Close Enough wants to be a comedy about adults failing to grow up. It mostly succeeds, though the surrealism often overshadows the jokes beneath it. The show follows Josh and Emily, a married couple in their early 30s, as they navigate parenthood, friendship, and the occasional ham theft. It premiered on HBO Max on July 9, 2020, after years of delays and setbacks, and ran for three seasons before HBO Max canceled it in July 2022.
Trailer, via TBS.
The Couple at the Center
Josh and Emily are the anchor of Close Enough. Their relationship is the engine of the show, and the writing leans on their mutual exasperation and affection. Their young daughter Candice adds chaos, and their divorced friends Alex and Bridgette provide a second layer of dysfunction. The setup is simple: a married couple juggling everyday challenges. The execution is anything but.
The Surreal Turn
That is where Close Enough earns its reputation. Domestic crises escalate into science fiction and fantasy territory. A mundane argument about day care becomes something far larger. A stolen ham leads to a chase through a surreal landscape. The show does not hold back on absurdity, and the best episodes commit fully to it.
Voice Acting and Animation
The cast delivers consistently sharp work. J.G. Quintel voices Josh, Gabrielle Walsh voices Emily, Jessica DiCicco voices Candice, Jason Mantzoukas voices Alex, Kimiko Glenn voices Bridgette, Danielle Brooks voices Pearle, and James Adomian voices Randy. Critics praised the animation and voice acting, comparing the show favorably to Quintel’s previous series, Regular Show, which aired on Cartoon Network from 2010 to 2017.
What Works
- The core relationship between Josh and Emily lands well.
- The surreal gags are frequently inventive.
- The voice cast sells the absurdity.
- The show commits to escalating premises fully.
What Falls Short
Not everything holds together. Some episodes rely too heavily on spectacle over substance, and the pacing can drag during stretches of exposition. The show’s surrealism occasionally obscures the emotional stakes of its domestic conflicts. When it works, Close Enough feels like a fresh, bold animated sitcom. When it doesn’t, it feels like a cartoon chasing its own tail.
Final Word
Close Enough is a confident, often funny animated sitcom that struggles to balance its surreal ambitions with its grounded premise. It is at its best when it commits fully to its absurdist impulses and at its weakest when it tries to split the difference. The cancellation after three seasons is a shame. As it stands, Close Enough is a solid, uneven watch that rewards patience.
Score: 7.4 of 10.
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