Miss 'Fleabag'? Check Out This 93%-Rated Peacock Rom-Com Series Starring Stephanie Hsu

In 2024, Peacock released Laid. Created by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna, the series is reminiscent of Fleabag in its portrayal of an antiheroine and exploration of unhealthy behavioral patterns.

What Is 'Laid' About?

Ruby learns that her ex-boyfriend has died. Soon, another person dies, and the list of deceased continues to grow. Realizing that something strange is happening, she teams up with her best friend to investigate.

They map out connections and warn potential victims, all the while trying to figure out if this is the work of a serial killer or dark magic. The investigation forces Ruby to revisit past relationships, reevaluate her actions, and confront painful memories.

Driven by the myth of ideal love and the trauma of growing up without a father, she repeatedly wreaks havoc on her personal life.

Stephanie Hsu, Star of 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Is the Driving Force Behind 'Laid'

The show's greatest asset is Stephanie Hsu's brilliant performance. Her character, Ruby, is a quintessential antiheroine – the kind of person an ex-boyfriend might describe as "the worst person I've ever known."

Ruby's selfishness baffles those around her, and even her therapist eventually throws up her hands in exasperation – Hsu crafts a portrait of a young woman trying to figure herself out while constantly making mistakes.

The series is reminiscent of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag, featuring a similar blend of dark humor, self-destructive behavior, and a quest for self-understanding.

Zosia Mamet, known for Girls, rounds out the duo, providing the perfect foil to Ruby. Their friendship becomes the heart of the series, transforming the investigation into a therapeutic journey.

'Laid' Would Still Have Been a Worthy Project Even Without a Gripping Detective Storyline

Laid keeps the suspense alive right up to the closing credits – the writers constantly surprise viewers with unexpected plot twists, and the finale ends on a cliffhanger.

Even without the central storyline involving mysterious deaths, Laid could have won over audiences – it is a charming, therapeutic show about finding true love in the modern world, trying to be a good person, and how mistakes don't define us.

Laid brilliantly illustrates how pop culture shapes our ideas about relationships. Ruby has an idealized image in her mind that bears little resemblance to reality: she adores Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally and dreams of a kiss in the pouring rain.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Laid'?

• Laid has 93% from critics and 74% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.9/10.