User reviews

Rose Byrne rocks. Is her character totally likeable? Maybe not initially, but you grow to love her as you come to understand that she struggles deeply with self-loathing and body image issues, and she feels stuck in her life. She's the woman who's smarter than the men in the room, but she doesn't have a place in the board room. A feminist tale that doesn't try to be sweet or inspiring, but somehow ends up being inspiring despite it's dark edge. Dramedy. Darkly funny but also serious.

Great Acting, interesting story. After the first 2 episodes it picks up steam. I'm really enjoying a dive into the 80's and into the mind of a woman with a eating disorder. I thought it was brilliant how you can see what low self worth takes over and what you are willing to settle for. Don't listen to the ratings on this one,they probably didn't really give it a chance, those are the same people who give Grey's Anatomy 10 stars.

I can't believe this has such a low imdb rating. I watched the first 3 episodes and am hooked. It's dark and twisted just enough so far. Hope it stays this good and earns a 2nd season.

Watched the first 4 episodes and got hooked on it. Good acting, dark, funny, love Robe Byrne, she is always very good but as rest of the cast in this case.

Some people complain and low rated this show because it is not 100% on aerobics or because the house's style is more 70's than 80's.

Nobody said it was an aerobics documentary and if you have decorated or remodelled your house in 1975 you are not gonna necessarely change it in 1981 with the 80's style.

I think it is much more realistic than many movies/shows where the decade style is overly exaggerated, especially in the transition period.

It captures the heart of being a woman in the eighties so well. Split a dozen ways, trying to keep your head above water as you fulfill everyone else's needs. If only you are thin and pretty enough you will be happy. Nailed it. Byrne's character even has a bit of the snarky feminist attitude leftover from the seventies.

I love it so far. Yes, there's lots of in-head dialogue, but that's what obsessive people do.

Love the actor playing the aerobics guru - she fits the part exactly. LA in the eighties.

Looks like its going to be a fun ride.

Give it a try if you like real, snarky women or if you lived through that era with open eyes.

Love everything about this show. The internal dialogue is dark, cutting, and hilarious. The 80's setting adds to the comedy and brings a note of nostalgia for those of us who loved it. Obsession, addiction, sex, and delusion are all in the menu.

Love it.

I am not sure why there are low ratings, but I am guessing people do not watch a lot of dark comedies. That is what the show is, unfortunately the listing says comedy - so people expect flat-out jokes over the satire and commentary.

Overall a good cast, solid writing, great story arcs, but what shines the most are the commentary elements.

I know some have been turned off by the portrayal of disordered eating but it eases up in the Second season. The acting is really excellent. The soundtrack is quintessential 1980s. The story lines are interesting views of dysfunction, making this viewer feel sad for some characters, while also enjoying the occasionally witty and laugh-inducing moments. It's an interesting look at the complexities womanhood (and personhood in general) in this era.

I've liked Physical from the get go but I can't lie - at points I thought - what is this about? Rose Byrne as always is great as Sheila, a bulimic, self hating (with inner voice to prove it) lost soul in the early 80s. Her loving but deluded husband loses his job snd decides to run for office and she discovers aerobics and her own lack of morality. There's almost a Breaking Bad type of theme. Throughout the supporting characters are angry, unfulfilled women and selfish, childish men - with the exception of maybe Lou Taylor Pucci ( great name) For women to get things done, it often takes a lot of scheming to keep away the prying, critical make eye. All the women begin to discover their own strengths. Anyway, I ramble but it's very good. One of the better streaming offers of late IMHO.

Biggest kick I got out of reading reviews is that some people are angry that "sweet" Rose Byrne is playing a horrible, selfish, self-hating, bulimic person. Um, that's the sign of a good actor, folks.

This may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy the short and to the point episodes (<30min each) with really great 80s historical accuracy for the most part. On that latter bit, the only thing they get wrong is the music, heavily slanted toward synth pop, used in the Aerobics scenes. I'm sorry, but some of those songs were very obscure at the time.

Anyway, Rose Byrne is also surrounded by a great cast and the show flows well. I'm almost finished with season 2 and will be sad to see it go. Yes, she's an awful awful person to herself and most of the people around her. She's entitled, selfish, mean and motivated by all the wrong reasons. But it turns out it all hinges on her own childhood and her even more awful parents.

