Platonic – Season 1 Episode 1 “Pilot” Recap and Review

Pilot

Sylvia and Will were former best friends. She was even the maid of honour at his wedding. Despite the cliche, they managed to keep their friendship platonic for years. But when Sylvia tried to warn Will about Audrey, the woman he married, they didn’t speak to each other for five years.

In the present day, Audrey and Will have separated and Sylvia calls him for coffee. Even though she knows about the separation, she doesn’t reveal to Will that was the reason she called him.

Their meeting is awkward. They seem to have lost the uniqueness of their relationship as Will clearly does not want to be there. When Will asks about Sylvia’s work, she shows a picture of her family to him and then compensates by saying that she is unemployed. Her embarrassment is short-lived as Will bookends the meeting by inviting Sylvia to a party he is having at his bar. His friends – Omar, Andie, and Reggie – believe that her sudden reappearance in his life raises questions. But Will classifies it as her attempt to rekindle their friendship.

She narrates the tale to her mom-friend Katie the next day when she goes to drop her kids. The women accept that men aren’t interested in middle-aged women like them. She tells her about the party and Katie encourages her to go to it together. They instantly regret the moment they reach the party. But before they can leave, Will spots Sylvia and comes over. The women have to stay but Andy is rude to Sylvia for some reason. It turns out that he is being defensive because he thinks Sylvia wants to get with Will.

The women leave shortly and lament the lack of male friends that have carried over to this phase of their lives. They spot Will arguing with Audrey outside the bar on the other end of the street. He is livid with her for bringing a date. After she leaves, Sylvia decides to stay and console her friend. Over drinks at his bar, Will tells Sylvia that Audrey lost interest in him as she moved up the social ladder as an art dealer. He cheated on her with a random person and that was it.

A drunk Sylvia decides to renew their old days and becomes his “wing-lass” to land Will a woman. It does not go well and Sylvia wonders what happened to the “player Will” who used to get a lot of attention from ladies. In an old photo, Will and Sylvia discuss his chai necklace, which was lucky for him. But he doesn’t have it anymore. She excitedly takes him to a store to buy him a new one.

Will spots a “W” necklace on a Doberman in the shop. The owner slyly sells it for $50 bucks but asks them to take it off the dog. They do it successfully and Will wears it around his neck for the rest of the night. They have weed gummies and dinner, and then roam around the city renewing their friendship. The night almost ends well for Sylvia but then she misspeaks about her knowledge of Will’s divorce before calling him.

He is confused and offended, construing Sylvia’s attention as pity. They start bickering which turns into a fight. Nasty things are said, including Will’s double standard of not breaking up his friendship with Andy for hating Audrey. Although they part on bad terms, Sylvia tries Will’s weird trick when in bed with Charlie, her husband, and texts Will when it doesn’t work. They chat ominously as something prepares itself to “give way.”

The Episode Review

One cannot help but realize that Platonic’s themes are dated. Its premise is built on old Hollywood cliches that are unsalvageable even when served in a new bottle. Seth Rogen looks lean, thinner, and meaner as Will but has the same goofy charm. He even brings his iconic laughter to the screen, making it a lasting moment. Rose Byrne and he share decent chemistry and try their best to elevate the derivative writing.

There is a lot of time for Platonic to make something of itself. This is just episode 1 and things can change drastically moving forward as creators are often at their sceptic worst with pilots when waiting to get their shows approved. So maybe that played into the tackiness. Anyway, let’s give this more time because the creative personnel surely have pedigree.