Stream on Apple TV
Based on 2 seasons, 20 episodes · through September 30, 2025
Platonic is a comedy show about two middle-aged best friends who reconnect after years apart. They help each other through midlife crises, which causes funny chaos in their lives. The show features a diverse supporting cast and includes openly gay actors in prominent roles. The story focuses on relatable relationship struggles, marriage, and humor.
Why 46%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Platonic.
Woke representation / casting
While the lead roles are played by mainstream white actors, the supporting cast features visible diversity. Openly gay actors Luke Macfarlane (playing a straight husband) and Guy Branum (playing a coworker) have prominent roles. Following the scoring rules, the presence of these LGBTQ+ cast members adds 20 points to the rating, reflecting a noticeable representation priority, even though the casting fits naturally into the modern Los Angeles setting.
40%
Woke political dialogue
The show avoids direct political preaching, instead focusing on relationship humor. While the characters occasionally reference modern gender dynamics, feminist ideas, and stay-at-home parenting struggles, the script handles these topics with a light, comedic touch. The series even gently mocks modern "woke" social sensibilities and awkward politically correct behaviors for laughs rather than lecturing the audience, keeping the dialogue mostly neutral and accessible.
Production
21%
Identity-driven story themes
The narrative centers on a straight male-female platonic friendship and suburban married life. It touches on themes like female career sacrifices and modern masculinity, but these are explored through the lens of midlife crises and personal growth rather than modern identity politics. In fact, some progressive critics complained that the show is too traditional and "heteronormative," as it avoids subverting traditional relationship norms.
32%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show gently satirizes modern millennial hipster culture, corporate workplace trends, and upper-middle-class suburban expectations. However, it does not feature an activist-style critique of Western society, capitalism, or the patriarchy. Marriage and family life are depicted with all their real-world struggles, but they are ultimately shown as valuable institutions worth fighting for, avoiding any systemic ideological teardown.
15%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. Since this is an original television comedy series rather than an adaptation or reboot of existing intellectual property, there are no established characters, canon, or source material to alter.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There has been almost no coordinated anti-woke backlash against the series. A tiny fraction of online comments have expressed general fatigue with Apple TV's overall progressive slant, but the vast majority of viewers across the political spectrum have received the show warmly as a fun, relatable, and politically neutral buddy comedy.
12%
Creator track record context
The creative team has a strong history of progressive work. Co-creator Nicholas Stoller directed the queer rom-com "Bros," Rose Byrne co-founded a female-led production company to fight sexism, and writers like Alexandra Rushfield and Brittany Ann Miller have worked on identity-focused, feminist shows like "Shrill" and "Woke." This background is noticeable in the show's sensibilities, though the execution here remains mainstream.
53%
