I watched this somewhat sporadically when it was originally on network tv and remembered enjoying it so decided to revisit recently when I found it on Netflix.
I did not heed the advice of other reviewers to stop after the first two seasons and instead soldiered through all four, mostly just to see how they wrapped it up.
As mentioned by most reviewers, the first two seasons were great. Storylines revolve around a group of twenty-somethings from different walks of life making their way through life. There are flawed and even (sometimes) unlikeable characters navigating careers, relationships and their sexuality, stopping short of the unbelievable revolving door partner swapping that similar dramas often employ.
Unfortunately it starts to lose its way in the third season. Some mainstays from the first two seasons have now left with little explanation and they are never heard from or spoken about again. One character who spent most of the first season in perpetual angst after discovering her boyfriend is actually gay, seamlessly transitions into a gay relationship herself with virtually no explanation or self exploration. One of the main narrators finds herself in a badly overacted abusive relationship and none of her friends say a word about it. In spite of this, there were still some enjoyable moments to be had in this season.
The fourth season is mostly a train wreck. The bulk of the original cast has now disappeared with no explanation. The main narrator, who had spent the first three seasons as a shameless womaniser, inexplicably decides he loves one of his ex girlfriends (who had been portrayed as a bunny boiler crazy ex) and moved in with her in a different suburb. He and his housemate then say their farewells as though he is moving to a different country. He is then never mentioned again.
I get that the characters have to move on eventually to show growth and make room for new characters, but the way most of them were written out/disappeared is really just lazy writing. They must have known by halfway through the fourth season that the show was getting cancelled and it shows.
I did not heed the advice of other reviewers to stop after the first two seasons and instead soldiered through all four, mostly just to see how they wrapped it up.
As mentioned by most reviewers, the first two seasons were great. Storylines revolve around a group of twenty-somethings from different walks of life making their way through life. There are flawed and even (sometimes) unlikeable characters navigating careers, relationships and their sexuality, stopping short of the unbelievable revolving door partner swapping that similar dramas often employ.
Unfortunately it starts to lose its way in the third season. Some mainstays from the first two seasons have now left with little explanation and they are never heard from or spoken about again. One character who spent most of the first season in perpetual angst after discovering her boyfriend is actually gay, seamlessly transitions into a gay relationship herself with virtually no explanation or self exploration. One of the main narrators finds herself in a badly overacted abusive relationship and none of her friends say a word about it. In spite of this, there were still some enjoyable moments to be had in this season.
The fourth season is mostly a train wreck. The bulk of the original cast has now disappeared with no explanation. The main narrator, who had spent the first three seasons as a shameless womaniser, inexplicably decides he loves one of his ex girlfriends (who had been portrayed as a bunny boiler crazy ex) and moved in with her in a different suburb. He and his housemate then say their farewells as though he is moving to a different country. He is then never mentioned again.
I get that the characters have to move on eventually to show growth and make room for new characters, but the way most of them were written out/disappeared is really just lazy writing. They must have known by halfway through the fourth season that the show was getting cancelled and it shows.