TOGETHERNESS
- Network: HBO
- Premiere date: January 11, 2015
- Genre: Comedy
- Creators: Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass
- Starring: Mark Duplass, Melanie Lynsky, Amanda Peet and Steve Zississ
- First episode: “Family Day”: Directed and written by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass
- Produced by Duplass Brothers Productions
- Duration: 30 mins.
TOGETHERNESS is a new show produced by the Duplass brothers team that premiered Sunday on HBO. The Duplass brothers are known for projects, on television and the big screen, that bring realism back to film a television. Their characters are often funny and clever and unique, however, they are extremely relatable. Their projects do not make their audience envious of something that can never be, but rather, use a relatable world to entertain. Something else I tend to like about the Duplass projects is that they use relatable actors. By which, I mean, that they aren’t all fashion model beautiful.
Their new project does just that. Makes the everyday world and everyday problems interesting. TOGETHERNESS is a comedy about a family that doesn’t necessarily have it all “together”. While dealing with the typical marital problems, the central couple has taken on a bit more stress than they can maybe handle with the wife’s sister unexpectedly moving in and the husband’s best friend doing the same. Add a baby and a small child to that equation and let the chaos ensue.
This comedy, like other Duplass work, tends to emphasize the importance of the real world and real issues faced by people over the course of their lives. It focuses on the importance of knowing and understanding the self, while not being selfish. Most importantly, it tends to focus on the family (although that may not be strictly-blood related family) and the connections people make and how they’re maintained.
The first episode of TOGETHERNESS holds promise without being too flashy. My suggestion, give the first episode a shot if you like the Duplass brothers or if you’re ready to see something real. I certainly am.
by Breanna Marie 