Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw.
Adults premiered on May 28, 2025.
Distributed by FX Networks.
Adults TV Series Review
Adults is a lively comedy about five friends in Queens trying to handle relationships, careers, money and the confusing transition into adulthood.
Its humor comes from their mistakes, awkward friendships and unpredictable choices.
Season 1 introduces Samir, Billie, Paul, Issa and Anton as they share a home while struggling with everyday adult responsibilities.
The season balances outrageous comedy with relatable friendship problems.
Season 2 becomes more confident, giving the characters deeper relationship storylines and bigger personal challenges.
Samir, Billie, Paul, Issa and Anton face complicated romantic situations while trying to maintain their friendships.
Overall, Adults is messy, funny and increasingly entertaining, with Season 2 delivering stronger character development.
CR Rating: 8.3/10.
Adults Actors
Malik Elassal as Samir
DOB: April 12, 1996.
Bio: Lebanese-Canadian comedian, actor and writer born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in northeast Calgary.
His parents immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the early 1990s and moved to Calgary shortly after his birth.
Role: Samir is the de facto leader of the five-person household and lives in his childhood home in Queens.
His parents are away on an extended RV trip, leaving Samir responsible for the house and giving his friends a place to live.
He often acts as though he has everything under control, but his own romantic and personal decisions regularly prove otherwise.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (17 eps).
Interesting Facts: Elassal’s parents initially worried about him pursuing entertainment because they considered it an unstable career, but eventually supported his decision.
Notable Works: Resident Alien, Joe Pickett, Fortunate Son.
Lucy Freyer as Billie
DOB: March 1, 1996.
Bio: Australian actress who grew up in Sydney.
She moved to New York at 17 after being accepted into Juilliard, where she trained in acting and graduated in 2020.
Before Adults, she developed experience in theatre and audio drama, including an acclaimed Off-Broadway performance in The Wanderers.
Role: Billie is Samir’s childhood best friend and one of the more ambitious members of the household.
She is an aspiring journalist who takes her work seriously and has traditionally appeared to have her life more together than her roommates.
That confidence is tested when she finds herself unemployed.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (17 eps).
Interesting Facts: Freyer won a Theatre World Award for her performance in The Wanderers after making her Off-Broadway debut.
Notable Works: The Wanderers, The Justice.
Jack Innanen as Paul Baker
DOB: April 7, 1999.
Bio: Canadian actor, comedian and social-media personality from Toronto, Ontario.
He initially gained attention through short-form comedy videos on TikTok, where his humorous sketches and relatable observations built a substantial following.
Role: Paul Baker is one of the five friends living together in Samir’s childhood home in Queens.
He is Canadian and often struggles with anxiety and the feeling that he is imposing on the people around him.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (17 eps).
Interesting Facts: Paul was originally conceived as being from Colorado, but the character was rewritten as Canadian.
Innanen reportedly auditioned for only his second show after moving to the United States.
Notable Works: The Office Movers, Big Mistakes.
Amita Rao as Issa
DOB: September 9, 1998.
Bio: American actress, comedian and improviser known for her work in television and comedy.
She discovered improv and comedy as a teenager and later studied theatre performance and English.
Role: Issa is one of the five friends sharing Samir’s childhood home in Queens.
She is outspoken, energetic and fiercely loyal, often expressing her opinions without hesitation.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (17 eps).
Interesting Facts: Rao was selected for the NBCUniversal/The Second City Bob Curry Fellowship in 2022 and trained with the Second City comedy organization.
Notable Works: Deli Boys, Wishful Thinking.
Owen Thiele as Anton
DOB: November 4, 1996.
Bio: American actor, writer and comedian known for his work in television, film and comedy.
He has built a reputation for playing eccentric, charismatic and sometimes unpredictable characters.
Role: Anton is Samir’s college roommate and one of the more guarded members of the group.
He often hides his vulnerability behind charm, competence and an ability to make situations seem less serious than they are.
His relationships become increasingly important as the series progresses.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (17 eps).
Interesting Facts: Thiele was adopted by music producer Bob Thiele Jr. and Amy Kanter.
Notable Works: Too Much, Overcompensating, Theater Camp.
Rachel Marsh as Carly
DOB: February 24. 1992.
Bio: American actress, comedian and writer from Bothell, Washington.
She grew up north of Seattle before moving to Los Angeles, where she initially pursued a career outside entertainment.
She later became involved in comedy and improv and trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Role: Carly is a recurring character in Adults who belongs to the wider social circle surrounding Samir, Billie, Paul, Issa and Anton.
Her appearances give the series another perspective on the group’s friendships, relationships and social lives.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (7 eps).
Interesting Facts: Marsh previously worked in marketing and for a nonprofit before focusing more seriously on comedy and acting.
