Fleishman Is in Trouble: A Bright, Stark Look at Modern Relationships
Escapism is appealing, yet watching a story that mirrors our own lives can feel wonderfully revealing. This series dives into familiar territories—work, romance, sex, money, parenting—and presents them in a way that lands with unsettling clarity. It’s not shy about the messy parts of marriage and the choices that shape a person’s future. The title echoes the tension between quiet disappointment and a spark of possibility, a reminder that private struggles can spill into public spaces with startling speed.
Formerly a celebrated journalist, Taffy Brodesser-Akner channels his own midlife questions into a sharply observed narrative. He previously made waves with intimate portraits in major magazines and later with a candid book that reads as a confession, a story about taking stock when life refuses to slow down. The adaptation preserves the distinctive voice of the narrator and the book’s candid energy, even as it unfolds into a TV series. The premise follows Toby Fleishman, a man newly navigating the dating scene after years away from it, while his ex-wife’s disappearance intensifies the plot. Toby, portrayed by a familiar screen presence, finds himself adrift in a city that never stops asking questions about what people want and who they are when the routines of family life unravel.
Rachel, Toby’s former partner, enters the story as a power player in the professional world and in their shared past. Their dynamic anchors the series, while the central mystery—where Toby’s ex-wife has gone—frames a broader exploration of control, autonomy, and the price of independence for working mothers. As the days tilt toward the truth, the narrative threads through the complexities of modern coupledom, often flashing back to the marriage that no longer exists yet continues to define both characters. The tone stays sly and intelligent, never melodramatic, allowing the audience to feel the weight of every decision without surrendering to easy conclusions.
through them
The story asks whether a woman can tell her own truth without a male narrator guiding the lens. Libby, once a fearless journalist, now leans into suburban life, raising questions about identity beyond motherhood. Her path intersects with Seth, a charismatic but morally ambiguous figure who complicates loyalties and appetites. The bond between Toby and Rachel fractures under the stress of wedding memories and shifting priorities, and a divorce becomes the backdrop for brief, intense conversations that reveal deeper longings and fear of aging in a world that measures value by productivity and status.
The book and the show reveal how male and female perspectives collide and negotiate space. The author has a knack for tuning into the male psyche while never losing sight of the female experience. Rachel embodies ambition and financial savvy, unafraid to demand what she believes she deserves. Libby embodies the tension between personal ambition and the demands of family life. Both women, though different in temperament, share a sense of being seen only partially—each trying to claim a full human presence beyond traditional roles. The emotional resonance comes from the shared anxieties about parenting and the dread of being reduced to a title rather than a person with agency. A quiet, persistent undercurrent explores a female midlife awakening in a world that often values youth over lived experience.
Portrait of shocking contrasts
The series benefits from a bold collaboration of directors who understand the rhythm of character and the weight of dialogue. Creative teams that have previously balanced comedy and drama bring a sense of cinematic polish to a contemporary urban landscape. The pairs of male and female collaborators illuminate how different life experiences shape perception, whether in humor or heartbreak. The result is a piece that feels both intimate and expansive, a portrait of a city where technology and social pressures amplify everyday choices.
While the tone nods to classic cinematic references, this modern rendition stays firmly in the present. The characters navigate a world where smartphones are a constant companion, shaping how intimacy is built and broken. A pivotal scene captures the stark tension of a relationship on the brink, as a proposal for separation surfaces in a moment that lingers long after the screen fades. The fragility and resilience of adult life—its small rituals, disappointments, and quiet triumphs—are rendered with a compassionate, unflinching gaze. Life, in its imperfect glory, is laid bare, and the audience is invited to reflect on what it means to grow up in a society that never stops updating its own rules.