Being an adult is bullshit.

Relationships are getting harder, experience can weary us like water against stone, slowly shaping us into gnarled replicas of our former selves. I remember watching an on point exchange between the perpetually plagued siblings Brenda and Billy of Six Feet Under that has haunted me ever since:

Billy : It’s almost like as we get older, the number of people that completely get us shrinks. 
Benda : Until we become so honed by our experiences and time and…
Billy : …nobody else understands.

I don’t think aging has ever sounded so depressing but Togetherness has a wee crack at it. There are no shortage of teleivision shows willing to explore the intricacies of the aforementioned bullshit of adulthood, but this HBO series is one of the best attempts we’re seen in years. Written by the Duplass brothers and Steve Zissis and starring a very impressive combination of critically acclaimed favourites and brand new faces, it explores complicated relationships between family and lovers in a way that only a lighthearted eight episode series at 26 minutes an episode can.

Brett and Michelle Pierson (Mark Duplass and Melanie Lynskey) are a decade deep in their marriage with two kids under five and navigating the rocky, uphill terrain of monogamy. For all of their awkward sex, career and relationships troubles, their battle almost seems preferable in comparison to that of Michelle ‘s sister and Brett’s bestie; two perpetually single no-hopers who are equally as disoriented in their adult lives. Self conscious, lonely and neurotic, they lean on each other for support with all the structural stability of a tepee made of twigs and belly button lint.

Lynskey is outstanding (AGAIN) as uninspired young mum trying really really hard to be sexually attracted to her husband and writer/star Steve Zissis is a new favourite as balding, aspiring actor with a deep love of donuts and the saddest eyes of all time.

As grim as it all seems, things rarely get too heavy to handle. The subject matter is rough but it’s delivered with warmth and very, very good writing. There are at least half a dozen moments in the first season that could be so disgracefully corny as to doom the series into irrelevance but they’re always handled with care, and maybe a dick joke for good measure.

Togetherness has been renewed for a second season on HBO and Season One premiered in April 2015 in Australia via Showcase