gamester80 Easy is filled with excellent performers giving excellent performances, but, ultimately, each episode has the feel of a good (but not great) indie-style character study. The series centers its focus squarely on relationships of all sorts: functional, dysfunctional, romantic, platonic, lavishing attention on details major and minor in an exhaustive effort. Ultimately, it even sacrifices the telling of an engaging or even simply complete story in service to an (admittedly) engaging performance. Taking each episode on its own, this leaves a fairly satisfying experience, but as a series, the lack of plot progress can be draining at its worst, and merely disinteresting at its best. The rotating cast of interconnected characters can function to draw the viewer in, but signifies nothing of importance to the individual story lines each indicates. Nuanced performances abound, though, from a collection of very talented actors, giving some sense of excitement as episodes progress and the cast is revealed, but without a worthy story to drive the action (as it were) forward, even this grows stale rapidly.

allison_oaks The synopsis says this series follows a group of friends through their life experiences in Chicago, sounds fun right? But every episode is about different people and has very little continuity or relation to the last story arc. This show is mostly random. One moment focusing on a couple starting a family, then a lesbian couple (that in no way knows the family), then a narcissist artist (that in no way knows the family or the couple).... I didn't dislike the show, I just don't see the point. I might have even been 'good' if the director and writers had been able to focus on one thing or one subject for more than 1 episode. You cannot have a show like this, one that reflects the lives of 'normal' people, and expect to get good character development in 30 minutes. It just doesn't work well and feels a bit shallow. But again, it was almost enjoyable and I did watch all 8 episodes, so I must not be all bad. To each their own.It's also listed as 'comedy' while in no way was this show funny. It's a realistic drama.

sm-02022 I had this show on my list of shows to watch. Before I started to watch the first episode for the first time, I had just finished fighting with my boyfriend. I was mad. I was punching-the-wall mad. Then I put this show on. And I forgot I was mad. I was smiling. I was so comfortable. Everything felt real. I felt like I was watching a YouTube video with real people talking about stuff. That's how compelling and real the acting in this show is. It is light, it is fluffy. It is in no way over the top and melodramatic or crazy plot twist. It is so EASY. Then at the end of the first episode, you obviously feel exactly what the lead actress is feeling. She is unhappy. She is dissatisfied. And we all know what this feels like. Then I remembered my boyfriend, and that we were in a fight. But, I was glad because I didn't feel this way about him, the way the lead felt about her husband. I love this show. It makes me smile. It is just so EASY.

Loebner I will start of by saying that I've liked and enjoyed some of Swanberg's other work. This, however, was mind-numbing for the most part and agonizing at its worst. One or two of the episodes were okay but the rest are like being the sober one at a party full of drunk people who love nothing more than to hear themselves talk about nothing. The only reason I even watched the whole season is because I was struggling through ulcer pain and needed something to anesthetize me. It deserves 10 stars for serving that purpose. It does have a strong cast, but the characters and dialogue are too often almost unbearable.