Mindy Kaling's Latest Show Has 50% on RT & Proves That Not Every Friend Group Deserves a TV Show

Hulu has launched a new comedy series from Mindy Kaling, writer and actress from The Office and creator of Never Have I Ever. Not Suitable for Work follows five young New Yorkers as they navigate work and romantic relationships.

Intended as a modern take on Friends – a sitcom about generational struggles, self-discovery, and friendships that become family – the resulting show instead veers between the naiveté of 1990s and 2000s conservative comedies and the toxic irony of the 2020s.

What Is 'Not Suitable for Work' About?

The ambitious AJ gets a job at an investment bank on Wall Street and moves from Boston to live with her best friend, Abby, an aspiring stylist.

In the neighboring apartment live three close friends: nepo-baby Josh, who landed a production job through connections; Kel, who quit medicine to pursue an acting career; and Davis, a romantic who instantly falls for AJ – by a happy coincidence, she's now his colleague.

Over the course of a few episodes, a love triangle emerges around AJ: her boss and two neighbors will be vying for her heart.

The Setting of 'Not Suitable for Work' Is Too Good for Any Drama to Escalate

Not Suitable for Work is promoted as a comedy about how Gen Zers survive in various work environments – the problem is that the ambitious logline doesn't align with what happens on screen.

Kaling's characters face long hours, nepotism, toxic bosses, and competition, but these issues never escalate to serious problems or even humorous situations.

Kaling's neighbors are far more concerned with romantic struggles than with rent, an unfair labor market, and the inability to get ahead.

Unlike the characters in Friends, Kaling's characters don't face real challenges. They don't worry about money, regret unfulfilled ambitions, or lose their jobs. The plot simply lacks a compelling narrative – there are no conflicting expectations or opportunities for character development.

'Not Suitable for Work' Is a Lack of Chemistry and a Failed Attempt to Keep Up With Other Progressive Projects

Over the course of a few hectic episodes, we learn a lot about the characters' principles and aspirations. However, we see no chemistry between them, nor do we see a clear reason for their genuine affection.

Hulu's recent Adults, a compelling satire on the realities of zoomers, clearly influenced the show. However, Kaling's project lacks a witty analysis of modern life, instead imitating escapist comedies of the past.

Not Suitable for Work has its own charm, of course – it focuses on a community of like-minded people. However, even in this regard, the show falls short compared to modern series about friendship, such as New Girl, Platonic, and I Love LA.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Not Suitable for Work'?

• Not Suitable for Work has 50% from critics and 69% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.6/10.

Where to Watch 'Not Suitable for Work'?

Not Suitable for Work is available to stream on Hulu.