Unstable is a comedy series revolving around Ellis Dragon, a narcissistic entrepreneur who is mentally struggling and whose only hope of fixing things is his son, Jackson. The series is streaming on Netflix.
Story
Ellis Dragon is an eccentric, self-absorbed biotech entrepreneur who has been on a downward spiral ever since his wife Katie died. His company CFO Anna figures that the only other person that could help him get back on track is his son Jackson.
Jackson moves back in with his father as the two of them tackle the long-term problems they have had in their relationship and try to help each other get over their grief over losing Katie. ‘
Meanwhile, Anna and the other people working at the office, specifically Malcolm, Luna, and Ruby, do their best to make sure the company progresses in their main aims and ensure that Ellis doesn’t lose his job by delivering on their promises.
Various relationships are explored as Ellis and Jackson learn and grow together along with everyone else around them.
Performances
Rob Lowe is delightfully charming as he always is and brings so much infectious energy to his role. He showcases all the maverick qualities of an inspirational rich person without being too obnoxious and Lowe is the perfect person to play the role.
John Owen Lowe isn’t too far behind his father in the quality of his performance as the awkward yet entertaining Jackson. Owen Lowe acts as a great foil to his father’s eccentricities and puts in a very grounded performance.
Sian Clifford is best remembered for her role in Fleabag and her portrayal of Anna is not too dissimilar. It’s certainly a lot more fun as Clifford is given a lot to work with and she performs brilliantly.
Aaron Branch, Rachel Marsh, and Emma Ferreira round out a charismatic cast that appears to have loads of fun playing their parts and that translates to an appealing tone on screen.
Positives
The series balances all of its plotlines effectively and the episodes never feel overcrowded at any point. The narrative moves along comfortably and is directed well.
The script is quite simple yet constantly drops nuggets of philosophical wisdom, mostly related to relationships. It is aided by the wonderful delivery of the cast and has quite an impact.
The soundtrack is very playful and fits consummately with the tone of the series. There are a couple of songs added to the soundtrack that unquestionably belong there.
Negatives
Unstable does occasionally have the issue of not letting a critical moment breathe and that diminishes the weight of that particular scene. Watching Jackson taking a big step by using the peanut butter his mother made or his kiss with Ruby are two clear examples.
The scene pushes the trope of an incompetent therapist a little too far. While Fred Armisen is quite enjoyable, the fact that he’s supposed to be a licensed therapist seems more and more ridiculous as the story progresses and the whole concept requires a slight suspension of disbelief.
Verdict
Unstable (2023) is a good series that misses out on being great because it doesn’t push the boundaries of its concept and takes an easy approach to the narrative. Nonetheless, it is thoroughly entertaining and the cast provides an amusing experience for all.
Also Read: Unstable (2023) ending explained: Does Ellis remain in charge of his company?
