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Season 1 – Unstable

Play trailer 1:25 Poster for Season 1 – Unstable Mar 2023 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
68% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
An introverted man must save his eccentric biotech entrepreneur father -- and his company -- from disaster.
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Unstable — Season 1

Unstable — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Unstable is a little wobbly as it veers between sincere family affair and scathing satire, but Rob Lowe's reliable comedic chops provide the necessary ballast.

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Critics Reviews

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Brian Lowry CNN.com 04/07/2023
Unstable plays a little too conspicuously like a father-and-son bonding opportunity for Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe, yielding a breezy Netflix comedy series that’s so lightweight it could easily just blow away. Go to Full Review
Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times 04/03/2023
3/4
A relatively breezy series that doesn’t try to reinvent the comedy mold and is content to deliver consistent laughs in a traditional and time-tested format. Go to Full Review
John Anderson Wall Street Journal 03/31/2023
The show boasts writing that sparkles, music that puts a fresh spin on the entire production, and memorable, sharply defined characters. Go to Full Review
Robert W. Butler Butler's Cinema Scene 08/23/2024
Relatively few comedies make me laugh out loud. “Unstable” does. A lot. Go to Full Review
Isabel Parigi Pajiba 04/17/2023
What would it be like if Rob Lowe was your father? Although the dynamic had entertaining potential, the resulting show contains all the elements of a comedy without ever achieving it. Go to Full Review
Natalia Trzenko La Nación (Argentina) 04/10/2023
3/5
... the meta element adds appeal to the sitcom which also suggests itself as a worthy office comedy. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rishi J @Maharishi05 Aug 22 The son is the worst part of this show. It's clear he was cast because his dad is Rob Lowe and as a critic pointed out, this is a highly conceded way for them to bond in real life. The lab characters are great, as is the COO/CFO. See more Ben S. @benjaminsusername Aug 6 Thought the cast was and writing were great, but really didn’t enjoy the son character. Him being such a large part of the show was really a huge bummer and ended up ruining a lot of scenes for me that I think I would have enjoyed if he wasn’t a part of them. See more Dewald E @RT39205438 Jul 26 Easy to watch and enjoy a good laugh. The directness of Sian Clifford as Anna is wonderfully contrasted by Rob Lowe's "head in the clouds" character. See more Ezra R @ejrrrr 06/09/2025 Underrated. Obvious amount of work out into the script See more LAURA D @RT66209932 03/01/2025 I can’t believe Rob Lowe would be in such a terrible comedy. Made me nauseous. And then didn’t with his own biological son! That’s nothing like him portraying that in the show and happens to be true. Absolutely distasteful. Sorry for the little one. Ouch. He must have a very big sense of humor but from what I see on the talk show with them I don’t think so. Ouch again. See more Amani T @RT73609678 08/12/2024 Hilarious show, well written. Hoping for a season 3. See more Read all reviews
Unstable — Season 1

My Rating

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 30, 2023 Unstable Reeling from a tragedy, Ellis struggles to focus at work as a major project looms, forcing Anna to reach out to Ellis' son, Jackson, for help. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 30, 2023 Engaged, Focused and Ridiculously Sane After an odd discovery in Ellis' basement, Jackson stays longer in Los Angeles and sets boundaries with his dad, which inspires Ellis to stand up to the board. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 30, 2023 The Wizard of Odd Determined to change the narrative of his life and business, Ellis invites a reporter to shadow him, while Anna tries to make things seem normal at work. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 30, 2023 Pilgrims and Sex Parties Facing fallout from the Time cover, Ellis fears getting ousted and receives support from an old pal; Anna uncovers intel to keep the twins at bay. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 30, 2023 Beautiful Birthday Bastards When the twins threaten to press charges, Anna and Ellis plan a birthday surprise; Jackson and the Red Lab crew head to the bar, where feelings emerge. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 30, 2023 The Ballad of Eduardo A call from an old professor puts Jackson in a tough spot; the Red Lab crew faces hard truths; Ellis sets his sights on new heights at his side job. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 30, 2023 Roasting for Beginners Ellis and Jackson spend the day doing landscaping work until the father-son bonding time turns into a roast; at the house, Leslie wears out his welcome. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 30, 2023 A Dragon's Fire An emergency board meeting puts Ellis' job on the line; a shocking discovery forces Jackson to step up to save the company -- and his dad -- from disaster. Details
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Season Info

Director
Marc Buckland
Creator
Rob Lowe, Johnowen Lowe, Victor Fresco
Executive Producer
Rob Lowe, Johnowen Lowe, Victor Fresco, Marc Buckland
Screenwriter
Sean Clements, Samantha Shanker
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 30, 2023