TV Shows We Love: Fleishman Is in Trouble

Recently divorced Toby Fleishman is a successful hepatologist in New York City adjusting to his newly single life through the world of online dating. His unexpected success, which he never encountered in his younger years, is upset when a complication arises: Rachel, his ex-wife, has disappeared.

Adapted from Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s critically acclaimed novel of the same name, Fleishman Is in Trouble on Disney+ brings to life the complex world of modern relationships and the challenges of marriage and divorce.

As he juggles parenting two children who may or may not like him, a potential promotion, reconnecting with old friends, and navigating the dating scene, Toby (Jesse Eisenberg) soon realises that if he wants to figure out what happened to Rachel (Claire Danes), he will have to face what happened to their marriage first.

The story only starts to make more sense about halfway through the season, when the perspective shifts and what happened is retold through Rachel’s eyes. After all, they never specify which Fleishman is in trouble.

Her own version, somehow difficult to watch, delves into the pain and unequal burdens of motherhood, highlighting societal pressures placed on women.

Part Kramer Vs. Kramer, part Gone Girl, Fleishman Is in Trouble feels like an incredibly insightful exploration of gender dynamics, both within marriage and parenthood, but also in the professional and dating worlds.

Brodesser-Akner herself adapted her novel into this eight-part miniseries, successfully translating the story from page to screen without compromising its complexities – but whether you’ve read the novel or not, it’s definitely worth a watch.