Unstable
Unstable
Now Showing

Unstable

"A different kind of succession story."

6.9
Yr 2023
Status Canceled
Your Verdict

Rate this show to unlock picks like it. Create a free account.

Series Brief

Overview

He's an eccentric biotech genius. His son's a pragmatist living in his shadow. To save the family business, they'll have to work through some issues.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 62 /100

Critical reception for Unstable was mixed to moderately positive, with favorable reviews celebrating the real-life father-son chemistry between Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe. Enthusiastic outlets praised the show's brisk humor, strong ensemble cast, and endearing workplace setup, noting that Rob Lowe was perfectly cast as an eccentric biotech billionaire while his son proved capable of holding his own in the co-lead role.

Several reviewers highlighted the show's warmth and joke hit-rate, finding it a surprisingly charming sitcom that transcended its novelty premise. The supporting characters and subplots were also commended for bringing life to the biotech company setting and giving the narrative momentum beyond the central duo.

However, a notable contingent of critics was far less impressed, dismissing the series as a lightweight and uninspired vehicle. Skeptics argued that the show failed to fully commit to satirizing tech industry tropes or exploring the grief at its core, with harsher reviews panning it as a joke-deficient, schmaltzy project that relied too heavily on Rob Lowe's innate charisma.

“an adorable workplace comedy that’s odd enough to feel fresh and traditional enough to feel good”

“so, so much better than it needed to be... a show with a spirited, frisky sense of humor”

“breezy Netflix comedy series that’s so lightweight it could easily just blow away.”

“staggeringly joke-free... nauseatingly schmaltzy, second-tier comedy.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Netflix Standard with Ads
US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

Unstable places a high-functioning biotech genius and his more grounded son into the confined environment of a family business. The tension resides in the professional friction between these two characters, as the son attempts to extract himself from his father’s long, eccentric shadow while steering the company through daily corporate chaos. Rob Lowe anchors the production, leaning into the absurdity of a leader whose personal neuroses are as complex as his scientific breakthroughs.

The workplace comedy balances professional stakes with a surprisingly straightforward look at a strained family bond. It avoids standard sitcom cynicism, preferring a tone that is largely joyful even when the characters hit professional dead ends. By grounding the humor in the specific awkwardness of a father and son trying to be coworkers, the series manages a lighter tone than a standard office drama. It is a series about people who are fundamentally uncomfortable with one another finding ways to operate in the same orbit.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 46
Regulars 6
Longest run 10 eps
Show 38 more
Production Board

Crew

Signal Match

Similarity

Where Unstable overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

family business workplace comedy father son relationship joyful
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
March 30, 2023
Status
Canceled
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
84