Series compared to Friends has fans begging for one thing after 8 episodes

Series compared to Friends has fans begging for one thing after 8 episodes

It’s been over 30 years since the first episode of Friends, when Rachel Green infamously ran into Central Perk in a wedding dress – now there’s a new show about New Yorkers muddling through in their twenties in its stead.

The eight-episode comedy Adults sees a group of twenty-something housemates navigating the highs and lows of adulthood together and it’s already being compared to the sitcom classic.

The new Disney Plus show follows the close-knit – and perhaps codependent – friendship group of Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Paul (Jack Innanen), Issa (Amita Rao) and Anton (Owen Thiele) as they live together in Samir’s childhood home in Queens.

With a stellar soundtrack and guest stars ranging from Charlie Cox to Julia Fox, the show has already gone down a storm with Disney subscribers and is climbing up the platform’s UK top 10 ranking.

The official synopsis for Adults reads: ‘Whether they’re trying to get ahead at work, navigating the healthcare system, hosting a dinner party or dating in the age of Find My Friends, the group is finding that nothing about the real world is simple, and all their best intentions tend to make things worse.’

The show’s creators, Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, are former writers on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and referenced Friends as one of the inspirations. 

All 8 episodes are out now! 

‘We grew up on Friends, Seinfeld, Living Single and then Broad City and Girls, all of these friend group comedies,’ Shaw told The Sydney Morning Herald. ‘It’s our favourite genre of television.’

The writing duo are also a couple, as Kronengold added: ‘We bonded over it very early in our friendship and relationship. We were fans, but also students of the thing. Even the name, Adults, is kind of an homage to the genre.’

Shaw continued: ‘[The show is about] that symbiosis of those two parts of young adulthood: the discomfort of wading through something strange, and then knowing your friends will be there for you on the other side of it.’

Disney Plus viewers have already taken to X to praise the show, with @poetsonfilm tweeting: ‘Finally started watching adults and it’s an instant hit what can i say.’

@Bondos_b) added: ‘Finished season 1 of Adults and I loved it. Felt like a modern day Friends. I hope this gets a second season!’ They then added: ‘Overcompensating was better though,’ referring to the similar Gen Z comedy currently streaming on Prime Video.

The show has been hailed an ‘instant hit’

Fellow viewers were also adamant the show needs a second season, with @leedfrazer writing: ‘Still waiting for that Adults season two renewal FX… anytime now…’

@Maxime_pvv chimed in: ‘I’ve just (already) finished all 8 episodes of #AdultsFX, really a fun comedy like we had in the 2010s. I’m hoping for a season 2 because I miss them already!’

There are also plenty of stellar reviews of the show on IMDb, with @Katie-612 writing: ‘I think so many sitcoms are pitched now as being ‘like Friends for Gen Z’ but it’s hard to find a show that actually understands what made Friends so captivating. 

‘I found Adults to be laugh out loud funny and it truly felt like it was written by people in their 20s who understand what it’s like to be entering adulthood in this decade. 

‘Most importantly, I think it really captured friendships and the kind of odd groups you often find yourself in right out of college. I think this show will really find its footing in the next seasons and we’ll begin to feel really attached to the characters. I put it on expecting to just watch a few episodes but I ended up bingeing the whole thing.’

Adults is available to stream on Disney Plus.