Easy is an American comedy-drama television anthology series written, directed, edited and produced by Joe Swanberg.[1][2] It consists of 25 half-hour episodes.[3] The series is set in Chicago.[4]
The first season was released on Netflix on September 22, 2016.[5] In April 2017, Swanberg revealed the series had been renewed for a second season,[6] which was released on December 1, 2017.[7] In August 2018, the series was renewed for a third and final season that premiered on May 10, 2019.[8][9]
Easy follows several individuals living in Chicago who are trying to navigate issues such as love, relationships, and general knowledge.[10] A review described the series as a microscopic portrayal of the different varieties of modern love.[11] It has an episodic anthology format, with standalone episodes that do not require previous ones to watch.[12] The series does include recurring narratives such as the story of the married couple Kyle (Michael Chernus) and Andi (Elizabeth Reaser), which was first introduced in Season 1. The story was revisited in Season 2 and Season 3, with their respective episodes focusing on the development and effects of their decision to enter into an open relationship.[12] While some characters were created completely from scratch by the producers, others, such as Odinaka Malachi Ezeokoli, Karley Sciortino, and Jane Adams's characters in Season 2, are based on the real-life personas, personalities, and/or jobs of the individuals cast in the roles.
In March 2016, it was announced Netflix had ordered a season of eight episodes, with Joe Swanberg writing and directing the series, with Michael Chernus, Marc Maron, Elizabeth Reaser, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jake Johnson, Aya Cash, Dave Franco, Jane Adams, Hannibal Buress, Kiersey Clemons, Orlando Bloom, and Malin Åkerman starring.[13]
Some characters appear in one or more episodes as the protagonist, and in other episodes as background characters.
The first season of Easy received positive reviews from film critics. It holds an 85% approval rating on review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 7.53/10.[15] On Metacritic, the season holds a rating of 72 out of 100, based on reviews from 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]
The show's second season received similar reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 86% approval rating based on 14 critical reviews, with an average rating of 9/10.[17]