Season 2 ofPlatoniccontinues to revolve around the winning chemistry between lead actors Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. After ananthology expansion was initially kicked aroundfor the series, Rogen and Byrne’s return for a second season proved to be the right direction for the show.
Developed by Nicholas Stoller and Francesca Delbanco,Platonichas all the elements of one of Apple TV+’s signature feel-good comedy shows, but also refreshingly sharpens its edgy brand of humor.Rogen sticks to the raunchy and chaotic type of comedy that made him a household name, while Byrne is effortlessly relatable and alluring.
Just like in season 1,the soundtrack forPlatonicseason 2 is bouncy and on-point, evoking a sense of relaxed enjoyment. As a show that is very aware of its Los Angeles setting, particularly evident in Rogen’s various colorful streetwear outfits, some elements are crafted more towards West Coast sensibilities, but are done so without ostracizing the rest of America and beyond.
Platonic Season 2 Offers More Feel-Good LA Fun With Rogen & Byrne
If some of Apple TV+’s comedy shows are a bit too happy-go-lucky for you,Platonicmay provide a betterbalance between manufactured cheeriness and real-world (albeit first-world) problems. At its core, it’s a Los Angeles lifestyle show – not quite of the rich and famous likeEntourageorCurb Your Enthusiasm, but more like a “slice of life” for the relatively well-off and culturally attentive Angelenos.
BeforePlatonicseason 1’s “One Year Later” epilogue scene, in which the two protagonists reunite at a wedding,Will and Sylvia appeared to have outgrown each other. Will is surprisingly engaged to an executive at the restaurant company Johnny 66, and Sylvia puts her career aspirations in law aside to become a sought-after event planner.
The stars realign for Will and Sylvia when the latter plans the wedding for the former, which naturally brings them back into each other’s lives inPlatonicseason 2. Through Will,Sylvia can escape the trappings of her married-with-kids lifestyle. On the other end, Will wrangles his messy bachelor lifestyle through Sylvia’s advice and care.
The general vibe ofPlatonicsomewhat ironicallyreminds me of Judd Apatow’s underrated Netflix comedy showLove,starring Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust. Rogen’s Will and Byrne’s Sylvia have a similar dynamic as Jacobs' Mickey and Rust’s Gus, without the messy relationship stuff (but not without a jealous spouse or two).
In some ways, Will and Sylvia’s adult friendship feels like a fantasy tale about two childhood friends who remain inseparable well into their 40s. While there were years of distance between Will and Sylvia before the events ofPlatonic’sseries premiere,their rekindled friendship borders on codependency in the latest season.
Platonic Season 2’s Supporting Cast & Guest Stars Appeal To Millennial Audiences
Perhaps the second-best part ofPlatonic’scast is Luke Macfarlane’s Charlie, Sylvia’s husband. The high-achieving attorney and “dad of the year” was surprisingly funny throughoutPlatonicseason 1 and has awild and unexpected journey in season 2 involvingJeopardy!host and champion Ken Jennings.
Several 2010sSaturday Night Livealums –Beck Bennett, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney – guest star inPlatonicseason 2, which is sure to strike a chord with the show’s targeted millennial demographic. Charlie’s law buddy, Stewart (Guy Branum), and Sylvia’s neighborhood bestie Katie (Carla Gallo) also return to great effect, while Will’s bar gang is less involved than in season 1 without fading away completely.
What’s great about both seasons ofPlatonicis that they offer a generallystress-free viewing experience that won’t knock you off your feet with an abrupt emotional tone shift. It’s a true comedy that never veers too far away from the set-ups and punchlines, which is a big relief considering the current state of prestige TV comedy (Hacks,Ted Lasso, andThe Bearare essentially dramedies).
While Rogen’s otherApple TV+ comedy,The Studio, is in a league of its own, having just tied the record for most Emmy nominations for a comedy show (23), we still need harmless yet fearless comedy shows likePlatonic that simply aim to please. Rogen’s Will is the closest rendition of his classic stoner comedy persona since 2019’sLong Shot, which hits all the right kinds of nostalgia for aging millennials, even if the shtick is getting a bit old.
