FX's hangout sitcom "Adults" has released a critically acclaimed second season, earning particular praise for how it handles romance within its core friend group, an area where many sitcoms of this style falter. Rather than relying on the well-worn trope of splitting up an established couple to create drama between friends, as seen in shows like "Friends" and "How I Met Your Mother", the series builds its central romance around genuine friendship rather than manufactured conflict.

The central relationship is between Anton Evans (Owen Thiele) and Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), whose connection began even before Paul Baker's girlfriend Issa (Amita Rao) introduced him to the group. Across the eight-episode second season, Issa's initial insecurity about the pair's bond gives way to her encouraging Anton to admit his feelings, and by the finale Anton and Paul Baker finally get together, with their friendship intact throughout. The show, which holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, is now positioned to explore the couple's relationship further, alongside other budding pairings such as Billie (Lucy Freyer) and Samir (Malik Elassal), in a potential third season.