‘Adults’ Season 2 Jumps 40% in Viewership From Season 1
FX’s comedy Adults has found its audience — and it kept growing while critics were figuring out what to make of it. Disney reports that Season 2 saw a 40% increase in viewership compared to Season 1, counting streams across Hulu and Disney+ worldwide after 12 days. International viewership alone was up 100%.
The show’s creators, Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, got a warmer reception this time around. The Rotten Tomatoes score jumped from 77% after Season 1 to 100% for Season 2. That is a remarkable climb for a comedy trying to find its footing.
The Numbers Behind the Jump
Disney did not provide exact metrics, but the company’s report offers enough context to see how the show grew. The 40% increase applies to viewership across Hulu and Disney+, measured globally after 12 days of Season 2 being available.
International viewership led the charge. The 100% increase there suggests the show traveled farther than its domestic audience alone could explain.
The show also benefited from a standalone prequel episode, “Marathon Day,” released on July 31. Since that dropped, Season 1 viewership has risen 50%. That surge began before Season 2 even premiered, which suggests the prequel introduced new viewers who then went back to catch up.
What the Show Actually Follows
Adults centers on a group of young adults in New York. The official logline describes a cast of five friends crashing together in Samir’s childhood home while navigating love, work, friendship and family.
The main characters are:
- Samir (Malik Elassal)
- Billie (Lucy Freyer)
- Paul Baker (Jack Innanen)
- Issa (Amita Rao)
- Anton (Owen Thiele)
The show’s premise is simple: five friends lean on each other through life’s usual messes. The logline’s mention of “crashing together” implies a shared living space, though the source does not specify the arrangement beyond Samir’s childhood home.
The Critical Shift
The critical shift came from Variety critic Alison Herman. Her review of Season 1 was notably cool. She wrote, “I frankly did not enjoy the show’s first batch of episodes, which strained mightily to generate zeitgeisty relevance and repeatable bits before its ensemble had fully cohered.”
That honesty carries weight because she then described a changed Season 2. Herman wrote that in Season 2, the co-creation of “Tonight Show” alumni and real-life couple Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw no longer felt forced or staged. She used a millennial reference about making something happen that the show’s Gen Z protagonists would be unlikely to understand, arguing that “Adults” finally has its own momentum, largely generated by a cast whose rapport obviates the need for any sweeping statements about their generation.
The review points to a show that found its footing by letting the cast work together naturally.
Who Built the Show
Kronengold and Shaw created Adults. They executive produce alongside Nick Kroll, Sarah Naftalis, Jonathan Krisel, Alicia Van Couvering and Rob Rosell. FX Productions is the studio.
The creative team is notable for its range. Kronengold and Shaw are both alumni of The Tonight Show, and they appear to have brought that experience to the production.
Comparing the Two Seasons
| Metric | Season 1 | Season 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes score | 77% | 100% |
| Viewership increase | Not stated | 40% |
| International viewership increase | Not stated | 100% |
| Prequel effect | N/A | +50% since “Marathon Day” |
The comparison shows a clear pattern. Season 1 struggled to find its identity. Season 2 found it — and the numbers followed.
Why the Growth Matters
The 40% increase is notable because it cuts across two audiences. The international surge was particularly pronounced, up 100%.
The show’s subject matter — young adults in New York — may have contributed to that reach, though the source does not offer a reason for the surge.
The critical shift also matters. A 100% score is rare, and it suggests the show finally clicked with critics as well as viewers.
What Comes Next
The show has established a following. The 40% increase in viewership is a strong foundation, and the 100% international growth suggests the audience could keep expanding.
The creators now have a stronger position to build on. Herman’s review praised the cast’s chemistry as the engine of the show. If that holds, the audience has every reason to stick around.
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