HBO’s Togetherness is study of adults in limbo

What is it? Togetherness, Season 1, eight episodes on two discs from HBO Home Video How much? $39.98 When? Now Is this about relationships? Yes. Several types, really, all centered on four adults approaching 40 with varying degrees of difficulty.

Brett and Michelle Pierson (Mark Duplass and Melanie Lynskey) are married with two young children, sharing what should be a perfect life. But they’re worn out, and their relationship is starting to suffer as they grow more and more distant from each other.

Movie sound designer Brett is frustrated at work. Michelle’s role as a stay-athome mom isn’t any more fulfilling.

So when Brett’s best friend, Alex Pappas (Steve Zissis), is evicted, Brett is very enthusiastic about inviting him to move in to the Pierson house. After all, Alex will be a buffer and offer a way for Brett to recapture his carefree youth. Alex is a struggling actor who’s hitting his own personal and professional lows, as his body gets thicker and his hair gets thinner.

At the same time, Michelle’s sister, Tina Morris (Amanda Peet), has her own crisis when her latest boyfriend breaks up with her. She decides to stay on in Los Angeles for a while and share Brett and Michelle’s living room with Alex.

The living arrangements are temporary at first, but as time passes, the house guests just stay on, and everyone’s lives become more entwined. Brett digs deeper and deeper into a rut, though a chance encounter with a kooky New Age-type (Mary Steenburgen) may be just what he needs. Michelle’s return to work brings even more complications. And just when Alex’s career shows signs of improving, it’s threatened by Tina’s budding relationship with television producer Larry (Peter Gallagher).

All four adults under one roof, all in varying stages of almost-midlife crisis meltdown means there will be a lot of drama and comedy. And co-dependence.

How is it? Awkward, touching, painful, sad and funny.

There’s a very “real” quality to this. The characters and their situations are heightened, sure, but they’re also relatable. The relationship that’s cooling off. The frustration of a career that is stuck in neutral — or reverse. The fear of growing old alone. The characters are definitely flawed and do some thoughtless, stupid things at times, but they’re also basically good at heart. They’re just trying to find their way. And as much as they can hurt each other, they can also rally and come through when it’s needed.

This is not for children. This is an HBO dramedy, so it’s heavy on the sex and foul language.

Extras? There are deleted scenes, and each episode has an “Inside the Episode” feature with co-creator and writer/director brothers Mark and Jay Duplass sharing their thoughts about the action and characters. Each runs about three minutes. There’s also a five minute “interview” with Peet and Zissis cutting up.

New this week: The Americans, Season 3; The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, complete series; Cranford, BBC Literary Collection; Death in Paradise, Season 4; The Fall, Season 2; Future Cop, complete series; My Big Fat Greek Life, complete series; North and South, BBC Literary Collection; Silk, Season 2; Strike Back, Season 4; Wives and Daughters, BBC Literary Collection; Z Nation, Season 2.

Next week: Community, Season 6; Hogan’s Heroes, complete series; Manhattan, Season 2; Rookie Blue, Season 6; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Season 1.