Uncoupled is the newest romantic comedy series to be released on Netflix, adding a fresh perspective to an old storyline. This story follows Michael (Neil Patrick Harris) who has just been left by his partner of seventeen years and has to get back into the complex dating scene of the modern day.
The show is entertaining and has its own unique traits and an interesting storyline. However, there are still several romantic comedy clichés found within the first season (and while some are known to grow stale, some of them work to enhance the plot).
Couples Therapy That Does Not Work For Everyone
After Colin breaks up with Michael, they attempt to go to couples therapy to work out their issues. However, after Michael spends most of the time talking, Colin sends him a text message saying he doesn't think the relationship is going to work.
Couples therapy is often shown in movies and shows, especially romantic comedies like What Happens In Vegas and Couples Retreat; during these plots, therapy isn't seen to work for them or change the relationship. However, the failure of therapy in this rom-com show actually enhances the plot. By seeing how Michael acts in therapy, the audience is able to see the first glimpse of the problems between the couple without any biased views.
A Completely Unexpected Breakup
Michael not only has to endure one sudden split from his long-time partner but two. He first finds out Colin is moving out at his boyfriend's 50th birthday and is officially dumped via text after their first therapy session.
Sudden, world-shattering breakups are a common trope in movies and shows within this genre. One of the best TV shows like Uncoupled is Grace and Frankie, which follows two women who have to start their lives over again when their husbands decide to leave them and begin dating each other. Like this other popular Netflix original, Uncoupled works well with the harsh breakup. Without this common cliché, Michael wouldn't have gone on a journey of self-discovery throughout the season.
End-Of-Love Crisis
After he goes through a period of mourning his failed relationship, Michael is convinced by his friends to begin using a dating app called Grindr. This experience leads to a couple of brief hookups and a short relationship.
There are dozens of shows and movies like this one that show a wayward main character going through new experiences following their relationship. While it's not a new theme in rom-coms, it works well in this show. Michael was in such a long relationship that it seemed logical he would need to learn about the world of dating after almost two decades.
Delving Into Work
Among his dating ventures, Michael also has to adapt to a single-income lifestyle. While money isn't discussed much throughout the series, he does mention that, after a big sale, he'll have the financial security to keep the apartment he and Colin shared.
After he splits up with Colin, Michael's work as a realtor becomes one of the dominant aspects of his life. Like other stories similar to this, he delves into a big sale as a way of avoiding the difficult time he's going through. While stories like this tend to focus on how much the relationship was a part of their day-to-day life, this show does a great job of pointing out that Michael has a full, busy life outside his partner.
Bad Rebounds
Michael goes on the rebound after Colin, but his dating life isn't just about a couple of spontaneous hookups and awkward dates. Among his endeavors, Michael begins to get serious with a man he met while rollerskating, Luke.
There are a lot of great romantic comedies on Netflix like Uncoupled, and many of them feature heartbroken people who go through some short relationships after splitting from their partners. While this doesn't always work well in the movies, this first season had the time to stretch out Michael's dating experience.
A Supportive, Outspoken Friend
Michael has a lot of supportive friends throughout the story and after he goes through his breakup. Among those friends is outspoken, honest Suzanne. She is not only his best friend but his business partner.
Suzanne, played by Tisha Campbell (who has been cast in other great roles), is a perfect mix of tough love and an overly supportive friend. In the end, she's seen only talking to Colin, who she was also friends with after Michael and he has made amends. Although the outspoken friend cliché has been used countlessly throughout romantic comedies, Suzanne manages to capture the audience not only by her friendship with the main character but her own interesting plot.
Friends Caught In The Middle
Michael has a few close friends throughout the series. However, he also finds it hard to accept the fact that his friends were also Colin's and are, therefore, caught in the middle of the breakup. In fact, Michael stops speaking to his friend Stanley for a time when he learns the friend went to visit Colin.
When it comes to couples in long-term relationships, it's a common theme that the friends get caught in the middle of a nasty breakup. Uncoupled handles this situation with a flare of drama, but they don't make it a bigger deal than it needs to be. Instead, the friends are able to spend some time apart and then come to an understanding.
Befriends Someone They Can't Stand
Among Michael's business ventures in the show is Claire Lewis. She is extremely demanding of Michael and Suzanne's time while they work to sell her loft and she certainly gives them a few obstacles along the way.
However, she is going through a divorce with her husband at the same time Michael splits from Colin (making the two understand each other a bit more). In the end, Claire ends up creating a strong friendship with both Michael and Suzanne. Frenemies is an overused cliché, but the relationship with Claire works well to add another interesting plot point to the show.
Wedding Ending
The main character attends a wedding in the end, but it's not one of his own. Michael attends the wedding of his two close friends, both named Jonathan. This leaves the story off on a happy note and finally puts Colin and Michael in the same vicinity for an extended period of time.
The "Wedding ending" is a trope that goes back to the works of Shakespeare and many romantic comedies have kept up with the tradition. There are some exceptional wedding movies dedicated to the event, though Uncoupled uses it as a way to wrap up the final bits of the original plot. This ending to this show made the plot go full circle, but also left a few unanswered questions to keep the audience wondering about what's in store for the next season.
Making Amends
Michael spends most of the season hating his partner for leaving him without warning. While his anger and hurt was reasonable considering the circumstances, it would have been unsatisfying to end the storyline with Michael still hopelessly pining over his ex-boyfriend.
At the wedding, Michael and Colin finally make amends. Michael isn't angry about the situation anymore and Colin admits he didn't handle the separation in the best way. For a pilot season, it was a wise choice to make amends at the end of the season, with no guarantee the series will be renewed. Though it was a bit predictable, the storyline left off with a satisfying resolution.