‘Trying’ Season 4 Review – Still Apple TV+’s Best Series

The big picture

• Apple TV+
  trying
  is the streamer's most underrated gem, consistently delivering heartwarming comedy and heartfelt performances.
• Season 4 puts parenting skills to the test in an emotionally-charged narrative full of surprises and a potential fifth season setup.
• The chemistry between leads Esther Smith and Rafe Spall adds depth to their characters.

From shows to feel good like Ted Lasso to the winner of the best film CODE, Apple TV+ has gotten some of the highest quality writing and production compared to its competitors. But while the service is littered with glittering awards for its catalog of high-profile stars and filmmakers, trying remains the biggest and most underrated series on the platform. With the Rafe Spall i Esther Smith-starring the comedy now in its fourth season, the British comedy of Andy Wolton continues to prove that it is The most reliable and well-being program on Apple TV+consistently delivering strong, poignant comedy and absorbing performances that highlight the honest realities of parenthood.

It might not be a show you've ever heard of, though trying still deserves your attention. Through dysfunctional friends and a family of snails, the show has a refreshingly comedic sensibility reminiscent of Max's. Starry or even FX breeders. After its premiere in the midst of a pandemic, trying initially, it stood out as a light-hearted, wholesome series about pushing through the more “tough” moments of adult life. But Season 3 dug its heels into creating the perfect balance between comedy and drama, only for Season 4 to abruptly lift that different weight to a genuinely endearing series that is here to stay.

'Trying' season 4 naturally introduces more drama

One of the best things trying it's how he approaches each season with an honest and realistic look at adulthood. In Season 1, our endearing leads Nikki and Jason, played by the indelible Smith and Spall respectively, initially grapple with infertility issues before focusing on adoption in Season 2. This narrative variety in the over the seasons has been a strong point of interest in creating organic, intelligently paced plots with rich relationship development. They enter Season 3, and the couple finally become parents, but not without drama that finds their newly adopted children at the center of a legal battle with their grandmother, Bev (Claire Higgins). But this is where Wolton manages to really raise the stakes for the series, as Season 4 throws in some surprises throughout its eight episodes, including a shocking cliffhanger that sets up a potential and nail-biting fifth season.

After that “happily ever after” jolt, the show fast-forwards six years and opens with a funeral. While the Season 4 premiere, “The Send Off,” features a cold open that will leave viewers on edge for a few moments, it turns out he has an even stronger point of deception that permeates the entire season. Having built a lovely nuclear unit with the support of their family members, Nikki and Jason are now experienced adopters. But as they navigate parenthood, with the series continues to focus on the duothere is a newly established exteriority in the way children are approached.

While Jason helps his son Tyler (Cooper Turner) are trying to fit in, and working all season to achieve that goal, the couple's now-teenage daughter, Princess (Scarlett Rayner), yearns for a connection with her biological mother, Kat (Charlotte Riley). It's truly terrifying for the insecure Nikki, who has often gone above and beyond to make herself known to those she loves. That aspect of her character doesn't change this season either, as she steps out of her comfort zone to understand how the children she loves so much were given up. while Smith and Spall are magnetic and an amazing pairseason 4 marks an opportunity for Smith to prove his mettle as an actor, as Nikki's journey explores the realities of life outside of Camden through a lesson that addresses the truth about how “trying” doesn't always work out.

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall are the heart of “Try”

One of the most exciting things trying it has always been the chemistry between its protagonists, Smith and Spall. Although the show mixes heavy drama with light-hearted humor, nothing works without them. From the beginning, Smith and Spall have had the most charming and enigmatic relationship that makes you root for their on-screen counterparts. This deeply authentic connection enhances Nikki and Jason's credibility as a couple and provides a real balance to the show. While Smith's Nikki is warm and upbeat with an occasional quirk, Spall's Jason is more reserved, pragmatic and sometimes neurotic. It's this contrast that allows the actors to play off each other's strengths and vulnerabilities for performances that exude an admirable sophistication.

Watching Smith gives a real understanding of how much he cares for Nikki. As a warm and welcoming character, he was initially defined by his desire to start a family all those years ago; now, his attempts in Season 4 to keep her are shedding another layer of this beloved character. Thanks to Smith's masterful expressions and body language to convey Nikki's anxieties and worries, we understand the character's core struggles and feel for her. Beneath her sunny exterior, Nikki feels powerless, often experiencing doubts and all-too-relatable fears. Even as he tries to toughen up, we know he's shaking inside and Smith, more forcefully, communicates this by captivating the audience with an understated but focused performance.

Spall also shines in the role of Jason, but on a different level. The actor has had a long career in film, television and Celtic, thanks in part to his chameleon-like qualities, but its grounded performance trying it feels really genuine. Jason is Nikki's voice of reason, but Spall's knack for comedy balances out her reaction partner's skills. It is one of his best qualities to create a modest character with a convincing levity through comic relief. This season, we see another layer peel away as Jason struggles with fatherhood. While Spall conveys Jason's inner conflicts with subtlety and nuance, his signature expressions and gestures create a soft depth, sometimes without even relying on dialogue. The actor's attention to detail gives Jason realistic roots, giving us more reasons to love him.

“Trying” Season 4 continues to be a hilarious half-hour watch

As incredibly complementary personalities, the skill of Smith and Spall cracking jokes and playing off each other's reactions adds an irresistibly funny tone and pace to the show. But it's also a big part of it tryingthe general appeal of, thanks to Wolton. To create a series that is rooted in the everyday struggles that accompany adulthood, the showrunner puts the audience in a position where they often smile through the tears. With charm and chemistry that never feels forced, trying it's a sweet half hour that's really fun to watch because of its realism. Wolton, who was adopted as a toddler, gently uses the show to write about the hardships that come with adoption. But with the experience centered heavily around the threat of loss versus cautious optimism, a subtle sadness finds its balance through spot-on humor to tell the overall story.

trying's sweetest moments often come from its leads, but the overall brilliance of the cast also keeps you hooked. Each member is so different and unique that it becomes an absorbing tableau for situational comedy. The best scenes are often found through Nikki's interactions with her equally neurotic sister, Karen (Siân Brooke)' Jason's conversations with his father, Victor (Phil Ross), who is trying out the dating scene while completely unconscious; or everyone spending time with the lovable but pretentious know-it-all, Scott (Darren Boyd). Even the kids add something special to the show this season, especially Rayner. While the supporting characters really fit the show's charisma and elevate every scene, the moments between Karen and Scott spark an ambitious shift between the strained couple. In addition, their youngest daughter, Stevie (Flower Matilda), keeps them afloat, perhaps more so for Scott, who is at a crossroads. Both actors bring gentle comic relief to heavier situations, but manage to hold the show together.

With Season 4 finally coming to Apple TV+ after a two-year hiatus, tryingThe sharp writing and rousing set are an instant reminder of why this series is so addicting. Through its six-year time jump, the show ambitiously alters its plots without ever losing steam. As the trend of “feel-good” TV continues, its eight episodes colorfully set up a late-stage twist not seen before at the end of the season. It will make viewers hang around and wonder what is waiting for us a show that deserves more attention as one of the best on Apple TV+.

trying Season 4 premieres May 22 on Apple TV+ with a two-episode drop, followed by weekly episodes every Wednesday.

Watch on Apple TV+