Uncoupled is a 2022 Romantic Comedy and Drama TV series created by Darren Starr and Jeffrey Richman, and starring Neil Patrick Harris.
The series stars Neil Patrick Harris as Michael Lawson, a newly single gay Manhattanite navigating the dating scene for the first time in 17 years after getting abruptly dumped by his long-term partner. Attempts to move on are complicated by a variety of troubles, ranging from the Culture Clash born from how different the dating scene is from Michael's youth, his remaining trauma and issues born from being so abruptly dumped, his insecurities regarding both, and general bad luck with bad matches.
The series aired for a single season on Netflix, before being canceled and subsequently picked up by Showtime shortly after. However, Showtime too later announced that they had canceled the second season.
Uncoupled contains examples of:
- All Gays are Promiscuous: Deconstructed; the dating scene for gay and bi men is fairly active and Michael has no trouble landing hot guys, but he doesn't want meaningless flings, he wants an actual relationship. His best friend Billy is a player who has a new boytoy every episode, and is mocked by his friends for his shallow and promiscuous dating habits and the fact he constantly goes after much younger men, and the way he doesn't consider his dates' feelings leads to him being called out over it. Though there's almost no straight men in the show, it's noted that gay men aren't any more promiscuous than straight men are, and much of their behaviour and dating habits, positive and negative, are about the same.
- Amicable Exes:
- Downplayed with Michael and Billy. The two of them only hooked up once years ago and are now close friends.
- Michael and Colin, who appear to reconcile at their friends' wedding in the Season 1 finale
- An Aesop: There isn't necessarily a reason why things happen, and even when there are, maybe you won't learn it, and you need to learn to move on even without such closure. Michael spends the first half of season 1 trying to figure out why Colin left him, with each of his theories getting shot down (his initial belief he was cheating on him with a younger guy proven wrong quickly), only to realize that he needs to be able to move on without it.
- Bigger Is Better in Bed: Deconstructed. Josh, a dermatologist Michael dates for one episode, has a massive penis, which is intimidating and causes problems in the bedroom as it is actually uncomfortable and potentially painful for his partners during penetration. Though the idea of a big penis is idealised, in-practice its clear that there's such a thing as too big.
- Birds of a Feather: Basically how Michael sways Claire into signing with him instead of Tyler; Michael was dumped by Colin just like Claire was dumped by her own ex-husband, and so he understands what she needs better. They bond pretty quickly over it, though Michael does become annoyed with how attached to him she gets. Similarly, Suzanne and her bond over being single middle-aged mothers, and though Claire was frosty with her at first they become quite chummy.
- Cast Full of Gay: The show is centred on the gay dating scene of New York with a
cast largely built up of gay men, played by gay actors. There is some straight women in supporting roles but the number of straight men can be counted on one hand. - The Chain of Harm: Acknowledged; after being dumped so brutally, Michael is deeply hurt, and though he's a genuine Nice Guy he ends up occasionally lashing out over it. The show is as much about him coming to terms with his bubbling anger as it is him trying to move on.
- Cliffhanger: The first season ends with two: Suzanne about to meet the father of her son and Colin telling Michael that he made a mistake.
- Cool Old Guy: Jack, one of Michael's neighbors, is a quirky but charming older man, who's overcome the death of his longtime partner with grace and believes in living life to the fullest. And he's played by Broadway star André De Shields. Enough said.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Claire Lewis begins the series as an unlikable Rich Bitch but becomes nicer as she bonds with Michael and Suzanne.
- Derailing Love Interests: Michael pretty much has a Gay of the Week, but no matter how great or perfect they seem to be, by the end of the episode he's single again.
- Most notably is Josh, a dermatologist who his dad sets him up with, who is a kind, handsome, and caring man who's Fatal Flaw is his penis is too big; after seeming pretty sane up until now, he suggests abusing medical supplies to loosen Michael's butthole to make it easier for him to have anal sex with him (Michael is understandably freaked out by the idea).
- Luke appears to be nothing but a Nice Guy who's biggest flaw is being clingy and acting lie he and Michael have been dating for months as opposed to one week. Once Michael breaks up with him (over a fart), Luke suddenly acts like a petulant narcissist.
- Dumped via Text Message: At the end of the first episode, when they've had an attempt at couples' therapy together, Colin texts Michael that they are definitely over.
- Gay Groom in a White Tux: Both Jonathans wear white tux at their wedding.
- Hidden Depths: Wyatt is introduced as the Pretty Boy arm candy for Billy who is way too young for him. But the first season finale reveals he's a med student at Columbia, and is very empathetic and insightful. He also gives Billy an epic telling off when he reaches his limit with the latter's narcissism, proving he won't just be walked all over.
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Hollywood Pudgy: Claire repeatedly remarks about how obese and ugly her ex-husband is, describing him as grossly overweight and bald. When we see him, he's not exactly a Silver Fox but he's far from the Gonk she made him out to be. Lampshaded by Suzanne and her friend after, who recognise that her standard for "obese" is pretty small. - Informed Attractiveness: Inverted; A few times Michael is informed that he's less attractive than Colin, with Jerkass Tyler remarking with surprise that Colin was the older one of the two. Neil Patrick Harris is in his late 40s but he certainly doesn't look it, and has been able to engage in Dawson Casting in the past.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: For much of the show, Billy is a Small Name, Big Ego who loves talking about himself and hooking up above almost everything else. But underneath it all, he does genuinely care about his friends and will help them out when things get bad. Examples include him offering to buy one of Stanley's paintings to help salvage his art showing (though he makes it clear he doesn't actually want it) and helping carry a drunk Michael back to his bungalow (even though he ends up accidentally dropping Michael on his face. Moreover, in the finale Billy's latest fling, Wyatt, calls him out for picking up another man right in front of him. This prompts Billy to reconsider his actions, leading him to hug Stanley and accompany him to the hospital.
- Male Frontal Nudity: Michael's dick pic is briefly seen when he accidentally shows it to Paolo. Neil Patrick Harris confirmed in an interview that it's from a body double.
- Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Suzanne had sex with three men while on vacation and therefore doesn't know who's the father of her son.
- Minor Flaw, Major Breakup: Michael breaks up with Luke because he's too comfortable about farting in his presence; admittedly, Michael had felt that Luke was rather clingy before that and the fart seemed to just be the last straw.
- Pet the Dog: Despite Michael and Tyler's professional rivalry and Tyler's obnoxious personality, when Michael thinks Tyler is Colin's new boyfriend, having seen Tyler help him unpack in his new apartment, and confronts Tyler about it, Tyler is nice enough to clear up the misunderstanding, saying he helped Colin unpack because he sold him the apartment, and to tell Michael he didn't see any signs that Colin is dating someone new.
- Sequel Hook: The first season ends with setups for potential future stories. Besides what's listed under Cliffhanger above, Stanley has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and Billy seems to start making an effort to cherish close relations more.
- Sitcom Archnemesis: Michael and Suzanne have Tyler Hawkins, a young, obnoxious and well-connected rival real-estate broker.
- Surprise Party: Michael is telling Colin they were robbed as he leads him to a building. When Colin admits he took his stuff and moved out, a stunned Michael slumps against the door...which opens to a huge gathering yelling "SURPRISE!" for Colin's birthday. Colin acknowledges he had hoped to discuss this over a quiet dinner and not a big party as the pair try to put on the air of a loving couple through it all.
- Take That!: In the finale, Suzanne tells Michael that he looks "angrier in person like Ellen DeGeneres"
