Living With Yourself Review: Three’s A Crowd (Season 1 Episodes 5-8)

On the second half of Netflix’s Living With Yourself Season 1, three is a crowd …or is it?

The first four episodes of Living With Yourself Season 1 was an entertaining ride into a cloning mishap and the subsequent four episodes take surprising and unexpected directions.

Most of them are great, but let me just get my one complaint out of the way now. Some fun characters that are in the first half are completely non-existent in the second half. Maia and Henry played by Alia Shawkat and Jon Glaser do not return to give more advice to either of the Mileses, and, boy, could they use it at times.

James Seol and Rob Yang who play the operators of the Top Happy Spa are absent as well even when we learn the FDA is on the case. However, FDA agents portrayed by Bridget Everett and Bobby Moreno bring some lighthearted comic relief, but only in the final episode, Living With Yourself Season 1 Episode 8, “Nice Knowing You.”

The subtle humor is needed because the situation gets quite heavy, culminating in some really provoking drama in the end. Clone Miles attempting to kill himself while looking in the mirror with multiple mirrored images reflected back is powerful and heartbreaking. 

Clone Miles: Why can’t somebody just end this for me?

There are two moments, one from the first half of the season and one from the second, that connect both Mileses and the inevitable depressive feelings that life brings.

On Living With Yourself Season 1 Episode 1, “The Best You Can Be,” OG Miles looks up toward the bedroom through the bars of the staircase, looking imprisoned. On Living With Yourself Season 1 Episode 8, “Nice Knowing You,” New Miles looks down through the bars at OG Miles and Kate lovingly recreating their wedding dance together.

Imagery and themes are linked in finespun ways like this throughout the season.

The turning point halfway through Season 1 and the re-prioritizing of characters gives Kate, Miles’ wife, more screen time, and it is so, so welcome. Aisling Bea does a fantastic job in this role, and her chemistry with Paul Rudd is natural and enjoyable to watch whether she’s interacting with Old Miles or New Miles (or both together).

Living With Yourself Season 1 Episode 5, “Va Bene,” is a stand-out episode in which Bea shines.

The two Mileses struggling to accept the other is very relatable on an individual level. For example, feelings of self-loathing. It is an emotion that is not uncommon, and it is interesting to watch it play out with these “twins.”

Old Miles: You ruined my life.
New Miles: You ruined your life.
Old Miles: I hate you.
New Miles: I am you.

This exchange takes place amidst an epic battle between the two men. Usually fight scenes drag on for me and always seem too long, but this fight is so well done. The choreography and stunt work is phenomenal.

And the standoff leads to the ultimate question: if there can be only one, who remains to live the life they both want? As a viewer, getting to know both guys has us rooting for both guys. Even Kate seems to have soft spots for each of them.

The two wedding dance routine scenes let us know that the original Miles is likely more suited for her, but you still don’t want New Miles to go away—he’s so sweet and optimistic! There has to be a way for the three of them to work it out. 

The key to that is a baby. Kate is pregnant and all three of them are thrilled as well as involved. This gives them a chance to put their differences and complications aside.

Thus, the first season ends with a group hug and leaves us with a warm, fuzzy feeling of hope.

Stray Observations:

• The role this credenza plays in this whole season is freakin’ genius.
• Kate: Why didn’t you tell me?
  Original Miles: Maybe because it had nothing to do with you.
  OUCH.
• Perhaps we have a whole spin-off centering around Kate’s architecture partner, Meg? Because I would like to know more.
• “You may as well try to focus on being a decent adult human being.” Kate putting the obnoxious client in his place is a thing of beauty.
• “A blessing and a curse.”

What did you think of the second half of Living With Yourself Season 1? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Living With Yourself Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.

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