Unstable (TV series) explained

Genre:Workplace comedy
Creator:Rob Lowe & John Owen Lowe & Victor Fresco
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Series:2
Num Episodes:16
Runtime:20–30 minutes
Network:Netflix

Unstable is an American workplace comedy television series starring Rob Lowe and his son John Owen Lowe, with both also acting as executive producers on the series, along with Victor Fresco. The series premiered on Netflix on March 30, 2023. In November 2023, the series was renewed for a second season which was released on August 1, 2024.

Synopsis

A father-son comedy in which socially shy son Jackson (John Owen Lowe) begins working for his successful and admired, but eccentric and narcissistic-adjacent, father Ellis (Rob Lowe) at his high-tech bio research facility in order to help save him from spiraling further following the death of his wife.[1]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

The show was picked up straight-to-series by Netflix and the formation of the show was reportedly inspired by John Owen Lowe's social media trolling of his father Rob Lowe.[2] John Owen Lowe described the series as "about a father-son dynamic that's very relatable but under a really specific lens, which is a father who loves being the center of attention and his son, who feels the exact opposite."[3]

It was announced in April 2022 that Rob Lowe and his son John Owen Lowe would both act as executive producers on the show along with Victor Fresco, with production being handled by the Netflix studio.[4] In June 2022 the series added Sian Clifford to the cast alongside Rachel Marsh, Emma Ferreira and Aaron Branch in series regular roles. Additionally, Fred Armisen, Tom Allen and JT Parr were announced in recurring roles.[5] On May 4, 2023, it was reported that the second season (yet to officially renew) of production has been shut down due to the writers strike.[6] On November 16, 2023 the series was officially renewed for a second season with Andrew Gurland taking over as showrunner from Fresco who was the showrunner for the first season for the eight-episode second series with production scheduled to begin in Los Angeles later that month.[7] The season wrapped filming in early February 2024.[8]

Episodes

Season 2 (2024)

Release

The eight episodes of Unstable were released on March 30, 2023.[9] [10] The second season was released on August 1, 2024.[11]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 67% approval rating with an average rating of 6.3/10, based on 18 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Unstable is a little wobbly as it veers between sincere family affair and scathing satire, but Rob Lowe's reliable comedic chops provide the necessary ballast."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]

Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times described the show as an "adorable workplace comedy that's odd enough to feel fresh and traditional enough to feel good."[14] Angie Han for The Hollywood Reporter said "it's very, very funny, thanks to a crackling combination of sharp writing, lovably eccentric characters and snappy comedic timing."[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Unstable': Rob Lowe Teams With Real-Life Son in Netflix Comedy First Look (VIDEO). TV Insider. Meaghan. Darwish. February 3, 2023. March 6, 2023. February 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230205093918/https://www.tvinsider.com/1080082/unstable-teaser-netflix-rob-lowe-john-owen-lowe/. live.
  2. Web site: Rob Lowe — and His Son — to Star in Netflix Comedy 'Unstable'. The Hollywood Reporter. Lesley. Goldberg. April 6, 2022. March 6, 2023. March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314234924/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rob-lowe-and-his-son-to-star-in-netflix-comedy-unstable-1235125971/. live.
  3. Web site: Rob Lowe and His Son Discuss Taking Father-Son Dynamics to the Small Screen in 'Unstable': "Not a Whole Lot of Acting". The Hollywood Reporter. Carly. Thomas. February 3, 2023. March 6, 2023. March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314234924/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rob-lowe-son-teaser-relationship-netflix-series-unstable-1235317451/. live.
  4. Web site: Rob Lowe & Son John Owen Lowe To Star In Netflix Comedy Series 'Unstable' From Victor Fresco. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. April 6, 2022. March 6, 2023. March 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330164622/https://deadline.com/2022/04/rob-lowe-son-john-owen-lowe-netflix-comedy-series-unstable-victor-fresco-1234995276/. live.
  5. Web site: Rob Lowe, John Owen Lowe Netflix Comedy Series 'Unstable' Adds Six to Cast. Variety. Joe. Otterson. June 15, 2022. March 6, 2023. March 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230315105758/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/rob-lowe-john-owen-lowe-netflix-comedy-series-unstable-cast-1235295097/. live.
  6. Web site: 'Unstable': Season 2 Of Rob Lowe & John Owen Lowe's Netflix Comedy Series Shut Down Due To Writers Strike. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. May 4, 2023. May 4, 2023. May 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230504170701/https://deadline.com/2023/05/writers-strike-unstable-season-2-rob-lowe-john-owen-lowes-netflix-comedy-shut-down-1235356129/. live.
  7. Web site: Rob Lowe's 'Unstable' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix. Hollywood Reporter. Lesley. Goldberg. November 16, 2023. November 16, 2023.
  8. Web site: 'Unstable' Fans, You're Not Ready for This Season 2 News John Owen Lowe Just Dropped . February 3, 2024. July 28, 2024. Good Housekeeping. Freedman. Adrianna.
  9. Web site: Petski . Denise . February 3, 2023 . 'Unstable': Rob Lowe & John Owen Lowe Netflix Comedy Gets Premiere Date – Watch The Teaser . February 4, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood . February 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203235619/https://deadline.com/2023/02/unstable-rob-lowe-john-owen-lowe-netflix-comedy-premiere-date-watch-teaser-1235249060/ . live .
  10. Web site: Rob Lowe Is an Unstable Tech Titan in Teaser for Netflix Comedy With Son John Owen Lowe — Get Release Date. TVLine. Matt Webb. Mitovich. February 3, 2023. March 6, 2023. March 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230306153037/https://tvline.com/2023/02/03/rob-lowe-unstable-release-date-teaser-netflix/. live.
  11. Web site: Swift. Andy. Rob Lowe's Unstable Sets Season 2 Return on Netflix — First Trailer Addresses That Explosive Cliffhanger. TVLine. May 6, 2024. May 6, 2024.
  12. unstable. Unstable. tv. 1. June 30, 2023. y.
  13. unstable. Unstable. tv. 1. June 30, 2023. y.
  14. News: 'Unstable' review: Rob and John Owen Lowe team up in this charming workplace comedy. Robert. Lloyd. March 29, 2023. LA Times. March 30, 2023. March 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230329215005/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-03-29/unstable-rob-lowe-netflix-review. live.
  15. Web site: Angie. Han. The Hollywood Reporter. March 30, 2023. March 30, 2023. 'Unstable' Review: Rob Lowe and Son John Owen Lowe Make a Winning Pair in a Netflix Comedy That Keeps the Focus on Fun. March 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330072949/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/unstable-review-rob-lowe-1235361671/. live.

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