Saagar Kote
Created by Sophie Goodhart, Disney+’s ‘Alice and Steve’ is a British comedy series that follows Alice (Nicola Walker) and Steve (Jemaine Clement), who have been friends for nearly 25 years. Their deeply held and time-tested bond is thrown into turmoil when Steve begins a romantic relationship with Alice’s daughter, Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith). Unable to accept the romance, Alice finds herself at odds with both Steve and Izzy. The romantic bond between the young girl and the middle-aged man also causes Izzy’s friends to behave strangely around Steve.
Despite the lack of social acceptance and the significant age difference, Izzy remains determined to continue seeing Steve because she finds him genuinely attractive. As the chaos between Steve and Alice grows, it may require the two friends to come to terms with reality and decide whether their friendship is worth saving. If you were intrigued by the character dynamics and the storyline, these shows, similar to ‘Alice and Steve,’ explore complex bonds between layered characters, while also portraying the nuances of friendship in the modern world.
12. Life & Beth (2022-2024)
‘Life & Beth’ tells the story of Beth (Amy Schumer), a woman whose life appears successful from the outside. She has a steady career as a wine distributor, a long-term relationship, and a comfortable life in Manhattan. However, a sudden event forces Beth to reevaluate her past and the choices that have shaped her life. Through memories of her younger years, she begins to examine how she became the person she is and what she wants for her future.
As Beth confronts old experiences and unresolved issues, she goes on a journey of self-discovery to live a more authentic life. With Amy Schumer at the creative helm, the Hulu comedy-drama series is a poignant commentary on liberation from self-doubt. Beth’s experiences share many commonalities with those of Steve in ‘Alice and Steve,’ as he, too, seeks a purpose in life at a confusing stage while also grappling with the complexities of his personality and desires.
11. Back to Life (2019-2021)
BBC’s ‘Back to Life’ follows Miri Matteson (Daisy Haggard), who returns to her hometown of Hythe, Kent, after serving a long prison sentence for a crime committed during her teenage years. Now 36, Miri moves back in with her parents and hopes to rebuild her life. Determined to move forward, Miri seeks work, reconnects with people, and adjusts to life outside prison. However, she quickly discovers that the residents of her small coastal town have not forgotten her past.
As she struggles to overcome the stigma surrounding her, Miri forms a friendship with Billy (Adeel Akhtar), a neighbor who helps her navigate the challenges of life. Crafted by the vision of Daisy Haggard, the British comedy-drama series is a nuanced exploration of unexpected bonds, existential questions, midlife crisis, friendships, and the layers of redemption, which is what ‘Alice and Steve’ also navigates.
10. This Way Up (2019-2021)
In ‘This Way Up,’ Aine (Aisling Bea), an Irish woman living in London, attempts to rebuild her life after experiencing a nervous breakdown. As she works toward recovery, Aine relies on her older sister, Shona (Sharon Horgan), who encourages her to find greater stability and direction. While adjusting to everyday life, Aine takes a job as an English teacher and gradually regains her confidence. At the same time, she develops feelings for Richard (Tobias Menzies), pursuing a potential romance while continuing to navigate her mental health and personal growth.
Aisling Bea steers this British comedy-drama series, which is engaging and inquisitive in equal measure. The show captures the essence of ‘Alice and Steve’ through its focus on the journey of a woman trying to find her way back in life. The two shows feature similar character dynamics and also shed light on the puzzling nature of love.
9. Breeders (2020-2023)
‘Breeders’ chronicles the experiences of Paul Worsley (Martin Freeman) and Ally Grant (Daisy Haggard), a couple trying to balance their lives. Along with tough careers, they must handle their family responsibilities and the everyday challenges of raising their children, Luke (George Wakeman) and Ava (Jayda Eyles). As they deal with finances and the ups and downs of their relationship, Paul and Ally are constantly tested by the realities of parenthood.
Their lives become even more complicated when Ally’s estranged father, Michael (Michael McKean), enters the equation with his strange opinions. Martin Freeman, Chris Addison, and Simon Blackwell are the creative team behind the FX comedy series. While ‘Alice and Steve’ is an elaborate journey of two middle-aged friends who must navigate the puzzles of life while trying to maintain their connection, ‘Breeders’ does the same through the perspectives of romantic partners.
8. Feel Good (2020-2021)
Shaped by the vision of Mae Martin and Joe Hampson, ‘Feel Good’ is a comedy-drama series that centers on Mae (Mae Martin), a comedian and former drug addict, who is trying to build a healthier and more stable life. As Mae works through the challenges of recovery, they begin a relationship with George (Charlotte Ritchie), an English woman who encourages them to continue addressing their struggles. While their relationship grows, Mae is forced to confront deeper issues involving anxiety. Through therapy, Mae attempts to understand who they truly are while deciding whether their relationship with George can survive. Mae’s attempts to move forward at a very confusing stage of life reflect the character sentiments of the main characters in ‘Alice and Steve.’ The two shows delve into the intrigues of friendship and romance, while also navigating human insecurities.
7. Fleabag (2016-2019)
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, BBC’s ‘Fleabag’ is a British comedy-drama series based on her one-woman show. Set in London, the narrative centers on Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), an awkward yet clever young woman whose sarcastic, impulsive behavior often hides her emotional turmoil. As she navigates a complex mix of personal relationships and family tensions, Fleabag frequently breaks the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly and offering an unfiltered look at her life.
