The main draw of Laid (2024), Peacock’s new comedy series adaptation, is the undeniable charm of its lead, Stephanie Hsu. Following her huge success in Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2022, each of her subsequent appearances reminds audiences of her endless charisma. This is on full display in Laid, as she balances a deeply selfish character who must be both engaging and likable in order for viewers to engage with her story. It’s a shame, then, that the rest of the series doesn’t live up to her infectious performance. Hsu shines brightly, but the series often gets lost in its tone.
Based on the Australian TV series of the same name, Laid follows Ruby Yao, a 33-year-old woman looking for love. Our introduction finds her on a third date, and she tells him about a past where they almost had a fling that ended disastrously. The two sleep together, it’s awkward, and she realizes they don’t have the right chemistry. But, while she had hopes for this new relationship, it didn't devastate her. No, absolute devastation comes when she learns that an ex-boyfriend, who she relentlessly molested behind his back, recently died. And soon after, another meets an untimely and gruesome end.
Stars: Stephanie Hsu, Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano
The series follows Ruby as she becomes deeply enmeshed in a mystery as her exes begin to die in the order in which she slept with them. Developed by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna, Laid traces Ruby's exploits as she deals with her tumultuous romantic past and tries to figure out what's causing the wave of murders.
The series is at its best and at its worst. Laid has fun using unconventional writing and performers who are willing to be silly as a weapon. Zosia Mamet, as Ruby’s best friend AJ, is energized when AJ becomes too obsessed with the deaths, and teams up with Ruby to investigate and interrogate any exes for signs or patterns as to why this fate may be occurring.
A montage of the two exes facing off highlights this, along with the murder board that a sleep-deprived AJ brings into Ruby’s bedroom. In the montage, we see Ruby confront her terrible past behavior, which has left most of her exes bitter toward her. She’s constantly told she’s the worst, and based on how self-absorbed she is at first, it’s hard to disagree with them. The montage also allows for a few guest appearances, such as Simu Liu and John Early. Early, in particular, makes a small supper of his small role.
Throughout the eight episodes, however, no character is developed beyond Ruby and, to an extent, AJ. Even AJ feels like little more than an amalgamation of quirks and celebrity references. Michael Angarano shows up as one of the exes and has a quiet naturalism, and Tommy Martinez as Isaac, the client Ruby is in love with, comes across as the perfect “one” but suffers from even less personality than AJ beyond liking musicals. Light and life come mostly through Hsu, even when Ruby is insufferable.
Hsu’s innate, goofball likability isn’t too off-putting, even when she’s often setting herself up for public humiliation. But as a whole, Laid is too sterile to fully engage with. The sets are either crisp and uninhabited or oddly empty. Even the bar they frequent where AJ works lacks the grime such a small place would require.
And that emptiness seeps into every crevice of the series. Because despite the chemistry between Hsu and Mamet, we don’t particularly care about their friendship. And neither male suitors offer anything that makes us want to root for them. It’s a vehicle for jokes and one-liners more than anything else. Plus, there’s an excess of references. Everything from Amanda Knox to Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story to The Greatest Showman gets multiple references.
The series ranges from casual to wickedly funny. It’s best when it leans into the absurdity of the situation as Ruby tries to understand the logistics of what’s going on. The deaths her exes suffer range from the natural to the ridiculous, from poor health conditions to plane crashes. And that silliness, plus some witty one-liners, can be hilarious. The comedic script and delivery by Hsu and Mamet are excellent. It’s just that the direction and setup possess that crisp – cheap, even – edge that plagues so many current streaming options.
Laid is an enjoyable series to watch with a level of detachment. Stephanie Hsu is genuinely remarkable, nailing both the comedic timing and the brief emotional moments. But the series can never quite live up to the glow of its star.
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