Nat Faxon and Judy Greer are amazing. I've loved them and their other shows and movies and I'm glad to have a chance to shine in this vehicle. The shows secret weapon however is Jenny Slate. She steals absolutely every scene that she's in and she's hysterical.
I recorded the first episode on the DVR but then saw all of the negative review and almost didn't watch this. After just watching the 3rd episode tonight, I am very pleased that I chose not to delete. Every episode has some painfully funny and TRUE moments ("Oh, I remember that happening to me) and I find I have a wry smile though out. Whether its relationship stuff, children issues, or just illustrating what we go through getting older, this show has got it right so far.
So, I really don't think the criticism justified here. My wife has asked me twice this week "When is that Married show on again?" - and she hasn't asked me about any other shows in ages. Hopefully more people will catch on and we'll get to see these character develop over time. 9 out of 10.
Slate's intriguing as Russ' best friend, a woman who married an older man (Paul Reiser) and whose situation is more complicated, and more interesting, than it appears at first. But even if Married was all about her, I'd probably still find it more sad than funny.
Ms. Greer and Mr. Faxon are talented comedians, but the writing isn’t quite up to their abilities.... The show improves when Russ leaves the house and hangs out with his bitter, profane best friends.
There’s so much talent here and a bit of promising direction for the characters in that fourth episode that I could see Married turn it around but, to start, it’s a true disappointment, especially given how often Faxon and Greer have made what they appeared in before just a bit better.
The material is wooden, lacking the kind of deft writing that would push the premise beyond sitcom cliché and make the characters more engaging. Show creator Andrew Gurland tries to add some racy fun with a few super quirky supporting players, but they only feel tacked on and forced.
Amazing cast with a premise that might seem a bit familiar, but it's done in a way that makes me wanting more by the end of the 30 minute-mark. Love the indie-like feel of this comedy.
Of course, Nat Faxon and Judy Greer are great. That's what they do. The episodes that stick to real-life situations tend to be the ones that work best. However, this couple is faced with (or causes) a lot of really ridiculous situations that make it impossible to empathize or care. It also has a handful of really unlikable supporting characters. It pains me to say, because I like Jenny Slate and John Hodgman, but their characters, along with Brett Gelman's, are all pretty terrible people. That's not necessarily a bad thing if there is something redeeming or that one can relate to, but I am just not interested in watching a show about narcissists who totally lack self-awareness and whose problems are all self-inflicted. It makes it very hard to care. I live in LA and am in my early 40s. I have friends on the spectrum from just getting by to extremely successful. This show is basically about people living similar lives to me, my friend's and their families, but it just doesn't feel like my life or anything I could fathom being my life at all. So, it makes me say to myself "Who are these people?" constantly... but not because I want to actually know, but because I don't believe they exist. I'm still watching, because I sense they could be onto something, but I am still waiting for it to come up to my expectations.
This show is shot realistically, not like a sitcom. The sets appear to be authentic. There is no laughing audience. The stars are so-so looking or at least made up that way, not like your average TV stars, which adds to the realism. I say this because the realism, coupled with the relentless cynicism, makes the show very unappealing to me. I could laugh along with Seinfeld, because half the time Jerry was breaking character revealing that it was just a show, the sets were clearly fake, and the actors were broad archetypes. Everything was exaggerated, as in a comedic play on stage. But when you insert a Seinfeldian cynicism into a show that is in all other ways so realistic, it comes off to me as unfunny and just kind of sick. I ask myself, "Who can relate to this?" My wife after we watched the pilot together said, "Don't ask me to watch this show with you again." But I gave it a couple more tries. After episode 3 I gave up. I'm a decade older than the guy in the show, married with child, and I just don't have anything close to the jaded negative attitude he and his wife have; and the bad job they do as parents. One episode started with the three kids bickering on the way to school with their mother, and for some reason this was supposed to be funny. I didn't understand why. Another moment had the husband suggesting they put the dog to sleep rather than pay for its expensive treatment at the vet, and use the savings to take a vacation. The whole thing to me is just kind of sick.
Disappointing, acting and situations too bizarre and unbelievable. Annoying to watch, characters seem to do nothing but roll their eyes, smirk and complain. Leads are OK, but the side-kick characters are obnoxious and try too hard, especially John Hodgman, who seems to think that he's going to break through on TV with this show.