Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate play dearest friends. When Williams’ character is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she abandons her husband of 15 years (Jay Duplass) to explore her sexuality and seek her first orgasm. This leads to some of the most enjoyable and kinky sex scenes in a major series. Considering the subject, there’s also plenty of drama, but the regular comic moments make it even more effective. Williams is delightful and movingly brilliant, while Slate’s outspoken outbursts are obnoxiously over-the-top, belying her character’s underlying pain. Rob Delaney’s “neighbor” helps with the humor, Sissy Spacek gets to be enjoyably cranky and Paula Pell, as a nurse, adds affable fun when it’s needed most. The “dog” encounters in Ep. 5 featuring Conrad Ricamora are the show’s quirky comic highlight. This series is based on the experience of Molly Kochan, who produced a podcast about her experience, so there’s a depth to the understanding and sensitivity to the process that makes the smart writing even more resonant. Even though this series revolves around the duo’s friendship, it also includes friends, family and medical proceedings. Williams may be the only actor in next year’s Emmy’s that not locked up by the cast of “Adolescence.” Her performance anchors this kinky tragic comedy that’s a frank, funny and moving affirmation of life, death and sex. 
(5 / 5)