A significant part of her story centers on her complex relationship with her sister, Claire (Sian Clifford), whose presence continually shapes her choices. While attempting to keep moving forward, Fleabag finds herself confronting unresolved grief and guilt. Fleabag’s impulsive decisions and her unusual way of handling moments of personal crisis are similar to the ways in which both Steve and Alice navigate the challenges of their lives in the complicated world of ‘Alice and Steve.’
6. The Lovers (2023-2024)
‘The Lovers’ brings together two people with seemingly nothing in common. Janet (Roisin Gallagher) works at a supermarket in Belfast and approaches life with a cynical attitude, while Seamus (Johnny Flynn) is a well-known political broadcaster from London whose world is different from hers. Their paths cross unexpectedly, leading to a connection neither of them expected. Although Seamus already has a girlfriend, he becomes increasingly drawn to Janet.
As their relationship deepens, Janet and Seamus must navigate the complications created by their contrasting personalities, backgrounds, and circumstances. Helmed by Justin Martin, the British romantic comedy series, akin to ‘Alice and Steve,’ is a commentary on the consequences and rewards of finding an unexpected romantic connection at an unlikely phase of life. The battle between individualism and responsibility towards others is a theme that both shows navigate intricately.
5. Wanderlust (2018)
‘Wanderlust’ is a Nick Payne creation that delves into the life of Joy Richards (Toni Collette), a therapist whose marriage to Alan Richards (Steven Mackintosh) comes under strain after a cycling accident forces them to reevaluate their relationship. As Joy and Alan struggle to recapture the intimacy they once shared, both find themselves attracted to others. With the puzzling nature of the situation they face and the tribulations of desire and human connection experienced by those around them, Joy and Alan must make difficult choices that may alter their futures. The BBC British drama series is a nuanced exploration of second chances, redemption, midlife crisis, and intimacy. ‘Alice and Steve’ delves into these deeply layered themes and features a similar visual flavor and character equations.
4. Colin from Accounts (2022-)
‘Colin from Accounts’ unfolds in Sydney and begins when Gordon (Patrick Brammall), a microbrewery owner, accidentally injures a stray dog after being distracted by Ashley (Harriet Dyer), a student doctor. The unexpected incident brings the two strangers together as they take responsibility for the dog, whom they name Colin. What starts as an awkward connection gradually develops into something deeper, with Ashley and Gordon learning more about one another as they share the challenges of caring for Colin. As their bond grows, both are pushed to confront their insecurities and reveal each other’s truths.
The Australian romantic comedy-drama series is brought to life by the ideas of Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer. While ‘Alice and Steve’ is an examination into the nature of friendships and the factors that can affect their stability, ‘Colin from Accounts’ navigates a similar emotional crisis through the experiences of two people handling the chaos of romantic feelings for each other in unlikely scenarios.
3. Catastrophe (2015-2019)
Prime Video’s ‘Catastrophe’ is a British comedy-drama series from creators Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan. The narrative focuses on the experiences of Sharon Morris (Sharon Horgan), an Irish schoolteacher living in London, and Rob Norris (Rob Delaney), an American advertising executive visiting the city on a business trip. After a brief romance with Rob, Sharon learns she is pregnant. The unexpected news prompts Rob to relocate from Boston to London, and the two decide to build a life together despite barely knowing one another. As their relationship develops, they confront the challenges of parenthood and marriage.
Much like the main characters in ‘Alice and Steve,’ Rob and Sharon are two individuals who find themselves trapped in an unusual situation. While Rob and Sharon deal with the consequences of intimacy between themselves, Alice and Steve’s friendship is threatened when the latter gets romantically involved with Alice’s daughter. The issues of intimacy, trust, and guilt drive the relationships in both cases, in different ways.
2. Friends from College (2017-2019)
‘Friends from College’ is set in NYC and follows a tight-knit group of Harvard graduates who reunite years after leaving college. Now in their forties, Ethan Turner (Keegan-Michael Key), Lisa Turner (Cobie Smulders), Samantha Delmonico (Annie Parisse), Nick Ames (Nat Faxon), Max Adler (Fred Savage), and Marianne Davis (Jae Suh Park) find themselves dealing with the realities of adulthood while remaining deeply connected through their shared past. Although their friendships have endured for years, romantic entanglements, ambitions, and unresolved feelings continue to complicate their lives.
As they face marriages, career choices, and unexpected emotions, the group encounters a crisis. With Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller at the creative helm, the Netflix comedy series is an engaging ride. The puzzles of friendship, unforeseen romantic connections, human ego, the challenges of emotional vulnerability, the uncertainty of midlife, and the meaning of life in the modern world are themes that both ‘Alice and Steve’ and ‘Friends from College’ attempt to decipher.
1. Platonic (2023-)
Apple TV’s ‘Platonic’ is a comedy-drama series that revolves around the renewed friendship between Will (Seth Rogen) and Sylvia (Rose Byrne). They are former best friends who reconnect after years apart. Their reunion comes at a time when both are facing personal challenges and reassessing different aspects of their lives. As they become increasingly involved in each other’s day-to-day struggles, their bond grows stronger but also more complicated. Family responsibilities, social expectations, and questions about happiness and meaning drive their thoughts and their conversations with each other.
Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller serve as the creators of this engrossing and unpredictable show. The complexities of friendship between a man and a woman are the emotional core of both ‘Platonic’ and ‘Alice and Steve.’ The shows are intense in their emotional dynamics among the main characters, while also exploring how discussions about intimacy and communication can shape the evolution of a long-term friendship in today’s world.
Read More: Shows Like Platonic
