Easy (2016–2019) User Reviews (102)

So far pretty underrated

[Moonlander90 · 8/10 · 24 September 2016]

After binge-watching this amazing new Netflix Original in one day I was curious about peoples opinions on IMDb and was honestly pretty shocked to see the overall rating so far. First off I am not a professional writer and I don't write reviews very often, so this will just be my little, short take on the show, nothing more and nothing less.

Easy is a Romantic-Drama Anthology series (like Tales from the Crypt did with Horror, Black Mirror with Sci-Fi and so on...), which means that each episode of this show is a self-contained story. Sometimes characters from one episode will have small connections with characters from others, but except for two episodes (Which are also my favorites), the stories aren't connected to each other.

The show has comedic elements but overall I would definitely call it a drama. It is the brainchild of Indie-Filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Drinking Buddies, Digging for Fire). Fans of Mumblecore and artsy Rom-Coms will have a lot of fun with this little gem.

Easy aims at examining the small and big problems in modern-day love relationships and how the people involved deal with them. The writing and acting are absolutely superb, the stories engaging and realistic, the characters and their issues are very relatable and the cinematography is artistic without being pretentious. The overall style, pace and execution reminds me a lot of the even better (HBO) show "Togetherness" by the Duplass brothers. I also want to give a small shout-out to the musical score and soundtrack, great song choices!

Some of the actors in Easy are unknown and some are familiar faces, I was definitely surprised to see some A-Listers acting in here, but overall I thought that the lesser known actors fit in more with the indie-vibe the show is going for.

Not every episode blew my mind, but for the most part I absolutely loved Easy and can't wait for season 2! Highly recommended!

This rating---just, no

[Br4ve-trave1or · 8/10 · 13 May 2019]

This series is as underrated as it is, so I hate the idea that people make come here and be underwhelmed by a 6.8, however that seems to be the general consensus here.

Well, its wrong! This series is amazing! An anthology that returns to old episodes featuring actors that you will be very familiar with that perform a stunning job in the 30 minutes they have (in that specific episode).

Please read the professional reviews of season three and you will see across the board they're all positive and shine on this show. The creator holds no punches, so it is rather raw, so to speak. Its engaging, hilarious, and real! Watch it

Second season is worth it

[andremedeiros · 8/10 · 22 December 2017]

If like me and many other viewers you thought the first season fell just short of being a compelling show, here's some good news. Season 2 brings better stories and acting, while keeping the same style and great cast as the previous episodes. I'm impressed by Joe Swanberg's growth as a TV director and his capacity as a screenwriter to come up with conflicts that are consistently relatable and thought provoking. If you hated the first season though, you're probably better ignoring this one.

Real Hit Or Miss

[nojazzhere · 7/10 · 9 December 2022]

I don't believe I've ever reviewed an anthology-type of series, and find it challenging. Out of 25 episodes, several should have been completely left out, several more were "OK"......but not inspiring, and 4 were not only great, but exceptional. Unless you have 12-14 hours to kill and want to watch EVERYTHING.....I'm going to recommend something I never have before. Watch only the four GREAT episodes. They revolve around a couple with two children. Kyle (Michael Chernus) is a stay-at-home father, who is also a stage actor and (as yet) unsuccessful playwright. Andi (Elizabeth Reaser) is his wife, who has an apparently successful career, and is the family's breadwinner. They seem to be a happy couple, but there's trouble in paradise.

I don't want to elaborate with any spoilers, but the "problems" they experience are very typical of people in a long-term relationship, although they decide on an ATYPICAL solution, that ultimately brings even more unhappiness. (at least to one of them) The writer of this film examines many modern dilemmas of marriage, and how unexpected consequences can rear their ugly heads. The episodes I recommend are.....Season One, episode 1, Season Two, episode 2, and Season 3, episodes 1 and 5. They are about 2 1/2 hours in total, and if they were a single film, I would give them a 12 out of 10 rating. (yes, a TWELVE.....they're that good) That said, I gave the entire series a 7....meaning some episodes only earned a 4 or 5.

