What I'm Streaming: Casual A Hulu Original (Seasons 1-2)

Momma Told Me: Humans, by nature, are complicated.

I took almost 3 months off from television this year-

When I say 'television' of course I mean 'streaming' programming, as you may recall our family does not have traditional cable. The only time I get to watch something 'live' is at a viewing party or family get together, so I am typically behind at least several episodes on my favorite shows. My purge, of sorts, really wasn't a conscious decision. I simply found that I didn't have the physical or emotional time to invest in TV while I sorted through some big life events in the first half of 2016. In a sense my life became the drama I was hooked on, and I couldn't handle that of anyone else, even if they were fictional.

But now Summer is here- and I have cleared my schedule to do nothing but relax. Okay, blog and relax- I have some recipes and projects I look forward to tackling and sharing in my own time. But the truth remains- streaming, and binging is back in my life and I look forward to sharing some of my finds!

I started high school at a very young age, which just so happened to be around the time Gilmore Girls had just begun airing on the CW. It was my mother, actually, who insisted I watch the show, and instantly I became hooked. Well, we became hooked, as we'd tune in every week to see the latest saga of Rory and Dean or Loralei and Luke. I've always been drawn to shows with quirky characters that seem to have a myriad of personal life obstacles, yet still manage to great each day with enthusiasm, no matter how calamitous the outcome.

Casual, a Hulu Original, reminds me very much of classic Gilmore Girls mixed with (Amazon Prime's Original) Transparent. It is a modern family tale of a single mother, recently divorced and moved in with her emotionally complicated (yet brilliant) brother whilst navigating the complicated world of casual relationships. And, if you think 'Casual' refers merely to one night stands and hook-ups, I have to say that the show's title really covers a wide range of human relationships and the complicated struggles to maintain them.

At the core of Casual there are 3 strong lead characters- Valerie (Michaela Watkins) and her extremely raw, but endearing relationship with her high school aged daughter Laura (Tara Lynne Barr) and Valerie's brother Alex (Tommy Dewey) the online relationship mapping tech startup failure (think Match.com) with emotional insecurities and destructive behaviors. Much like Gilmore Girls, viewers are drawn into the unique and impressively symbiotic relationship these three characters build, as each learn from and grows with each-other while tackling sticky family issues.

However the show is NOT a family program- and should be enjoyed by adults. While it does stream on Hulu as an Original series there is ample 'Sex And The City' style content covered through the adult cast's various escapades into single-dom, parenting, and beyond. While recently divorced, one love of her life, Valerie is awkward and even clumsy in her dating story, bold and modern Alex is inquisitive and exploratory in his. At the end of the day, Casual wraps the calamities and trials with raw insight that truly mirrors the struggles of what it means to be human, and searching for companionship (whether connecting with a new friend, or looking for a long term relationship) in this complex modern world.

If you enjoy shows such as Parenthood and Transparent, give this show a go. Some of the scenarios may seem outright shocking, while others all too relate-able, and it's almost impossible not to begin building your own relationship with the characters. Casual is currently in it's second season- which means you can stream all of Season 1 on Hulu now (binge time!) and catch up to the first half of Season 2 before it ends.

P.S. Season 3 of Casual begins streaming next week (May 26, 2017)!


What Daughter Says: 'Casual' much like 'Normal' are settings for clothing and the dryer. Every relationship is richly complex- that's what makes life so enjoyable!