User reviews

Season 1 was fairly good.

It hinted at odd character quirks.. had many moments of humor, both dark and not. It was compelling and made one wonder just how far characters would go with their quirk. I genuinely liked season 1.

Season 2 was largely forgettable.

There was clearly no focus for the season. It didn't know if it wanted to be a drama or an offbeat dark comedy.. it leaned far more toward straight drama than anything else. There really was no big plot point in any part of season 2. It was overall pointless.

Season 3 is just horrible.

Season 3 is 100% drama and any story which may have existed in season one is entirely lost at this point.. each and every episode seems largely independent. There's VERY little common thread and ZERO core storyline. They've even essentially forgotten about characters in season 3 and everyone is rather "vanilla." They truly lost me when the "large" friend teaches a 90s aerobics class... was this written by a team that had no direct experience with the 90s?? Did they really believe a "large" aerobics instructor would have ANY students in their class in the 90s?? "Inclusion" is one thing, but reality is, well, reality. Do they also believe that blind people can teach the sighted calligraphy??

All the actors do a great job.

And production levels are great.

The problem is in the writing. It seems rather evident that the writers never had ANY REAL CLUE what the ACTUAL story was.

They had a notion in season 1 of showing some quirky bulimic behavior for Sheila, that's all. By season 3 writers seem to grab on to some rather irrelevant aspect and make that an episode. An episode which does absolutely nothing to propel any story forward, or convey anything regarding any character arc.

Season 3 simply meaders across episodes, never really knowing where its going or where it'll end up - its readily apparent.

The show started with dark humor but I get the impression NO ONE involved in this show anticipated it being picked up for a second season, let alone a third. So after season one..... they lost the focus entirely.

What a strange and totally unbelievable show. Everything is so unconvincing and artificially constructed. Dialogs, relations between characters, reactions... I can't figure it out what they were aiming to achieve with this. Except to recreate the 80's. I gave it a three stars because Rose Byrne and some other actors are good, but without that I will give it only one star.

The premise seemed fun and interesting, plus it has Rose Byrne in it. The five first minutes of the first episode actually had me hooked. But that didn't last, and I quickly realized that the only thing I liked was the whole 80's aspect for it. For the next 9 episodes nothing, ABSOLUTELY noting happened. None of the characters, from the lead to the supporting ones, are likable, except for maybe her neighbor-friend. You would think that the main character would evolve from episode to episode, but she doesn't! She lets herself be ran over by her a-hole of a husband, her so called friends, and by everyone else for that matter. Every episode I was hoping for her to react, get angry, FREAKIN' DO SOMETHING. Nothing. And yet, I kept watching it every week, hoping she would do something or that something would happen. Came Season Finale and ... nada!

Sorry. Tried three episodes and it's painful. Boring, Just not for me. Waste of time.

I've watched the first 3 episodes. To me, this feels a little like someone trying to cash in on the craze of GLOW on Netflix with Rose Byrne as the Alison Brie character. Sure, there's enough that's different, but this really comes off as uninspired. Just my two cents.

Physical, set in 1980s Southern California, attempts to depict the personal transformation of Sheila Rubin, a housewife portrayed by Rose Byrne. While showcasing Sheila's inner struggles and obsessive concerns about her appearance and life, the show aims to bring a psychological and social dimension to the character. However, Physical struggles to transcend its local focus, and for audiences unfamiliar with the American lifestyle or culture of that era, the show may lack significant appeal.

Physical attempts to explore the internal crises and apparent issues of a woman dealing with her own demons; yet, the concerns of this character may not resonate with those outside the American culture or 1980s setting. The series clearly caters to an audience with a particular appreciation of that era, leaving little for those without the same historical or cultural connection. For viewers unfamiliar with the American 1980s, the show may feel like watching a local story rather than a globally relatable piece.

Rose Byrne, the lead actress, plays her role effectively; however, her fans may find her in a role that's a bit too niche and local for their expectations. Byrne portrays a woman grappling with her mental challenges and personal crises, which contrasts her other more dynamic roles. Although her acting skill is undeniable, her role in Physical might feel unsatisfying for those who hope to see her in broader or more universally appealing roles.

The story itself is not weak; it manages to evoke an authentic 1980s America through detailed settings and era-inspired music. Yet, from an international perspective, the appeal is limited to viewers who have cultural or historical ties to that period. Sheila's character faces crises personal to her and her time, but these issues may feel tedious or unengaging for a non-American or non-Western audience.

In conclusion, Physical successfully delivers on its ideas, but mainly for a targeted audience. The storyline can be engaging for viewers who relate to its themes, yet from a global standpoint, it lacks enough innovation to entertain a broader range of viewers.