I can't praise Elizabeth Reaser and Michael Chernus enough!

Enjoyable everyday life...stuff

[typhoon74 · 7/10 · 3 October 2016]

Its not a show that will end up with awards and all that, but its quite enjoyable and pretty perfect for a Sunday chill on the couch. Either alone or with your boyfriend/girlfriend. If you're single you may be glad you are after watching this. If you watch it with your bf/gf you may end up having a discussion about...well, you'll see...

Each episode is 30 minutes and (more or less) has a story of its own. Mostly about dating, love, sex and relationship struggles - in other words, everyday life stuff. The acting is good enough and the stories are to the point and short enough so it never gets boring or too cliché.

If you're a fan of Togetherness, you may like this one.

Real.

[agabel12 · 9/10 · 21 December 2017]

I think this show is... if anything, real. The characters are genuine and dynamic - BUT! WAIT!!! They're TOO 'normal' or 'average' or dare I say "boring".... welllllll most people are a little boring. This doesn't make them any less interesting to watch, because boring doesn't mean they don't have something to say. You need to watch it for the interactions, authentic dialogue in a variety of settings and awkward situations. Such is life.

Some have said it's "boring" or "unwatchable" and there should be more "excitement" which I don't fully understand.... What do you expect from a show that focuses on relationships and the concept that "love isn't *easy*" to involve? Paternity tests? Violent murders? Dragons? There's tons of that already. This is something new: it's looking into complex relationships in a really simple and relatable way.

Also, by complex relationships I mean: feminists becoming hookers, open marriages, the-one-that-got-away appearing on the doorstep of the apartment you share with your partner, happy couples seeking a third on Tinder, affluent neighbours coming together to become Big Brother, and lots and lots and LOTS of sex) - I mean these don't sound like boring storylines to me but hey. I like it, so I'm biased.

I think it's easy to watch and it's not afraid to broach taboo subjects, like say - 'gang-bang fantasies', and maybe some don't like to see what's behind the curtain.

For someone like me who likes slow books and films that don't have you on the edge of your seat, desperate to reach the "big fight scene" - but have you there to watch, to enjoy, to think, to question.

Appropriate title

[cyaneidae-78179 · 6/10 · 2 October 2016]

The title 'Easy' seems appropriate: the show is the TV equivalent of Easy Listening. It's visual elevator music. No less pleasant and no more exciting than going for a leisurely walk. It is realistic to the point of being banal; the episodes bumble along for twenty minutes and (in some cases) ultimately build up to a mildly interesting premise that might have potential to develop into a good story line, just to finish and launch into the next mildly engaging idea in the next episode. Rinse and repeat. There is no tension whatsoever. Some of the cast is great and I am pleased to see that Orlando Bloom is aging very well; I sort of enjoyed watching this show, but I cannot quite work out why it was made.

Strong Adult Series

[howard690 · 9/10 · 18 December 2016]

Wow, I really like this show. I want it to keep going. I really enjoyed how the characters from the previous episodes appear here and there in the various episodes. I would like to see the show keep going, so I hope it makes it. The performances are strong and the character development is outstanding for the 30 or less minutes each episode. One thing I have to say is its not like what I normally watch. Its is NOT violent in any way shape or form and nothing tragically bad happens. It's just about people and their relationships. I enjoyed the episode "Chemistry Read" the most. Overall, the series provides lots to consider. Strong series. I would love to see the characters continue. This is a version of THIS IS US for a more adult audience. I have to admit I binge watched this series in less than 24 hours because it was that compelling it it's -20* outside. I'm ready for season 2.

What a pleasant surprise

[ersbel · 18 July 2017]

I usually get bored at the TV series format. A short script made long to fit one, hopefully two seasons when there probably wasn't enough material for the 90 minutes of a feature film. With easy things are different. I get back to the old series where the theme was bounding the episodes together and not the same cast chasing their own tail waiting for the season finale to shout "Gotcha!" The episodes are independent here.

