An intriguing mystery about the intricacies of family, love, and divorce that questions gender roles and the difference between our expectations and reality.

Based on a book by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Fleishman is in Trouble is a show that follows the story of Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg), a forty-something doctor and father trying to pick up the pieces after his divorce while also experiencing being newly single in the age of dating apps. His ex-wife, Rachel (Claire Danes), is a theater talent agent dealing with the struggles of career success and motherhood who’s always trying to keep up with the Joneses. The show is narrated by Toby’s college friend, a former magazine writer turned suburban mom (Lizzy Caplan). Via flashbacks, varying perspectives, and the narrator’s own story woven throughout, Toby’s story unravels. Each episode tells a part of the Fleishmans’ relationship, divorce, and the aftermath, giving the viewer an opportunity to hear the event from each half of the couple, as well as through the eyes and voices of their friends and children. While at times very emotional and raw, there are elements of mystery and laugh-out-loud humor that balance this dynamic show.

Intrigued by the various billboards and the upside-down image of New York City used in the marketing, I started Fleishman is in Trouble to see why he was, indeed, in trouble! From the first episode, I was captivated by the narrator’s voice and the air of mystery, which kept me guessing throughout the season. So often, a story is told from one point of view; I very much enjoyed watching the events unfold via multiple perspectives. I liked that the themes of divorce, gender roles, and parenthood were interwoven into the characters’ dialogues and actions, leaving plenty of room for thought. I felt like I could strongly connect to the characters’ emotions and tribulations without being married or having children.  

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The story kept me thinking during each episode and even after the series ended. I laughed, cried, and found myself existentially pondering the same questions as Toby and Rachel. Growing older is messy, yet full of experiences and opportunities to analyze the people and world around us while forging our own paths. I highly recommend this show to anyone looking for a good story and cast with many thought-provoking scenes!    

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Find Fleishman is in Trouble on Hulu!