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Better Things

2016 – 2022Show5 seasons52 episodesTV-MA

ComedyDrama
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic887.9Rotten Tomatoes98%84%

A moving, layered comedy series about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for friends night · teens · binge-friendly

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Not for scares or adrenaline.

Shows with

Episodes

5 seasons · 52 episodes · best: S2E6 "Eulogy" 9.1

Episodes

7.7
8.3
7.7
8.0
8.0

Story

Family gets real.

Sam Fox is a single, working actor with no filter trying to raise her three daughters – Max, Frankie and Duke – in Los Angeles. She is mom, dad, referee and the cops.

Feels like

  • Complex Family Drama
  • Sharp Dialogue
  • Emotional Realism
  • Character Study
  • Bittersweet Tone
  • Modern Parenting
  • Psychological Depth
  • Witty Banter
  • Messy Relationships
  • Authentic Performance

Cast

24 of 60 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Pamela Adlon, Nisha Ganatra, Lance Bangs
Written by
Pamela Adlon, Louis C.K., Robin Ruzan
Produced by
Joanne Toll, Sally Sue Beisel, Liz Newman
Music by
Jay Gruska

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 8, 2016 · April 25, 2022 · Ended

First aired
September 8, 2016
Last aired
April 25, 2022
Status
Ended
Length
5 seasons · 52 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content, Drug Use, Violence
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
78 countries

Tropes

Amazingly Embarrassing Parents, Cool Big Sis, Ambiguous Gender Identity +9

  • Amazingly Embarrassing Parents
  • Cool Big Sis
  • Ambiguous Gender Identity
  • Obnoxious In-Laws
  • First Period Panic
  • Womanchild
  • Skinny Dipping
  • As Himself
  • Middle Child Syndrome
  • Scatterbrained Senior
  • Ms. Fanservice
  • Ambiguously Bi

12 of 63 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Better Things?"

Questions about Better Things

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Better Things?

Hulu

In the United States, Better Things streams on Hulu. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 73 other countries.

Is Better Things worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 88). Critics rate it higher (93 out of 100) than audiences (81).

Does Better Things get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 7.7, and season 2 peaks at 8.3. The highest-rated episode is Eulogy (season 2, episode 6) at 9.1, and the lowest is Sam/Pilot (season 1, episode 1) at 7.2.

How long does it take to watch Better Things?

20 h

About 20 hours: 52 episodes in 5 seasons of about 23 minutes each, aired from 2016 to 2022.

Will Better Things make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (9 of 10) and situational comedy (8 of 10).

Is Better Things plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and dialogue centrality (10 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Better Things use?

Amazingly Embarrassing ParentsCool Big SisAmbiguous Gender IdentityObnoxious In-LawsFirst Period PanicWomanchildSkinny DippingAs HimselfMiddle Child SyndromeScatterbrained SeniorMs. FanserviceAmbiguously Biand 51 more

TV Tropes lists 63 tropes for it, including Amazingly Embarrassing Parents, Cool Big Sis, and Ambiguous Gender Identity.