The acting is also surprisingly natural. Usually the TV series get the ones who failed in movies. That combined with the diluted story and everything is fine if you go take the water out of the fridge as not much has changed. And in Easy things are beyond screen natural and almost like watching the people at the next table in a restaurant at lunch.

This is about snapshots. There aren't true stories in. Finally the snapshots are about today. As even movies seem to have a board of old white men who want to resonate with the story, meaning action set for "now" is happening more like 20 years ago. Easy is about today: phone apps and all.

Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

What is missing in such a good TV Series?

[attilatormus · 6/10 · 10 November 2019]

I liked watching episodes of Easy. I was very impressed from performance of some players in the series. Although I felt time to time a strong inspiration in some episodes and in some dialogues from Woody Allen's movie, I found the subjects and issues very interesting. Easy nutrishes our way of looking in a different way to a very common subjects that we live and helps earning new understanding. However the reason why I gave 6 points as my rating rather than a better point is that the stories are not well connected. The dialogues go really well but there is a rythm/tempo problem in streaming an episode. The story sometime gets really boring and sometime too slow or too self-oriented depction. The combination of dialogues are also sometime not well merged. Time to time I had big difficulty to keep my enthusiasm for watching the episode. I surely advise Easy for watching but I'd like to see more tempo in the show.

Interesting but unrewarding

[gamester80 · 4/10 · 13 January 2018]

Easy is filled with excellent performers giving excellent performances, but, ultimately, each episode has the feel of a good (but not great) indie-style character study. The series centers its focus squarely on relationships of all sorts: functional, dysfunctional, romantic, platonic, lavishing attention on details major and minor in an exhaustive effort. Ultimately, it even sacrifices the telling of an engaging or even simply complete story in service to an (admittedly) engaging performance.

Taking each episode on its own, this leaves a fairly satisfying experience, but as a series, the lack of plot progress can be draining at its worst, and merely disinteresting at its best. The rotating cast of interconnected characters can function to draw the viewer in, but signifies nothing of importance to the individual story lines each indicates.

Nuanced performances abound, though, from a collection of very talented actors, giving some sense of excitement as episodes progress and the cast is revealed, but without a worthy story to drive the action (as it were) forward, even this grows stale rapidly.

A Man who loves laughing at life's commonalities

[ekidd-13631 · 10/10 · 5 September 2017]

I am sitting there, minding my own business, and this random show pops up.

This show is great. Anyone who has been in a relationship and lived with their spouse for more than 5 years will understand this show. It doesn't all have to do with love and the functions of a everyday relationship; However, there are 'thesis statements' to every episode that you will miss if you haven't gone through your own version of the experience being acted out through the show(what....).It's got a lot of very captivating scenes where you understand the exact moment because you can put yourself in the shoes of the actor(s).

TV shows now-a-days are filled with intense/in your face drama. We got dragons, trump (ha! Autocorrect didn't capitalize it), music producers fighting with each other, you name it. I just like seeing more sincere/genuine scenes. I don't need heart clenching drama or suspense. I appreciate good 'ol painful life moments, the stuff I have laughed at myself for later on, get placed on my TV screen (computer screen, you get the gist).

This show is boring for a lot of people, from what I see for the reviews. It's not gonna be your "13 reasons why" replacement, it will be over before you realize it, and you will be off to another show.

Good night, and good luck.

An interesting anthology romance show

[swilliky · 7/10 · 27 September 2016]

Netflix has a new anthology series that explores sex and relationships through various couples in Chicago. From newly formed couples to married with kids to one night stands, the relationships range in time and type but share a common thread of humanity. The characters are interconnected loosely with a few sticking out as unconnected or at least, I missed the connection. The episodes vary enough that I could see them appealing to different people and not always hitting for others.