Notable Works: Unstable, The Morning Show, Fallout.
Charlie Cox as Mr. Teacher
DOB: December 15, 1982.
Bio: English actor known for his work in television, film and theatre.
Born in London, he developed an interest in acting as a teenager and received drama training at Sherborne School before beginning his professional career.
Role: Mr. Teacher is a teacher who becomes part of the group’s wider world during Season 1.
His interactions with the characters provide another comic perspective on the sometimes immature behavior of the roommates.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (3 eps).
Interesting Facts: Cox trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has spoken about initially not planning to pursue acting until his final years of school.
Notable Works: Daredevil, Daredevil: Born Again, Boardwalk Empire, Kin.
Julian Manjerico as Zack-Carlos
DOB: N/A.
Bio: American actor and musical-theatre performer who graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, concentrating in Musical Theatre.
He received the Bette Davis Award in Acting before graduating and later made his Off-Broadway debut.
Role: Zack-Carlos is a dramatic, flamboyant character who desperately wants to escape his mother’s home and become part of the roommates’ social world.
His determination to insert himself into their lives makes him both funny and uncomfortable.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (2 eps).
Interesting Facts: Manjerico made his Off-Broadway debut as Data in Khan!!! The Musical! and has also performed multiple characters in theatrical productions.
Notable Works: A Man Called Otto, Bird in Hand, Disney Television Discovers: Talent Showcase.
D’Arcy Carden as Allison
DOB: January 4, 1980.
Bio: American actress, comedian and producer born in Danville, California.
She developed her comedy skills through improvisational performance and became associated with the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Role: Allison is a guest character who interacts with the central group during Season 1.
Her appearance adds another personality to the constantly shifting social environment surrounding Samir, Billie, Paul, Issa and Anton.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (1 ep).
Interesting Facts: Carden’s comedy background includes extensive improv work, which has influenced much of her television performance style.
Notable Works: The Good Place, Barry, A League of Their Own.
Gaten Matarazzo as Alex Able
DOB: September 8, 2002.
Bio: American actor and singer best known for playing Dustin Henderson in Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Raised in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, he began performing professionally at a young age, building experience in musical theatre before moving into television.
Role: Alex Able is a young man who becomes connected to Samir after receiving Samir’s old fake ID.
In Season 2, Samir discovers that the fake ID he passed on has ended up with Alex, who is around 20 years old.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (1 ep).
Interesting Facts: Matarazzo has a strong musical-theatre background and has remained involved in stage performance alongside television work.
Notable Works: Stranger Things, Prank Encounters, Pizza Movie.
Zakiyyah Shabazz as Waiter
DOB: N/A.
Bio: American actress who has appeared in television productions across comedy and drama.
She has built her screen credits through guest and supporting roles, including appearances in Adults and the 2026 series Cry Wolf.
Role: Waiter is a minor supporting character played by Shabazz in Adults.
The character appears in the social settings surrounding Samir, Billie, Paul, Issa and Anton rather than being part of the central group.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (1 eps).
Interesting Facts: Shabazz also appears in Cry Wolf, where she plays Jacqueline.
Notable Works: Cry Wolf.
Susie Essman as Arlene Walters
DOB: May 31, 1955.
Bio: American comedian, actress, writer and producer raised in Mount Vernon, New York.
She built her career through stand-up comedy before becoming widely recognized for her television work.
Role: Arlene Walters appears in Season 2 as part of the expanded guest cast.
Her character is connected to the wider social world of the roommates and gives Essman an opportunity to bring her distinctive comedic personality into the show’s chaotic young-adult environment.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (1 ep).
Interesting Facts: Essman graduated from the State University of New York College at Purchase before pursuing her comedy career.
Notable Works: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Broad City, The Simpsons.
More Actors
• Ray Nicholson as Ethan.
• Will Sennett as Roach.
• John Reynolds as Brian.
• Will Ropp as Kyle Haberman.
FAQ – Adults TV Series
What is Adults about?
Adults follows five friends in their twenties who live together in New York while trying to navigate love, work, friendship, family and the challenges of becoming adults.
What genre is Adults?
Adults is an FX comedy series centered on five young friends navigating adulthood together.
Is Adults based on a true story?
No. Adults is a fictional comedy, although its stories draw on recognizable experiences of friendship, relationships, work and growing up.
How many seasons of Adults are there?
There are currently two seasons of Adults. Hulu lists both seasons as available for streaming.
Where can I watch Adults?
You can stream Adults on Hulu. It is also available internationally through Disney+ in selected markets.
Conclusion
Adults is a funny and relatable comedy about friendship, relationships and the struggles of growing up.
While Season 1 establishes the characters, Season 2 builds on them with stronger storylines and more memorable moments.