ose Byrne and Seth Rogen, as a duo, possess the power to turn anything into an engrossing and enjoyable watch. Platonic, the Apple TV+ series, explores the chaotic yet precious chemistry of these stars against the bustling setting of Los Angeles.

Directed by Nicholas Stoller alongside Francesca Delbanco and executive-produced by Rogen and Byrne, the series brings together the stars of the R-rated comedy hits Neighbors and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising.

Byrne takes on the character of Sylvia and Rogen essays the role of Will in the series. Both are trying to navigate the midlife crisis. As far as fashion goes, Sylvia prefers pantsuits, while Will is all for vintage designer clothes.

Sylvia is a lawyer turned stay-at-home mom, re-evaluating her decision 13 years later. She struggles with burnout from raising three kids and her passion for law has long faded.

Then, there is Will who is a recently-divorced brewery owner. He seeks contentment through selling quality products. He also grapples with idiosyncrasies or peculiar habits such as kicking electric scooters and finding absurd reasons to contact his former partner.

In their younger years, the two had had a strong friendship. They were best friends. However, their marriages to other people gradually put a strain on their once-solid bond. Sylvia, a stay-at-home mom, had the responsibility to raise children while Will’s now-former wife harboured a dislike for Sylvia.

Now divorced, Will sees a chance to reconnect with Sylvia. Initially, it appears that they have grown too distant but eventually, the ice melts and they slip back into their old ways.

After Sylvia reaches out, she and Will briefly reunite. They share a hilariously awkward moment at Starbucks. Despite an initial lack of conversation, Will invites Sylvia to a bar, never expecting her to actually show up. Their impulsive rekindling of friendship leads to a night of fun and a series of subsequent hangouts, altering their dynamic over time. The series does not tell us much about the background of their friendship and how they became friends. Nonetheless, the viewers can clearly see their chemistry in the energetic and lively work of Byrne and Rogen. There is no need for flashbacks or too many pictures.

In the 10-part comedy series, middle-aged stress and joyful absurdity come together perfectly. Byrne and Rogen hit all the right emotional notes with excitement and a touch of raw emotion. Beyond the laughs, the show invites the viewers to reconnect with parts of themselves they might worry they have lost over time — whether for better or worse.

The possibility of either of them misinterpreting signals or changing the dynamics is close to zero. Rather, external viewpoints exemplified by Sylvia’s husband Charlie, played by Luke Macfarlane, have the potential to complicate the relationship. Charlie tries hard to hide his growing jealousy with a smile. Sylvia confides in Will about certain matters, excluding her husband.

Sylvia and Charlie have a strong marriage, yet the narrative never elaborates on the distance where Charlie signifies a void that Sylvia might try to fill elsewhere. Macfarlane depicts a supportive yet wounded partner stranded on the sidelines.

When it comes to creating mischief, be it of the positive or negative kind, Platonic seems to have an unwritten rule not to set the bar too high for either drama or comedy. It essentially throws Byrne and Rogen into moderately amusing antics such as when Sylvia and Will explore a potential new home only to discover it is an assisted living care facility, prompting Rogen to engage in witty banter in his most self-amused manner. The same casual appeal is evident in a scene where they try drugs in a bathroom or later try to fix a pricey painting.

Platonic mostly opts for mild conflicts, giving the impression of being unwilling to risk disrupting the established ease with anything remotely challenging. While this caution is commendable, the series appears to lack depth in its exploration of themes.

At the same time, it is refreshing to see a show skip the whole will-they-won’t-they friendship cliché. In a sea of sitcoms where friends often become more than that, Platonic is not about the usual drama. This comedy is about two close friends who are a good match but don’t want to be romantically involved.

Initially, when the two reconnect, they try to relive their youth by drinking, getting stoned, bleaching hair, stealing lizards and chatting in diners. As time goes on, their friendship grows into a solid support system during midlife crisis, even if it is not always easy. Knowing each other’s history and current situations adds a unique depth to their connection. No one else can give them that perspective.

Middle-age stress and joyful absurdity come together perfectly in the 10-part series. Byrne and Rogen hit all the right emotional notes with excitement and a touch of raw emotion. Beyond the laughs, the show invites the viewers to reconnect with parts of themselves they might worry they have lost over time — whether for better or worse. No matter how old one becomes, they are still very much in the game. Platonic provides a space for older millennials to let loose and bounce back. All in all, this hangout-centric series delivers laughter, cringe, cackles and fun escapism.

The author is a freelance contributor