The first episode explores a couple trying to reignite their sex life with kids and a role reversal of the woman being the primary breadwinner. The second follows the couple's babysitter and her new relationship with an activist who has her exploring veganism and biking. The third episode introduces brothers who work to start an illegal brewery while trying to start families. The fourth show a Hispanic couple moving into a new apartment and encountering an old friend. The fifth has a graphic novelist working to revive his career and suffering from the repercussions of putting his social life on the page. The sixth has a couple exploring online dating together. The seventh deals with aging and living a single life after a long term relationship, and the final episode returns to the brewery to follow a reporter working to interview the brothers.

Check out more of this review and others at swilliky.com

Insufferable: this show is Woody Allen as a millennial

[Loebner · 3/10 · 5 October 2016]

I will start of by saying that I've liked and enjoyed some of Swanberg's other work. This, however, was mind-numbing for the most part and agonizing at its worst. One or two of the episodes were okay but the rest are like being the sober one at a party full of drunk people who love nothing more than to hear themselves talk about nothing. The only reason I even watched the whole season is because I was struggling through ulcer pain and needed something to anesthetize me. It deserves 10 stars for serving that purpose. It does have a strong cast, but the characters and dialogue are too often almost unbearable.

Really real!

[markmclews · 6/10 · 19 December 2020]

An old saying that reflects to cinema and theatre is.......In the Greek Tragedies you never know what The Gods had for breakfast! This series is just too real, too normal, it's weirdly voyeuristic, it feels like you are peeping at your neighbours! The worst thing about it is, it just feels so Canadian !

High Maintenance but for sex in Chicago instead of drugs in NYC

[gobberpooper · 7/10 · 26 September 2022]

An easy going anthology that's about the everyday lives of people in Chicago, and how they navigate relationships or the role sex (or lack thereof) plays in their lives.

I wouldn't call it particularly engaging, but I also don't know that it's meant to be. There's something comforting about the normalcy found in the diversity of situations. It's also just really nice background watching while I'm working.

The comparisons to High Maintenance are obvious so comparing them, I feel like this show could do a better job of showcasing Chicago. Chicago seems to be experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately in the arts and media, and I was hoping to see some of that here. When you watch High Maintenance you can almost smell the city, you can feel it breathe through you. I'm only a season in but I haven't really felt that yet.

great view on relationships

[mehrjadidi · 10/10 · 23 September 2016]

this show just feels real, the fact that this show is a anthology and has a different relationship in each episode starring lets it show all the stages and different ways people deal with relationships.

All the characters live in the same world but they don't let that force them to write a character from the last episode to be mention or show up in though out the rest of the series. characters only show up when it works.

the only thing that even slightly brothers me is in the second episode the relationship featured is annoying to me. the black girl(forgot her name) seems like a really dumb person. she just seems superficial with no real personality but even saying that, the episode works cause she feels like a real person. a real superficial person that I wouldn't like in real life. she is a dumb person you would see just partying all day, she's great cause she still feels real.

And I think that's the thing I want to end on, is that this show has this way of showing you a family, couple, or even just a person going though their relationship in such a realistic way that it doesn't feel like watching a show but looking into another person's life.

Interesting

[bananalover-25939 · 7/10 · 19 May 2019]

I find this TV show really interesting. Some of the episodes I dislike such as all the brewery brothers storyline, the package thief, chemistry read. I found they left little effect on me in relation to other episodes such as contralada, the open marriage couple storyline, the vegan cinderella storyline, art and life, prodigal daughter, side hustle, utopia (I am only up to season 3 episode 1). But it's all personal opinion really.

• I appreciate all the different kinds of relationships, not just sexual but familial.
• I love how we see such a variety in types of people - old, young, single, relationship, parent, childless, sexuality etc.
• I find the dialogue to be particularly interesting and very realistic. Nothing feels carefully orchestrated in the best way - it feels natural.
• The characters all seem to have a very artistic liberal background which for me isn't an issue. It's nice to see people from that area not be portrayed in a crazy, activist judgemental way. I feel some could be deterred by this due to the SJW image of the liberals but its really not like that in this show.

