You know that awkward moment when the barista at your favorite coffee shop calls you “ma’am”? Or when you overhear kids referring to you as “a grown-up”? You might find yourself thinking, “How can I be a ‘ma’am’ when I still feel like I’m in my twenties?” or “How can I be ‘grown-up’ when I’m still the same person I was as a kid?”
The new HBO comedy “Togetherness,” created by Jay and Mark Duplass, dives headfirst into this dual existence. It perfectly illustrates the space between being a carefree post-college wanderer and the weighty responsibilities of adulthood, complete with a marriage, kids, and a mortgage.
Meet the Characters
Meet married couple Jake and Liz (played by Mark and Melanie), who seem to embody the perfect life to Liz’s still-searching sister, Kate (Amanda), and Jake’s down-on-his-luck best buddy, Tom (Steve). While they have two kids and a charming home, their relationship isn’t as rosy as it appears—especially when it comes to intimacy.
Jake and Liz are pretending to be real adults, while Kate and Tom seem stuck in a perpetual teenage fantasy. Kate confuses affection with physical encounters, sends selfies in her underwear to a guy who never replies, and gets ghosted via text. Meanwhile, Tom, who’s recently lost his home, is contemplating a return to his parents’ basement after his acting dreams hit a snag.
The Struggle of Adulthood
Even though all four friends are nearing 40, Jake and Liz have crossed into adulthood, while Kate and Tom remain mired in immaturity, unable to move forward. After Kate faces rejection, Tom takes her out for some Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill wine (the quintessential “I just turned 21” drink), and they convince Jake and Liz to join in. As the married couple sips their sugary wine in the minivan, they watch Kate and Tom wreak havoc on her ex’s house to the tunes of “Youth Gone Wild” by Skid Row. “They look like they’re having so much fun,” Liz muses, and Jake nods in agreement.
The contrasting dynamics of these two pairs paint a vivid picture of the psychological struggle many face when teetering on the edge of adulthood. It’s the battle between responsibility and desire, the external appearance of stability hiding an inner child still yearning for the carefree days of youth. “Togetherness” hints at a season filled with the clashes and reconciliations that occur within us all—especially those who find themselves wondering how they ended up here in midlife.
Further Exploration
If you’re interested in exploring the journey of parenthood and home insemination, check out this informative article on home insemination. For more expertise on at-home insemination kits, visit Cryobaby. And if you want reliable information on pregnancy and assisted reproductive technology, the CDC is an excellent resource.
In summary, “Togetherness” cleverly navigates the complexities of adulthood versus the lingering immaturity many feel, making us question our own journeys and identities as we grow older.