Shows that can make you laugh out loud at one moment and cry happy tears the next are rare. It’s challenging to walk the line between a comedy and its dramatic beats, but the rare few who accomplish this stand out for the special moments we all crave when watching stellar television. Apple TV’s Trying, created and written by Andy Wolton, has had four seasons thus far, though it actually just wrapped filming its fifth. Thanks to terrific leads in Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, a great supportive cast, and stellar writing, Trying is one of the strongest TV comedies on Apple TV that you should run, not walk, to binge before the newest season premieres.
What Is ‘Trying’ About?
Trying follows Nikki (Smith) and Jason (Spall), a London couple who desperately want to become parents. After struggling with fertility, they decide to pursue adoption, only to discover that the process comes with its own complicated set of challenges, from invasive home visits to unexpected emotional hurdles.
In the first season, the couple deals with what feels like the competitive world of adoption, where other parents have more money, fancier job titles, or have already adopted. They think they’re absolutely behind on all the metrics they believe matter for their ultimate eligibility to be parents. Of course, plenty of it is exaggerated or based on incorrect assumptions about the larger system; all of these moments speak to the real insecurities that hopeful soon-to-be parents feel when they embark on their own adoption journey. Nikki and Jason may feel significantly outperformed by the other potential parents, but at the end of the day, their determination to be parents and the love they will have for their would-be kids is all that matters.
Esther Smith and Rafe Spall Are Perfect Leads in ‘Trying’
When you watch a show as honest and hilarious as Trying, you can’t force any aspect of it. The authenticity that Smith and Spall bring to the role is precisely what grounds it all. Rather than resorting to over-the-top reactions or drama-fueled arguments, the writers have expertly crafted a narrative and a relationship that feels genuine from the outset. Nikki and Jason have their own share of petty arguments, boisterous laughter, and quiet moments, but these scenes are exactly what make them real and identifiable, with the chemistry between Smith and Spall undeniable. It’s completely unsurprising that Smith and Spall are in a relationship in real life.
While Smith and Spall feel like reason enough to keep watching the series, Trying‘s supporting cast is the cherry on top. From their parents to their siblings to their friends, each character brings their own comedic flavor to the potluck that is this cast. To start things off, the iconic Dame Imelda Staunton plays Nikki and Jason’s adoption officer, but favorites include Nikki’s sister, Karen (Sian Brooke), and her eccentric boyfriend Scott (Darren Boyd). Karen is cynical and sarcastic, and always has the most biting insults towards Nikki — and while a character like this can easily come off as one-dimensional, her tough exterior ultimately shields a much softer, more sensitive interior. On the other hand, Scott is absolutely one of the most eccentric characters on television. He is often seen as pompous and insensitive, explaining things no one asked for, or seemingly completely ignoring Karen’s needs. Despite this, he has one of the comedy’s strongest character arcs while remaining funny without end.
There Are Plenty of Reasons To Make ‘Trying’ Your Next Binge Watch
The best part of Trying is how the supporting cast really does support the main couple through their struggles with the adoption process. Rather than being passive or occasionally lending a shoulder to cry on, they all consistently show up for them in their time of need. Whether it’s building something new in their apartment or showing up at a courthouse, their family and friends truly care for Nikki and Jason, and show up when they are needed. It’s exactly what makes this series such an easy binge, thanks to the real community and love that is often displayed loudly in the series.
All in all, Trying is a show that sneaks up on you. One moment you’re laughing at Scott’s latest misguided “helpful comment” or cringing at Nikki’s spiral over adoption paperwork, and the next you’re surprised to find yourself genuinely moved by these flawed, earnest people just doing their best. With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and critical acclaim across all four seasons, Trying has quietly become one of Apple TV’s most beloved series. The show masterfully balances laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth, making you root for Nikki and Jason’s journey to parenthood while never shying away from the messy, complicated realities of building a family. It’s warm without being saccharine, funny without minimizing the stakes, and honest about how hard (and how worth it) the path to parenthood can be.
