Created By: Annie Weisman
Starring: Rose Byrne, Rory Scovel, Paul Sparks, Dierdre Friel, Della Saba, Lou Taylor Pucci
Plot Summary: A woman struggling in her life as a quietly tortured housewife finds an unconventional path to power through an unlikely source: the world of aerobics.
Despite mixed reviews of the first season, Physical was a decent hit for Apple TV+. The streaming service has been struggling to find success, with the major exceptions being Ted Lasso (which is sadly ending soon) and Severance. While it has gained a cult following, Physical hasn’t quite broken into the zeitgeist like the two aforementioned shows. A first season is always difficult to judge; it has to juggle a lot of plates, such as introducing its world, its characters and the stakes involved. Freed from this constraint, the second season of Physical really comes into its own.
This time around, Physical takes the already richly compelling established characters and greatly expands upon them. Their inner pain and complexities are explored, which really does make the series come to vivid life. We delve into more of Sheila’s (Rose Byrne) past traumas that manifest in the form of her body dysmorphia. As unlikeable as she can be, the writers are wise to always give her layers and, ultimately, she retains her relatability and charisma. The showrunners never judge her, and that is the correct way to handle this material. Sheila’s husband, Danny (Rory Scovel), is given more of a softer side, and you gain more sympathy for him. Hell, he is downright endearing this time around instead of being insufferable like the previous season.
We also get a lot more story-wise with Greta (Dierdre Friel) and her husband Ernie (Ian Gomez), who are Shelia and Danny’s best friends. I adore these characters, and I am overjoyed that they are given much more to do this season. We also get an injection of new life with amazing new characters. Emmy-winning actor Murray Bartlett dazzles as fitness guru Vinnie Green. Bartlett is electric and truly brings something great to another fantastic show. Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn plays Marika, Bartlett’s second in command. Gunn devours the role, and I love seeing her shine.
Tonally, the show sticks to what was established in the first season, which can be at times a very grim and de-glamorized snapshot at the ‘80s. It rips off the rose-tinted glasses of the decade in a way that feels refreshing, and is perhaps amongst the most realistic in any film or television series in recent memory. This cut-throat world of the Reagan post-consumerism is explored with equal amounts humor and blistering brutality, which is one of this series biggest strength. The stakes are higher here as Sheila navigates a male-dominated world, a brand-new market with her fitness tapes, not to mention her daily battle with her own inner-demons.
All of these threads are balanced quite well, and no episode ever feels like filler. Each installment really does a beautiful job of pulling you deeper and deeper into the enthralling series. Not every element is perfect, though, as a few sub-plots are shaggy and don’t really add anything to the overall story. For example, the stuff with Danny and a colleague possibly having a thing doesn’t push things far enough to be worthwhile, but ultimately this is not something that detracts in any major way.
Bringing this world to life is the incredible talent on display. Rose Byrne gives an award-worthy performance that is transformative, engaging and harrowing. She really delivers the goods. Honestly, every single cast member is firing on all cylinders. Physical is a lean, mean, high energy show that is really finding its groove.
Physical is currently available to stream on AppleTV+.
Physical is a lean, mean, high energy show that is really finding its groove.
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GVN Rating 8
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Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.