We review the 2023 Netflix series Unstable season 1, which does not contain spoilers.
We have the return of Rob Lowe on a streaming platform playing alongside his son John Owen Lowe in Netflix’s eight-episode comedy series Unstable. The father/son combination also co-created the show with Victor Fresco, who created the Netflix hit series Santa Clarita Diet.
Unstable Season 1 Review and Plot Summary
Unstable follows a biotech genius who attempts to bounce back from the depths of grief with help from his son, who is working to escape his dad’s shadow and save the family business.
We meet Ellis, who is struggling to recover from the loss of his wife and seems to have returned to the company he built way too early. Then, Anna, his assistant, enlists Malcolm, seemingly obsessed with Ellis, to head to New York to get the one person who might get him back on track, his son.
Within the show’s first episode, you think you are in for a treat of laughs, but Ellis pulls a massive thing over his assistant and son’s heads that blows you away.
When the show started, I expected a no-nonsense comedy that was more slapstick and forgettable. However, I invested more in the story and the relationships than I ever thought I would.
The stakes might not be high, but the writing made you care about how things would play out. Ellis and Jackson had a dynamic of a father/son that was perfect.
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Of course, it was easy to fit into the roles of Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe as they are father and son.
Speaking of the Lowes, Rob Lowe has been someone that can be hit or miss in these types of comedy shows. I found his portrayal of Ellis enjoyable because he seemed to relate to the character.
As a result, you see a more laid-back, relaxed, and comfortable Lowe who eases into the delivery, nailing the dialogue. While John might be the son of Rob, I think his comedic timing is way different from his father’s, and that’s a good thing.
The stigma of being “Rob Lowe’s son” might stick with him forever, but Unstable showed me that this kid deserves his own chance.
Another thing that worked for the show was the ensemble. Furthermore, the writing of the ancillary characters made for them to be important and not afterthoughts. Because of that, you find yourself intrigued at every turn and not just when our main characters are on the screen.
It’s a well-written comedy series that made sure to understand the importance of the overall crew to the show. A few standouts for me were Sian Clifford, Rachel Marsh, and Emma Ferreira.
Is Unstable season 1 good?
Yes, because it’s equally an easy binge as a good show. The episodes fly by so fast and are such a delight you won’t realize you are already done with the show.
I don’t want to get my hopes up because Netflix does a great job of axing my favorite shows, but this is one that I hope they greenlit for a second season, as they have so much more they can explore.
What did you think of Unstable Season 1 ? Comment below.
