Television series

Casual

Name: Casual
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2015
Cast: Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, Tara Lynne Barr, Nyasha Hatendi, Julie Berman

Comedy

Casual is a sharp, warm comedy about a brother and sister navigating modern dating while co-parenting a teenager. It treats adult relationships with genuine care—messy, funny, occasionally devastating—rather than cynicism. For anyone who loves character-driven comedy that doesn't shy from real stakes.

TVMaze rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy comedy that finds the sting inside awkward dating mishaps, where the family underneath feels as messy and lived-in as the jokes.

Skip it if you want big laughs or a fast plot, since this runs on quiet, wincing character moments and the jokes often arrive sideways rather than as punchlines.

What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes that move in a loose, conversational rhythm, so it asks you to sit with the pauses and the discomfort rather than binge for plot.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Master of None2015

Aziz Ansari's show shares Casual's gift for finding profound human comedy in dating life. Episodes breathe, relationships matter, and the dialogue crackles with specificity and warmth.

But Seasons get uneven; the later pivot to New York parenthood won't resonate equally with everyone. Some arcs feel more resolved than others.

You're the Worst2014

Another Hulu gem about damaged people trying to build something real. Dark humor, genuine chemistry between the leads, and episodes that can wreck you emotionally without losing the comedy.

But It's messier and edgier than Casual—if you want warmth or likability, this goes the opposite direction. Relationships here are uglier.

Fleabag2016

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's masterpiece about family, sex, and shame. Technically a comedy but emotionally sophisticated. The fourth-wall breaks keep it nimble; the family dynamics hit as hard as anything on television.

But Only two seasons means it ends before you're ready. Some viewers find the constant irony exhausting rather than liberating.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Casual

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Louie2010

Both shows find profound comedy in parenting struggles and adult dating without sentimentalizing either. Both understand that vulnerability and humor aren't opposites.

Louis C.K.'s semi-autobiographical show about single fatherhood, adult relationships, and shame. It moves between stand-up, naturalistic comedy, and moments of genuine darkness. The father-daughter dynamic with his kids has real tenderness.

But His later misconduct overshadows the work for many. The show is wildly uneven—some episodes feel like therapy, others like punishment. Pacing is glacial.

Transparent2014

A family in chaos after a parent comes out as trans. Funny in surprising moments but never at the expense of real hurt. The writing finds humanity in every character, even the difficult ones.

But Heavier than Casual overall, and slower-paced. The tone is deliberately uneven. Also: its creator's later actions have complicated its legacy for some viewers.

Girls2012

Lena Dunham's show about friendship and sex and work in your twenties. Genuinely funny, wildly specific about female experience, and the characters feel like real people you sort of resent and love simultaneously.

But The humor is abrasive and often the characters deserve whatever mess they're in. If you need to like the people on screen, this won't work for you.

The Morning Show2019

Apple's drama has surprising emotional depth under the prestige veneer. Strong ensemble, genuinely interesting exploration of power and gender in media, and moments of real human comedy.

But Tonally inconsistent—sometimes it's prestige melodrama, sometimes tabloid schadenfreude. The gender politics can feel muddled. Much longer episodes than you probably want.

Parenthood2010

A multigenerational family dealing with life's real stuff: illness, infidelity, parenting struggles, money. Sincere without being saccharine. The ensemble is warm and the writing trusts emotional honesty.

But It aims for your heart constantly; some find that exhausting. Long seasons can sag. The optimism won't land if you're in a cynical headspace.

Russian Doll2019

Natasha Lyonne trapped in a timeloop of existential comedy. Mind-bending without sacrificing character. Sharp writing about grief, connection, and the trap of repeating patterns—funny and devastating by turns.

But The premise gets repetitive by design, which some viewers find tedious rather than clever. Later seasons lose focus. Requires patience with abstraction.

Corporate2018

A workplace comedy that's actually about something—late capitalism, corporate indifference, the small rebellions of ordinary people. Matt Ingebretsen and Jake Weisman are perfect foils. Genuinely weird and underrated.

But Much darker and more absurdist than Casual. Rapid-fire sketches mean jokes land unevenly. Not a show that builds emotional connection between characters.

High Maintenance2016

Both are fascinated by how adult dating works in the real world—messy, intimate, occasionally kind. Both see sex and romance without judgment or cynicism.

A drug dealer and his wife in New York; each episode with a different customer. Genuinely tender portrait of human loneliness, connection, and the small mercies of being seen. Funny without trying too hard. Shot like a film.

But Episodic structure means no ongoing plot. Very niche comedy; if you don't like low-key observational humor, this will feel like nothing. HBO Max version is less charming than the original web series.