I won't get into plot details or spoilers. If you like dark humor and have nostalgia for bright sunny shots of Southern California in the 80s, you can't go wrong here.

I will admit that the previews gave me an impression that the series was gonna be something different but as I watched the first three episodes I started to realize this was actually it might actually work! Hopefully, episode four will grab ahold of me and not let go!!! I gave it an 8 because it's well cast and the storyline has such a hefty potential for season after.season!!!!

I wanna see where this goes. Good acting from Rose Byrne. She's struggling hard, and I'm rooting for the character.

One thing about this is, its quite triggering for people with weight/body issues/eating disorders. That being said, i think its coming from a place of reality or even realty. Rose Byrne is awesome as always. The soundtrack is brilliant and I'm loving it so far. Only watched 2 episodes.

Enjoyed this show but being the nerd that I am I can't get over all the bad timing of things in this. It states it's set in 1987 and later so why does it highlight and feature things clearly from the late 70s . Sorry but no one was crazed about aerobics and leg warmers in this period not was it the invention of the betamax video recorder not to mention the soundtrack , while good but mostly from 1981 or 1982 . I know these things don't really effect the enjoyment of the show but researchers didn't really get it right .nonetheless I did enjoy it although main character was quite unlikeable at times.

This show is so underrated ... The acting was amazing... the colors and the 80s vibes was great and i really like the deep dive into a mind of a woman with a eating disorder and idk why i think this show deserves a better rating than this.

As a person who feels like the 80's just happened yesterday, this show captures all the 80's vibes. The story line is kind of slow tho. But the characters, individually are fun to watch. What I don't like about the show is when she 'talks' to herself in her head. That part gets on my nerves a little bit. Otherwise, I feel like it's going to be a great show.

Rose Byrne is really good but the husband and campaign manager are really weak. Better casting would have raised the ratings on this show. Rose deserves better support.

I only review when something impresses me, read the positives they are pretty much accurate, this show is excellent.

Sheila is a married mum who clearly has mental health issues. She has numerous problems and on top of that her inner voice is very mean and she has developed a way to cope with the demons. All I could think of whilst watching this stupendously amazing series are the lyrics of Fix You by Coldplay:

"When you try your best, but you don't succeed When you get what you want but not what you need When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep Stuck in reverse And the tears come streaming down your face When you lose something, you can't replace When you love someone, but it goes to waste Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you And high up above or down below When you're too in love to let it go But if you never try, you'll never know Just what you're worth Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you" It pains me to know that there are people like Sheila around, just plodding along trying not to explode.

I gave it a 9, because it has too much of a low rating. Do NOT get me wrong, if not for the third episode I would've given up completely. Her constant berating and self loathing, is something I remember doing A LOT in my youth but I was born in the 90s and one review was right it WAS triggering. Also, is she bulemic? Or does she just have an eating disorder? People have called attention to it, yet I never hear a toilet flush or purging session...hmmmm? I again just believe she eats her shame in private. None the less her self critiquing wore me down, by episode two I was ready to call it quits. If not for the minimal change in tone by the time she got up in front of a class by episode 3. I just thought it would be a little lighter and funnier. Instead I'm getting "dramady" vibes. It's well crafted, but it is a little misleading because it's not a strict comedy. You'll laugh but you'll get upset or annoyed if you're expecting a straight forward 80s themed comedy. Plus her husband is gross physically and as a person! Yet she still denigrates herself sooooo much more... now that I've written it out, I guess that is an 80s culture of an American woman. Where the woman, despite working herself crazy to look good and maintain a house she still thinks so lowly of herself. I'm hoping the slow development pays off and the writing picks up and that she, as obviously alluded to early on by her success in '86 is also lighter on herself as she achieves success. But who knows until the end. I keep hoping because I have loved Rose Byrne since her early days as a handmaiden to the Queen of Naboo, Ha!

Many of the other reviews are laughable. Some of you don't know the difference between her demented inner thoughts and narration. I overall enjoy this show. Rose's acting is well Done and an enjoyable storyline.

I really like this show, finally something different!