Last May, Apple TV announced a fifth season renewal for acclaimed comedy series “Trying,” starring BAFTA Award nominee Esther Smith and SAG Award nominee Rafe Spall. Season five finds Nikki (Smith) and Jason (Spall) dealing with the consequences of Princess and Tyler’s biological mother Kat (Charlotte Riley) turning up at their doorstep, and the whirlwind of chaos she brings into their settled family life.
Since its global debut, “Trying” has been hailed as a “feel-good,” “poignant” and “addictive” comedy that is “one of Apple TV+’s sweetest treats.” The series has achieved a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, as fans applaud “standout performers,” “brilliant details” and the “heartwarming, critically acclaimed” series that “provides refreshing journeys we don’t often see on television.”
The ensemble cast includes BAFTA Award winner Darren Boyd as Scott, Siân Brooke as Karen, Scarlett Rayner as Princess, and Cooper Turner as Tyler.
Apple TV’s “Trying” stands out as one of the streaming service’s most consistently praised comedies, blending heartfelt storytelling with sharp humor across its four seasons—and now heading into a fifth.
The chemistry between leads Smith and Spall is a recurring highlight. Described as “fantastic” and “brilliant,” their performances bring warmth and authenticity to Nikki and Jason’s loving yet chaotic dynamic. Outlets like Collider call the show a “near-perfect” feel-good binge, comparing it favorably to Ted Lasso for its uplifting tone, positivity, and supportive ensemble — including standouts like Sian Brooke and Darren Boyd. The Guardian praised how the series rises above “absurdities” with compassion, while RogerEbert.com noted its “wholly endearing” quality reminiscent of sharp British rom-coms.
Audience feedback echoes this acclaim, with viewers calling it “touching with great humor,” “uplifting,” and one of the “finest” shows they’ve seen. Many appreciate its honest depiction of adoption’s realities — from paperwork hurdles to family integration — while delivering consistent belly laughs and tear-jerking moments.
MacDailyNews Take: We watch and highly recommend the perennially under-sung Apple TV series “Trying.” The cast is uniformly top-notch, notably Scarlett Rayner, who is already a wonderful young actress in her role as “Princess.” If you haven’t yet seen “Trying,” there are four full seasons waiting for you on Apple TV with a fifth in production!
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Trying earns its praise by doing something rare: it’s genuinely warm without being corny. The strength of the show is the grounded chemistry between Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, paired with an honest, unsentimental look at adoption and family life. It’s consistently funny, quietly emotional, and refreshingly humane, proof that feel-good TV doesn’t have to be shallow.
Nasar Abbas, that’s a sharp take, and you’re absolutely right about what makes Trying work.
A lot of “feel-good” shows lean on cheap sentiment or exaggerated sweetness. This one doesn’t. The warmth feels earned because the writing never pretends adoption is simple or magically transformative. It shows the paperwork, the setbacks, the emotional strain and still manages to find humour in it without undermining the reality.
And the chemistry between Esther Smith and Rafe Spall is the backbone. Their dynamic isn’t polished or sitcom-perfect; it’s messy, awkward, and believable. That grounded energy is what keeps the emotional beats from tipping into cliché.
You nailed something important: feel-good doesn’t mean shallow. When it’s done with restraint and honesty like this, it actually hits harder.
Appreciate you articulating that so clearly.