Upamanyu Biswas
Crafted by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, ‘Mid-Century Modern’ dives into the exploits of three gay best friends, Bunny, Arthur, and Jerry, as they try settling down in the sunny neighborhoods of Palm Springs, California, following a tragic death. Determined to make the most of their time, the trio embrace the peculiarities of their day-to-day existence while also trying to grow as people. The Hulu comedy show tackles a variety of storylines amidst its plethora of light-hearted moments, including the challenges of finding love later in life, unemployment, connecting with an estranged daughter, and changing a neighbor’s stance on gay people, among many others. Our three main characters try to find value in their chosen family as they come to terms with the highs and lows of their later years, bringing the drama closer to reality despite its heightened atmosphere.
Mid-Century Modern is a Charming Tale of Three Gay Besties in the Modern Era
Although fictional, ‘Mid-Century Modern’ takes cues from classic sitcoms to craft a narrative that balances comedy with moments of sincerity and important societal lessons. Penned by Max Mutchnick, David Kohan, Elisa Oh, Suzanne Martin, Adam Barr, Dan Bucatinsky, Alex Herschlag, and Tracy Poust, the series is inspired by shows like ‘The Golden Girls,’ which captures the goofy charm of dealing with problems that arise with age. Both stories feature a group of late-stage individuals coming together as roommates and battling the challenges of loneliness that creep in with each passing decade. To that end, the Hulu series also employs a multi-camera setup, which gives an old-school filming aesthetic to the show and serves as a throwback to the past with updated ideals.
Creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan also stated the importance of their growth as writers when developing ‘Mid-Century Modern.’ Their experiences as the creators of ‘Will & Grace,’ a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ series that brought a lot of gay issues to the television screen during the late 1990s and 2000s, helped them evolve their own style and intellectual thinking on complex subject matters. It was important for the creative team to layer the moments of development and societal commentary with laughs and jokes. In an interview with Forbes, Mutchnick said, “We knew more, so we said more and we had learned more. With time, hopefully things got better, you know? It is nice for us to not have some of the constraints that we had on Will & Grace and we were able to talk about some of the real stuff on this show. It was refreshing.”
Mid-Century Modern Calls Out Societal Challenges in a Fun and Engaging Way
While ‘Mid-Century Modern’ has clear connections to other sitcoms, it also tries to forge its own identity. According to Matt Bomer, who plays Jerry Frank, the show may serve as “a spiritual sister” to ‘The Golden Girls,’ but ultimately imparts its own messages with characters going through different problems. At the heart of it, the story is bound together by its commitment to providing amusing moments, especially between three lovable characters who are all trying to be themselves in a complex age. Thus, when talking about the real-life aspects, the show also brings up modern-day inventions like dating apps and TikTok. These trivial matters help create an overarching reality to the drama, even if it is mainly rooted in fiction.
Additionally, there is also a storyline that showcases the challenges people face when conflating personal matters with politics. However, it does it through a spirit of spreading connection rather than sowing division. The episodes hinge on various subject matters, some serious and some light-hearted, which brings a real diversity to the exploratory capacity of the project. Meanwhile, the different main characters have distinct personalities and bring something original to the table, which is part of the series’s charm and reflects the importance of finding unity in our disparate lives. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder of the feel-good aspects of life and the importance of spreading joy through laughs, even though it is a fictional narrative primarily derived from the imagination of the writers.
Read More: Where is Hulu’s Mid-Century Modern Filmed?
