Like an Elon Musk rocket, Unstable had a great, exhilarating takeoff … only to crash and burn.
Unlike the latest Space X blowout, the Netflix series from Rob Lowe and son John Owen Lowe was able to maintain altitude for much longer. Indeed, I laughed so frequently during the first four episodes of the startup parody that I had to ask myself: Have you lost your mind? Seriously — this is Rob Pretty Boy Lowe, have you been blinded by St. Elmo’s Fire?
So it was almost with great appreciation that I welcomed the horrible Episode 5, "Beautiful Birthday Bastards.” It was as stupid and vapid as the title; when we see extended scenes of nerds dancing to goofy music, we know the end is nigh….
In just a few scenes, Unstable took a dive from The Good Place/The Office geek-humor heights to random American sitcom depths.
Is it possible this show could recover its earlier snappy wit? Yes, but unlikely; like a relationship, or a bowl of fruit, once a series goes bad, it’s normally beyond recovery.
As a viewer, I feel like I did my part: That’s as Lowe as I care to go.