FX's 'Adults' Season 2 Succeeds at Something Very Few Shows Manage To Achieve | Review

Overcompensating. I Love LA. Not Suitable for Work. In the words of Girls’ Hannah Horvath, everyone is trying to be “the voice of a generation.” That generation is now, of course, Gen Z. Many have tried to capture the teens and twenty-somethings of today, and nearly the same number have failed. Considering the rapid changes in slang and social media trends, not to mention complex attitudes about sex, technology, and various social issues, it’s a hard demographic to depict authentically, with many projects cringe-worthy, out of touch, or mean-spirited.

FX's Adults, however, emerged as a rare exception, showcasing a group of Zoomers in a way that was both spot-on and hilarious. The series felt like it was laughing with — not at — its majorly flawed but undeniably lovable characters, and they remained impossible not to root for even as they made increasingly embarrassing mistakes. The first season was ultimately imperfect but full of potential, and Season 2 capitalizes on it, returning with a sharper, more refined installment.

What Is ‘Adults’ Season 2 About?

Adults Season 2 picks up a short time after the first season ends. Billie (Lucy Freyer) is still unemployed, spending her days job hunting and dating around. Paul Baker (Jack Innanen) and Issa (Amita Rao) are together, but their connection doesn’t seem as strong as it once was — especially because Paul Baker and Anton’s (Owen Thiele) chemistry is getting harder to ignore. Samir (Malik Elassal) is still seeing Carly (Rachel Marsh) and hosting the whole gang under his parents’ roof.

The group encounters new challenges in Season 2, with each more chaotic than the last. Anton wants to prove to his older sister Talia (Raven Symone) that he is responsible enough to be a sperm donor for her and her wife; Samir has to convince Carly to go to dental school instead of pursuing her dreams of becoming a singer; and Billie has to scrub some culturally insensitive posts she made off the internet so potential employers don’t find them. While every storyline has an element of absurdity, they're rooted in the current anxieties and obstacles Gen Z faces.

‘Adults’ Season 2 Is Bigger, Sharper, and Funnier Than Season 1

Image via FX

Adults' reality-based situations are heightened for comedic effect and handled with irreverent humor, and the writing is tight and clever enough to make even well-worn concepts feel fresh and creative. One of Season 2’s greatest episodes sees the group drop acid; instead of relying on tired tropes and wacky hallucinations, the hour plays out like a modern twist on the Friends classic “The One Where Everybody Finds Out,” where, instead of discovering that Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) are together, the friends all discover that Issa and Paul Baker want to have a serious talk with each other.

Season 2's guest stars range from actors like Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo and Uncut Gems breakout Julia Fox to a smattering of social media cameos like Jake Shane and various Instagram interviewers, and the vast majority are brilliantly utilized. Perhaps the best is Zosia Mamet as an intense therapist with major beef with the group due to Paul Baker’s desire to become head of the HOA. Not only does her presence feel particularly fitting after her famous turn as Shoshanna in Girls, but she fully commits to the hilariously unhinged role, earning some of the biggest laughs.

Adults does a nice job paying homage to the media that came before it (I especially enjoyed the Easy A tribute, in which Billie pretends to have sex in a club bathroom), but it’s original enough to stand on its own, putting a unique spin on tried-and-true formulas. In Season 2, the group interacts with everything from K-pop to viral man-on-the-street interviews, making it feel new and resonant. In addition to the sharp dialogue, there's an impressive amount of well-executed physical comedy, and the cast goes all in with the slapstick vibes.

‘Adults’ Performances Still Feel Refreshingly Real in Season 2

Image via FX

There's a surprising amount of sweetness and heart mixed in with the edgy humor, and, to that effect, Adults never loses sight of its strongest element: the friendships. Its romances are compelling and integrated well into the overall plot, but they never eclipse the platonic dynamics at the core of the series. It helps that there are no weak links in the cast, with everybody playing their roles to perfection in a way that complements their co-stars. The show is a true ensemble, with everyone getting an opportunity to shine, and the group’s chemistry acts as the glue that holds everything together.

The cast also naturally grounds every storyline without the series ever losing its ability to surprise. Just when I thought I knew exactly where something was going, Adults subverted my expectations in the most unexpected ways while still feeling true to its ensemble. The sexual fluidity of many of its characters is done particularly well, with representation that doesn’t feel forced or reduce its protagonists to a singular trait.

With Season 2, Adults asserts itself as one of the first truly great Gen Z friendship comedies. Is it messy? Of course, but so are its characters, and its risks pay off more often than not. With better, more refined writing and performances that feel even more confident and lived-in, Adults achieves something that few shows do by improving in its sophomore season.

Adults Season 2 premieres August 27 on FX.

Release Date May 28, 2025

Showrunner Ben Kronengold, Rebecca Shaw

Directors Anu Valia

Writers Sarah Naftalis, Allie Levitan

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  Lucy Freyer

  Billie Schaeffer

Pros & Cons

• Adults Season 2 combines sharp writing with wild physical comedy.
• The performances are excellent across the board, with each actor complementing their co-stars.
• The guest stars are integrated well, strengthening the show instead of distracting from it.