by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
As the streaming wars have come to a halt with clear winners in hand, several platforms are currently at a crossroads. It’s no secret that most studio-specific streamers like Paramount+ and AMC+ struggle with sagging subscriber numbers and sluggish content. Many of the smaller streamers are looking to merge, as Showtime and Paramount+ did, or Hulu and Disney+ are sort of doing. But one that is a bit of an enigma right now is Peacock. On the one hand, they have a sound strategy, with some great recent movie releases hitting the service in the exclusivity window, and a good grip on specific sporting events. Unfortunately, the television arm, particularly the original content division, has had a tough 2024. The shows have been in limbo, and many still await a cancellation decision.
The latest of which is Laid, which follows Ruby (Stephanie Hsu) as she navigates her chaotic and shallow love life. She embroils herself in a mystery when she and her roommate AJ (Zosia Mamet) discover that all the people she’s had sex with start dying in order of when she slept with them. The mystery comes to a head when Ruby meets someone who can potentially be her end game, but she’s unsure of the consequences of letting herself fall for someone when the end could be deadly.
Hsu has been on my radar since Everything Everywhere All at Once. I saw an incredibly talented performer who can nail more dramatic moments there. This year, she showcased some of her comedy in The Fall Guy, but Laid brings her to a whole different level. She knows how to deliver all kinds of jokes. Whether it’s crude, witty, or elaborate, Hsu’s comedic timing is impeccable. She’s also gifted with comedic talent. During the season, there was a Greatest Showman-centric joke that slayed me. It wouldn’t have worked unless Hsu committed. Unsurprisingly, she has comedic talent, but I didn’t realize how much it was there until I watched this series.
In addition to Hsu, credit needs to be given to the writing. Laid is a funny show that pulls no punches by calling people out. I concede that some of the jokes go too far regarding crudeness, but at the end of the day, the show entertained me enough to keep me excited throughout the show. I can’t help but think that through the comedy, Laid is trying to discuss the relationship that sex and love have with one another, and how they’re not always mutually exclusive. Ruby struggles with love because her standards are pretty high, and she has a quick ick that ruins most of her relationships. This is explored quite a bit when she warns several of her partners of impending doom, and how Ruby might be part of the issue since she quickly cut ties with someone over a tiny thing. I appreciate the attempt at the conversation about how people are so fast just to have sex, but don’t truly understand what love means in terms of connection.
One of the best parts is some of the random people they get that makeup Ruby’s sexual timeline. Most of them have limited screen time, but many nail their moment. The diversity of all her partners offers some amusing moments where she has to recount why they broke up, along with so many different reactions from her partners. Hsu has fantastic chemistry with everyone, which helps her make the most of her screen time with literally everyone in the series.
The story is a fun mystery, as Ruby tries to figure out how all these people are dying. A lot of attention is given to whether or not this is all just a coincidence. At first, it is a plausible option. Where’s the fun in that, though? Once the mystery gets going, Ruby and AJ’s investigation is the most substantial part. Kudos, in particular, go to Mamet, whose no-nonsense delivery and being the most thoughtful person in the room suits her well enough to lead the investigation. These resolution paths are among the only parts where I struggle with the series. A couple of options are present, but they’re so over-the-top that it’s hard for me to reconcile a way forward without the series descending into chaos.
Perhaps the biggest issue I have with the series is that a lot of the characters make catastrophic decisions that I don’t they can come back from. Ruby is called out by several of her former partners for cutting their leashes too quickly, but the most biting insults come from AJ, who knows her the best. It’s a toss-up, because you root for Ruby for most of the show. On the other hand, she makes such confounding decisions that it can be hard to like her sometimes. The same can be true for Isaac (Tommy Martinez), someone who Ruby is interested in, but who makes me wonder if he’s even worthy of her as a partner.
This leads me to Richie (Michael Angarano), who is in a unique position when it comes to all the deaths of Ruby’s partners. Setting aside all the jokes they make about trivia hosts (of which I am, and I found some of those to be accurate, even if it was a hit to my pride), Richie is a curious pick for the one Ruby tries to bond with. I wonder if we needed more time with him to see why he’s different from all the other people that Ruby has slept with.
Laid is a funny show that has a lot going for it. Setting aside some shallow characters, particularly the male ones, and a big question mark about where the series is heading, I had a blast watching the show. It’s exceedingly funny and anchored by a hilarious performance by Hsu.
Rating: Low Side of Liked It
Laid is currently streaming on Peacock
You can read more from Mike Hilty and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd