This Stan/Peacock series, starring Isla Fisher and Josh Gad in a mysteriously toxic relationship, has great talent behind it and absolutely no subtlety
Modern dating is a minefield at the best of times, let alone when you’re 40, living in a foreign country, widowed and the single father of an emotionally difficult 11-year-old. When we meet American expat Gary (Josh Gad), he’s being dumped in an Australian restaurant by a self-described empath who claims he’s not emotionally available enough. Soon after, Gary has a chance encounter with the beautiful Mary (Isla Fisher) when their cars collide, and is stunned when she manages to soothe his daughter Emma (Ariel Donoghue) during a panic attack – something he can’t do himself. Mary seems like a dream come true, but not all is as it seems.
Directed by Abe Forsythe and produced by Jodi Matterson (Nine Perfect Strangers), Bruna Papandrea (Big Little Lies) and Steve Hutensky (The Dry), this schlocky six-part series is choppy and confused, unsure of its purpose. Mary’s true identity is flagged in the title of the show, which has all the subtlety of a Twilight film – except that Twilight could be considered “so bad it’s good”, and this is really just the former.
