa (Rao), and Anton (Thiele)—as they navigate the challenges of early adulthood while living together in Samir's childhood home. The series explores themes such as career struggles, healthcare, modern dating, and social dynamics, portraying both the comedic and difficult aspects of transitioning into adult life.

Cast

Main

* Malik Elassal as Samir Rahman
* Lucy Freyer as Billie Schaeffer
* Jack Innanen as Paul Baker
* Amita Rao as Issa
* Owen Thiele as Anton Evans

Recurring

* Charlie Cox as Andrew / Mr. Teacher
* Rachel Marsh as Carly

Guest

* D'Arcy Carden as Allison
* Ray Nicholson as Ethan
* John Reynolds as Brian
* Will Ropp as Kyle Haberman
* Grace Kuhlenschmidt as Taryn
* Julia Fox as herself
* Tala Ashe as Hilary
Lilah Guaragna
as Annabelle

Episodes

Release

''Adults'' premiered with its first two episodes on May 28, 2025, with new episodes scheduled to air in back-to-back pairs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX. The full series was released for streaming on Hulu on May 29. Internationally, the series became available on Disney+.

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 75% approval rating based on 32 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Every generation deserves its own sitcom of likable screwups, and ''Adults'' more or less delivers one for Gen-Z with its ensemble of funny and maddening strivers." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 65 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable".

Dave Nemetz of ''TVLine'' described ''Adults'' as a welcome return to television for stories about people in their twenties. He found that the show captures the chaotic energy of Gen Z life with humor and charm. Nemetz appreciated its blend of influences, noting echoes of ''Friends'', ''Girls'', and especially ''Broad City'', and praised the surreal, irreverent tone. He also complimented the cast of newcomers, highlighting Owen Thiele's performance as a standout. Nemetz said the show delivers big laughs and proves that comedy is still alive and well, even within a more socially conscious landscape. Karl Quinn of ''The Age'' said that while ''Adults'' adopts the familiar framework of a share-house sitcom, it also functions as a reflection of its cultural moment. He found that the series combines elements of ''Friends'' and ''Girls'' with contemporary concerns such as identity politics and cancel culture. Quinn appreciated the show's ability to satirize its twenty-something characters' contradictions and posturing while still extending empathy toward them. He singled out the sixth episode as "hilarious" and "unhinged". While acknowledging that not every element of the series is successful, Quinn praised its originality and cultural resonance.

Saloni Gajjar of ''The A.V. Club'' wrote that ''Adults'' attempts to fill a void of fun, low-stakes hangout sitcoms focused on tight-knit friend groups. She found that while the series does not fully rise to the level of the next great hangout comedy, it shows plenty of potential with laugh-out-loud moments and strong guest stars. Gajjar appreciated how the show taps into the awkwardness and challenges faced by older Gen Zs today, weaving in socio-political commentary reminiscent of ''Broad City'' and ''Search Party''. She praised the creators and writers for their comedic backgrounds and the goodwill behind the series, but noted that the humor can sometimes feel over-the-top. Michel Ghanem of ''TheWrap'' asserted that ''Adults'' marks a strong return to the messy twenty-something friend-group comedy, filling a gap left by shows like ''Girls'' and ''Search Party''. He noted that while the pilot may feel a bit overwhelming with heavy themes, the series quickly finds its footing with relatable moments and effortless laughs. Ghanem praised the chemistry among the cast and the show's grounded approach to misadventures, avoiding sitcom clichés. He also highlighted the subtle character development around quarter-life crises and personal growth, suggesting that ''Adults'' has the potential to grow into a standout comedy over multiple seasons.

Ratings

The premiere episode on May 28, 2025, had 188,500 household viewers with a 0.15% rating. On June 11, the show recorded 91,000 viewers (P2+) with a 0.03% rating, representing a 3% decrease from the previous week. The adult 18–49 demographic had 27,000 viewers and a 0.02% rating on June 11, while the 25–54 demographic had 38,000 viewers with a 0.03% rating.

Notes

References

External links

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{{FX network programming
2020s American comedy television series
2025 American television series debuts
American English-language television shows
Fictional quintets
Generation Z
FX Networks original programming