Not Suitable for Work Season 1 Episodes 1-3 Review: Welcome to Murray Hill/Evil Nepo Son of the King/The Philadelphia Thirst Monster

A show doesn’t necessarily have to change the game to be worth watching. It just has to keep its promises. Not Suitable for Work Season 1 Episode 1, “Welcome to Murray Hill,” Not Suitable for Work Season 1 Episode 2, “Evil Nepo Son of the King,” and Not Suitable for Work Season 1 Episode 3, “The Philadelphia Thirst Monster,” introduce us to our five main leads.

They’re all right.

As with many pilot episodes, “Welcome to Murray Hill” has some issues, but it’s appealing enough not to hit stop before Hulu plays the next episode. The main problem with it is that the first episode doesn’t demonstrate high comedy levels. It’s almost too serious for a comedy pilot.

However, “Evil Nepo Son of the King” and “The Philadelphia Thirst Monster” make up for the show’s initial shortcomings. These episodes have very funny moments. They start to highlight Not Suitable for Work’s potential.

The charming cast mainly draws us into these relationships.

Let’s be honest, shows like this have very obvious roots. They’re the typical friend ensemble shows, such as Friends, New Girl, and Saved by the Bell.

We know these dynamics and understand the beats and typical archetypes. For example, Josh and AJ are being set up as the standard main couple. The ones who will go back and forth for seasons before deciding to finally be together.

The Hulu series slightly complicates things by creating a love triangle already. Davis likes AJ. In most shows, we know that Davis will not get the girl. He’s the goofy character who will eventually move on or get his heart broken.

We’ll love Davis, but AJ will not. However, Mindy Kaling has been criticized in the past for being too predictable with her shows. This makes us wonder if Davis may have a chance after all with AJ.

However, we will have to see if she ends up with the Fez of Not Suitable for Work. But Davis and AJ make a lot more sense than Fez and Jackie ever did on That 70s Show.

This Hulu series leans heavily into the complexities of these relationships and potential romantic partnerships. I love Kaling’s shows because I am also a rom-com girl. I want to see as many romantic happy endings as possible.

Nonetheless, Not Suitable for Work may already have too much going on in that department. Almost every character has multiple romantic potential mates.

It feels excessive. However, we know that long-running TV shows often have multiple love interests for each character. It just feels like too many at once.

Abby and Kal should just get together already, instead of dragging it out for years. They already feel like the true, enduring, and endearing couple. The Monica and Chandler, and Marshall and Lily of this group.

We don’t care about Abby and this celebrity. It’s going nowhere interesting.

Not Suitable for Work has an okay start, but so far, it feels too standard. We know we must go through the usual road, but we hope the show takes more chances. Makes bolder decisions.

It’s hard not to compare Adults and this show, because a similar cast make up, racially and gender-wise. Additionally, they’re on the same streaming service. Also set in the same city and with similar premises as GenZers trying to navigate life in that city.

Adults works because it makes bolder decisions that lead to hilarious results. The shows have different audiences, but it’s not like this Hulu original can’t take some lessons from the FX series. Be bolder.

We shall see if Kaling’s newest show makes riskier decisions as the season progresses. We need more from it.

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Not Suitable for Work streams on Tuesdays on Hulu.

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