So much of The Studio shouldn’t work, and yet, from beginning to end, it’s comedic gold—sharp and essential to deconstructing what’s really happening behind the scenes in Hollywood. We’ve all heard the term “couch critic,” and many of us can say that we’re even aware of someone who thinks they know everything about filmmaking. (It’s even more hilarious when you do actually know a thing or two about filmmaking and people who don’t try to school you on it.) So, in considerable ways, Apple TV+’s latest series, developed by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez, should be on everyone’s radar.
Why does Hollywood only make movies based on IP? Who needs another sequel to X, Y, and Z? Why are we only rebooting classics, and why can’t anyone come up with anything original? Who are all these influencers showing up to events and what happens when everyone wants inclusivity but no one actually does the work to bring it out in the right way? These are questions both industry and non-industry people ask tirelessly, so to have a series that explores each of these matters with recognizable names in every episode is no small feat.
When the series wasn’t initially announced, I’ll admit that I was hesitant to dive into it because the concept sounded almost too meta and too forced. Imagine my surprise after pressing play on the first episode that I felt compelled to then immediately watch the entire series, finding each episode more compelling than the last. It’s meta because it has to be, and it’s here because everyone needs to remember what’s presumably so easy to forget: the fact that nuance does and should exist everywhere, and we as humans have to examine it.
Starring Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and guest starring a plethora of others, The Studio manages to tell a raw and hilarious story through over-the-top antics that dramatically highlight an ever-evolving industry. Interestingly, films or TV shows that often examine Hollywood also tend to do so through the perspective of actors and sometimes writers, but we seldom get something from the studios—the ones we’re almost always criticizing the most based on decisions, big or small.
While we get a wide array of perspectives throughout the season’s ten-episode run, the majority of the attention is on Rogen’s Matt Remick. Whatever happens, he gets the flak for it. It’s a fascinating examination that humanizes the people that those who aren’t in the industry don’t often see in front of the cameras. A non-industry person doesn’t know who Kathleen Kennedy is, but they sure know who Harrison Ford is, and they could certainly figure out what Lucasfilm stands for. (And that’s one of the more obvious ones.)
It’s both riveting and jarring to get this point of view and deep dive into a world that’s messy, complex, wild, and seldom straightforward. And The Studio is anything but straightforward—it’s all over the place in a way that showcases how chaotic some of the decision-making can be, and again, why it’s imperative to acknowledge nuance.
With exceptional performances that are sure to earn nominations come award season, the stars are also a large part of the appeal in the show’s sure success. The directing and narrative decisions are insightful enough to keep people thinking, and the comedic moments undoubtedly provide some of the best running gags in recent years. Apple TV’s The Studio is as fresh and as hilarious as a comedy series can be to tell an impactful story that’s going to stir a lot of discussions in the coming weeks.
Buckle up, cinephiles—this ride might be a little bumpy.
The Studio premieres exclusively on Apple TV+ on March 26.
First Featured Image Credit: Apple TV+