Review: ‘Laid’ Exposes the Costs of Self-Absorption in a Hilarious, Raunchy Ride

I spend most of my time on Peacock watching English Premier League soccer, so it’s refreshing when the streamer offers some scripted original programming to enjoy. Based on an Australian series with the same name, Laid stars Stephanie Hsu (Joy Ride, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Ruby, a 33-year-old event
planner who can’t seem to find Mr. Right. I’ve watched the first four out of eight season one episodes. I’ll mostly recap episode one in the hopes of tempting you.

One night on her third date with a guy named Jason (played by Billie Eilish’s sibling and song partner Finneas O’Connell), she tells him about a strange encounter with another date in her past who overshares that he’s just found out his uncle was a cannibal. On that note, she and Jason hit a conversational lull and leave the restaurant for his place to have sex. We only see them in the afterglow, with shocked looks on their faces. But nope – it wasn’t amazing – they joke about how awful it was, with her saying it was the inconsistent pattern in the thrusting. When Jason suggests they may get better with practice, she leaves, saying, “When you know, you know…you know?”

The next morning in the kitchen, she shares the disappointing news with her apartment mate AJ (Girls and The Flight Attendant’s Zosia Mamet), who says she “had high hopes for ‘third date Jason.’” As Ruby laments the thought of never finding the right guy, AJ’s boyfriend Zack questions from the other room whether
or not, she may be the problem, saying, “Look inward.”

The show is heavy on showcasing just how self-centered and borderline narcissistic Ruby is. Stephanie Hsu definitely acts the heck out of I,t though, giving Ruby an emotionally full and very talkative personality. Later, at an event venue, her appointment arrives, and it’s a handsome guy who wants to throw a big 40th anniversary party for his parents. Ruby, quickly studying his ringless left hand, perks up. But before she can show him around, she gets a text from AJ that “Brandon from college died.”

That night, Ruby and AJ reminisce about what little they can remember about Brandon, a former flame of Ruby’s. Ruby shares that when they were having sex, Brandon would fart a little with each thrust (there we go again with the thrusting). AJ remembers that bit, as she says at the time Ruby nicknamed him “Farty Scorsese.” She feels bad about Brandon not meaning that much to her and how little she honestly knew him. So Ruby decides to attend the funeral. AJ joins her.

As they arrive at the church, the pair discover a display of photos that all feature Ruby and Brandon. They are both surprised and puzzled by this seemingly special attention. Then, when Brandon’s parents greet Ruby, it’s as if she’s single-handedly saved the funeral by attending. They discuss how often Brandon talked
about Ruby but have no recollection of a particular AJ being in school with him. They also introduce Ruby to Brandon’s girlfriend, Danielle, another pretty Asian woman. I guess Brandon’s type was anyone who reminded him of Ruby.

Ruby approaches Brandon’s open casket to say goodbye and then goes into a completely self-obsessed rant when, seeing how long she was taking, is approached by another college friend, Jeffrey, who wants his turn to say goodbye. She then inappropriately begins to go into some joyful memories with Jeffrey, completely oblivious to the moment. Brandon’s parents also invite Ruby to ride with them and Danielle (and Brandon’s huge Saint Bernard) to the wake. Ruby heartlessly asks for “some tunes” and then begins to sing along to Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” Pretty cringey comedy that reminded me of all the uncomfortable moments of Meet the Parents.

At the wake, we find AJ trying to convince another college friend that they were not only good friends in school, but that she had also gone home with her on break and met the woman’s parents. The woman just can’t remember her, asking AJ if she “looked different back then.” You start to sense a running gag. But
thankfully for AJ’s sanity, Jeffrey remembers her and they hug. At one point, Danielle approaches Ruby saying she has some nerve showing her face. Why? Apparently, Brandon was a virgin, and Ruby was his first, only for her to dump him soon afterward. And suddenly, Ruby understands her importance to the dead lad.

Jeffrey and Ruby aren’t feeling it after a while and decide to share an Uber home. On the drive, they share some college stories and even remember that they had a short fling right after Ruby called it quits with Brandon. They stare at each other for a moment, and Ruby goes in for a kiss. She didn’t read the moment right, and Jeffrey is pissed, saying she’s not changed at all and is all about herself. He demands the driver let him out and begins to cross the street in front of the Uber when another car hits him, killing him instantly.

That night, Ruby and AJ get drunk, horrified by what happened to Jeffrey. Ruby then thinks of another boy, David, whom she slept with back in the day. She starts calling him imitating different voices – she says it’s a bit he’ll remember. Only the third time she drunk-dials, it wasn’t David. It was his brother. David is dead. At this point, Ruby says something like, “Two is a coincidence. What’s three?” Zack quickly quips, “a pattern.”

In subsequent episodes, and after the doll toll reaches six, Ruby and AJ begin to create a chronological list of Ruby’s past sexual partners to warn of their impending doom. Michael Angarano joins the cast as a former boyfriend that Ruby recently ghosted. The show gives the sense that there is a destiny of some kind for them. More enjoyable guest stars appear, including Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu, SNL’s Chloe Fineman, The Office’s David Denman, and Resident Alien’s (Deputy Sheriff) Elizabeth Bowen. Ruby and AJ end up as the new guardians of the Saint Bernard.

Laid is uncomfortable comedy at times, but I think that’s the point. It’s well acted and creative, though without seeing the final four episodes I can’t image what a season two would look like. Does the death ever stop? Find out in its very digestible half-hour episodes.

And that’s what Todd’s watching.