FX’s Adults is winning the comedy game, even if the network doesn’t seem sure what to do with it. The show, a workplace sitcom about adults trying to figure out adulthood, has grown its audience by more than 40% in season two. That’s according to FX, which presented the numbers alongside a note that they should be taken with a grain of salt. International viewership grew 100% in the 12 days since its second-season premiere.
The show has also earned strong critical praise. The A.V. Club has named it one of the best and funniest shows on television.
The Numbers Behind the Growth
The audience jump comes from both Hulu and Disney+ streams. The combined growth is the figure cited. The international surge is particularly notable, with viewership doubling in just over a week.
What the Growth Shows
This growth stands in contrast to a recent Netflix crisis. Reports have surfaced showing drops in viewership for several Netflix comedies, including Four Seasons, Beef, and A Man On The Inside.
Why FX Isn’t Announcing a Third Season
The strange part of this story is that FX hasn’t celebrated the growth by announcing a third season. The show’s success is real, and the numbers support it. But the network has chosen not to confirm another season.
The Critical Backing
The A.V. Club’s review of the show is worth noting. It called Adults one of the best and funniest shows on television, which is high praise in a crowded field.
How Netflix’s Crisis Compares
Netflix’s second-season crisis has been a recurring theme in entertainment news. Several shows have reported declines, and the pattern is familiar:
- Four Seasons saw a drop in viewership.
- Beef saw a drop in viewership.
- A Man On The Inside saw a drop in viewership.
Those shows all dropped viewership, and Adults is doing the opposite. The comparison is not perfect, but the trend is clear: shows that lose viewers tend to lose seasons.
The International Reach
Doubling in just 12 days is a fast climb. It suggests the show has found a global audience that connects with its humor.
The Grain of Salt
FX presented the numbers with a caveat. The growth figures should be taken with a grain of salt. That doesn’t mean the growth isn’t real, but it does mean the exact figures may be estimates rather than precise measurements.
Still, the direction is clear. The audience is growing, and the show is performing better than many of its peers.
The Verdict on Renewal
The show’s fate remains unclear. The audience growth is strong, and the critical backing is solid.
For now, the show’s creators and fans can take comfort in the numbers. Adults is doing something right, and the audience is responding. Whether that continues into a third season is a question only FX can answer.
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