by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
When I was younger, my mom would do aerobics at home. She didn’t have time to take a class because she was either working or doing something with my sister and/or I. She had the step platform, raisers, and even some workout tapes. I always made fun of her, wondering how hard it could be or how much of a workout one could get from aerobics. Then, when I was in high school, I took a strength and conditioning class where we did aerobics twice a week. It kicked my butt and was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I eventually came clean to my mom, apologizing for making fun of her aerobics. Lesson learned: don’t knock it until you try it.
Physical,created by Annie Weisman, is the story about Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) in the 1980s. She’s a struggling housewife dealing with mental and physical issues, but finds solace in aerobics, which she finds strength and purpose from. Her inner voice is constantly telling her that she’s not good enough, but with the help of her husband Danny (Rory Scovel) and friend Greta (Dierdre Friel), Shelia embarks on a journey of empowerment, while also dealing with her own personal demons. Physical season two is 10 episodes and is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Make no mistake, this is Byrne’s show, and Physical only goes as far Byrne’s performance can take it. This is a big season for Shelia for a lot of reasons. She’s starting to find herself and figure out how she wants to make this business of hers work, with or without the support of her husband. As a whole, Sheila isn’t a likable character due to how she treats others. Byrne, though, is doing some great work this season.
One aspect of Sheila that is explored this season is her mental health issues. She struggles with it all through season one, and when people start to find out more about it, she makes the decision to get help, although not completely on her own. Some of the episodes that deal directly with this issue are the best of the series. These are no easy episodes to watch, and they can be triggering for some people who also are dealing with similar issues. This is why it’s so important for shows to address these types of issues. They shine a light on someone else who’s struggling in the hopes that this could inspire others, maybe to seek help. Sheila’s mental health has lasting consequences, but when she thinks she may have hit rock bottom, there’s some solace to know that there’s a chance she can recover if she works as hard on her mental health as she does on her aerobics.
Sheila and Greta’s friendship expands this season, and I’m rooting for them. During season one, Sheila didn’t treat Greta very well. During season two, however, they’ve learned to become friends, and Greta has become more comfortable in her own skin. Props to Friel for a great performance as Greta, and for making her a great character who isn’t afraid to call Sheila out on her stuff, which she desperately needs.
As always, the choice of music and costumes are great since we’re dealing with the 1980s. The song choices are great because it’s hard to go wrong when picking music from the time period. Props also to the costume and set design because it truly feels like we’re in the 1980s. It makes it feel nostalgic, while also showcasing some trending items.
Season one ends with a curious decision made by local Mormon leader, John Breem (Paul Sparks), and Sheila. They have more moments to interact with one another this season that I thought were very moving. They strike a friendship that is both mutually beneficial and hopefully will give them both the courage they need in order to be successful in their respective fields, as well as personally. It’s not perfect, and it will have lasting consequences, but more will hopefully come of that if a season three is in the cards.
With how Sheila’s business is evolving, I wasn’t quite sure why Sheila’s aerobics teacher, Bunny (Della Saba), and her boyfriend, Tyler (Lou Taylor Pucci), are in this season. They serve as a foil, but Sheila’s inner demons, as well as another player in the home fitness game, Vinnie Green (Murray Barlett), are already strong adversaries. So having Bunny and Tyler around feels redundant. In fact, one of Physical season two’s biggest issues is that unless we’re talking about Sheila, all the other characters feel a little rudderless. Danny doesn’t have much to do this season, and it wasn’t until the final few episodes where he truly got more to do than complain. Even Breem doesn’t get much to do unless it involves Sheila, which is too bad because Sparks is a great actor and it felt a little like a waste to not use him more.
Physical season two is a solid sophomore season. It gives more context to Sheila so we as the audience understand her more as a character. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking to watch, while other times it’s darkly humorous. Byrne’s performance alone makes this a recommendation, but the dark humor, lack of secondary plot points for other characters, and subject matter won’t appeal to everyone. Season two ends on a pseudo-cliffhanger, so I’m crossing my fingers we’re getting another season, maybe even to wrap up Sheila’s story.
Score: 7/10
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