On the whole I'm glad I started watching this. Its made me think about relationships in a different way. I feel whoever watches this will find atleast one storyline relatable. I do tend to skip the story lines I don't like.

Netflix and chill

[tstrijdonk · 8/10 · 7 November 2016]

Easy to watch. Really good acting. You recognize a lot of things in your own life. It's easy, makes you smile and makes you think about your relationship. And the threesome episode was a surprise on more levels. It's also fun that the episodes are standing by themselves, but that some characters are seen in more episodes. Also, I love that some subjects are still taboo. It makes you think outside the box. Only some parts are a bit boring. You can let it on on the background and do some housework.

Nice way to spend your evening. Absolute Netflix and chill ( sometimes even with the " dirty" parts)

Fun, sexy

[SuperLad14 · 7/10 · 20 August 2019]

Fun, sexy and so very well acted. Just really natural and real all the way around.

Maybe too easy?

[sophieoirdi · 4/10 · 11 July 2018]

The first episode had the effect of a not strong enough coffee, leaving a frustrating taste on the tongue. As I've seen this happening with other series before, I decided to follow my curiosity and give it a further chance. The second episode was actually better and revealed a connection with characters of the first episode, as in some other anthology series.

Then, a few episodes passed by and I recognised the disappointing pattern: beginning, middle and end are all wrapped up in one episode, without even an ounce of drama. If this was a book, or if we wanted to precisely target the writing, this would definitely not be called a page-turner. There is no suspense whatsoever, and no attachment or interest for the characters, who barely have a name.

Some plots could have been really interesting to explore more deeply and include more conflict, but the whole thing just felt like some kind of intrusion in someone else's life. You're sitting comfortably watching the show, expecting an incident or dramatic situation, which.. doesn't happen.

The way it's filmed - as well as the dialogue - can make you feel like it's a documentary, because of the extreme realness. The dialogue itself sometimes actually suffers from its reality, lacking depth and creativity, as well as allowing one too many times speech patterns such as "humm", "you know", "like". It does no other thing than reminding you that if you chose to watch a fiction show, it's not to face your real life (friends) on screen. I did like on some occasions to see some seemingly improvised scenes and the idea that some lines may have not been scripted, but overall the abundance of it was quite disappointing, especially if it adds no value to the character.

The performances delivered were, in my opinion, very good. The genre is quite difficult to identify: it doesn't feel like drama per se, and there is in my opinion no comedic element, apart from maybe 1 or 2 episodes.

I would conclude by saying that if one has nothing to watch or has some time to kill, it's not horrible, it flows, but I wouldn't put it in the "worth it" category.

Great

[tscott-74501 · 10/10 · 21 December 2017]

Honestly, as a 22 year old raised in the millennial generation, this show shines a light on the very core of issues and societal trends that we are surrounded by. It makes bold statements about religion, sex, feminism, and relationships. It pinpoints the very truths about the world that I live in and shows the constant battle between my generation and other generations. It is a wonderful example of topics that are so relevant in society. I relate to this show in a profound way.

Interesting series with very good performances

[ursuladuke · 7/10 · 15 March 2022]

Very good, unpretentious acting and a quite realistic script, about modern everyday people and their relationship issues. I wasn't thrilled, but I enjoyed most episodes.

This is a warning!

[LobotomizeMe · 1/10 · 6 January 2020]

I kept watching this series to see where it would go. It didn't get anywhere. All it ever does is follow boring, pretentious people through a series of awkward encounters.

You may think at first, like I did, that it has sort of a "train wreck" quality. If anything, it's more "milk spill" than "train wreck".

... S1 E1... S2 E2... S3 E1 E5

[bjarias · 6/10 · 28 September 2021]

... of all the couple dozen episodes spread over threes seasons only ones truly resonating were those several with Reaser-Chernus... appearing in their final episode she gives a masterclass performance that will stay with you for awhile... would like to have seen a series about just them.