Your Friends & Neighbors Episode 1 — Jon Hamm Is amazing, broke, and possibly a criminal (We’re in)

The first episode of Apple TV+'s Your Friends & Neighbors, titled “This Is What Happens,” felt like a delightful concoction of satire, suspense, and drama, and revealed itself like a flower that blooms in the dark. It sets the show up as an exploration of the depths of human despair and decay, serving both as a fascinating commentary on suburban life, whilst simultaneously sinking its claws into the viewer. The pilot itself had a sharp and stylish flair accompanied by an underlying moral ambiguity, revealing its depths gruesomely and disturbingly: from the quiet, suburban life, to Hamm's unsettling performance, it all felt very haunting and alluring.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers of the first episode.

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Coop's Life Is on Fire (and he might be the arsonist)

Andrew "Coop" Cooper, played by Jon Hamm a character we are yet to properly meet, finds himself dazed and confused next to a dead body and a pool of blood in the grand foyer of a mansion. Even for a show that challenges the boundaries of the mystery genre, this killer opening is wild.

A captivating hook that uses dispossessed nature as a capture arguably works perfectly, as viewers are entirely thrown into a continent rife with ambiguity.

A man of unmatched prowess, Coop faces a shocking reality check when he is fired by his boss Jack Bailey out of nowhere for what seems to be an HR issue with a younger employee.

Behind the facade of an ‘HR issue’ lies a more sinister truth: The reason behind Jack’s betrayal is rooted in his business motives, he simply aims to take over Coop’s expensively maintained clientele.

Now a skeleton of his former self, Coop's emotional state is in shambles. Having undergone a messy divorce, headstrong but ultimately chucked out by his wife, Mel (Amanda Peet), who decided to cheat on him with his best friend, things seem to spiral completely out of his control.

Living in a small house in an affluent neighborhood, life has become a tortuous endeavor for this once high flying executive trying to hold onto the top. Amidst all this, Coop gets a new neighbor, Samantha (Olivia Munn), a woman of incredible intellect and mystery who only adds to the craziness of Coop's life

Most importantly, the episode illustrates the steps that lead Coop into a life of crime. It starts out small with him trying to get some money for his son's birthday; during a neighbor's party, he swipes some money from a child's organizer. That bit of reward, and the lack of consequences that followed, was addictive. It isn't long after that he starts breaking into the same house for other valuables such as cash and expensive watches.

At the end of the episode, the narrator asks “What’s the worst that could happen?” Ironically, this is a phrase that sets up the narrative tension for the season.

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Jon Hamm's Coop could be the antihero we didn't know we needed

Jon Hamm draws you in with his performance, which is no surprise considering he retains a Don Draper charm, but also renders a softer wholesome decay. While he is not a villain yet, Coop, as played by Hamm, shows potential for deeper darkness under an immaculately sculpted surface.

Amanda Peet has limited time on screen, but she effectively makes Mel into an ex-wife type who knows how to provoke Coop. Olivia Munn provides stillness tinged with unease, making us wonder who she really supports in her role as Sam.

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A murdery soap opera with a spritz of satire

Your Friends & Neighbors, tonally is high-quality TV with a hint of fun. It’s evil but not overwhelming, suspenseful but not despairing, and just a bit of melodrama, enough to make you laugh out loud once per scene. Picture The White Lotus meets Desperate Housewives—if there was a baby from both shows and the baby was fostered by Burn Notice.

The show exudes a medley of events such as a dinner party havoc, a younger sister angrily playing Radiohead tunes all around someone’s garden, and more suburban pettiness than a PTA meeting with open bottles. It’s a series that really moves you so much, you want to go pour some rosé, light a candle, and get your group chat on your phone and tell them, “You guys HAVE to watch this.”

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Final verdict: Campy crime and midlife mayhem? We’re sold!

I'll give this epiode an 8/10⭐

After only one episode, Your Friends & Neighbors hooks its audience with disordered characters, confusing situations, rich people who are misbehaving, and Jon Hamm under a lot of strain. Is it possible to ask for more?

Your Friends & Neighbors is airing on Apple TV+ with a new episode coming out every Friday with two episodes already streaming on the platform. Don't miss out on this epic dark comedy!