February 14, 2025

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

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Tackling The Joy Of Comedy — ‘Trying’ Season 3 (TV Review)

Trying S3 (2022)

It seems undisputed that TV+ is the service with the best original content. From the likes of Ted Lasso, For All Mankind and Severance to the brilliant Wolfwalkers and Best Picture winner CODA, Apple are only cranking out the highest quality material they can find on the market. But, when there is so much award-winning shows and movies, seems to go under the radar when it is probably their best show available. So is the third season another home run? Absolutely!

After a dramatic end to season two, the third season of Trying picks up with Nikki () and Jason () waking up as new parents to two children they are still getting to know. Now they just have to keep hold of them, which proves to be trickier than they initially thought. Thrown straight into the parental deep end, Nikki and Jason's relationships with each other and with their nearest and dearest are tested as the desperately try to navigate the ups and downs of parenting – while hanging onto their kids, and their sanity.

If you have seen the first two seasons of Trying then you will know how much of a joy the show is. Even during the hardest moments, Nikki and Jason can tackle each situation and still have some great comedic timing and, thankfully, season three excels at this.

Trying S3 (2022)
Courtesy of Apple TV+

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall have never been better in this show. In seasons one and two, the two leads have had great chemistry but now, they have a family. Their chemistry with the younger cast, Eden Togwell (who plays Princess) and Mickey McAnulty (who plays Tyler), is the driving heart this time around as Eden and Mickey have a clear love for Esther and Rafe. Every scene the family spend together are the highlights of the series because their relationship with each other feels natural.

When a fair chunk of the series is about trying to bond with the children, Nikki and Jason are allowed to have some great moments of emotion and comedy and that blend is what makes this show so special. Not many movies or TV shows can get that balance of humour and seriousness but the writers and actors here do it with ease. There are a few characters that are side-lined a fair bit this season or are not in it at all but that does allow for there to be a bigger focus on our core characters and family.

If you loved the first two seasons of Trying then you will love season three. This is the strongest season to date as Rafe Spall, Esther Smith, Eden Togwell and Mickey McAnulty are delightful but on the supporting side, Oliver Chris' Freddy has a really nice arc that rounds out his character. Trying has always been a show that delivers a lot of joy but season 3 finds that perfect balance between drama and comedy. If you need a top-tier feel-good show, then look no further than the gem that is Trying.

The First Two Episodes of Trying Will Premiere Globally on Friday, 22nd July With New Episodes Premiering Weekly on Friday Thereafter, Exclusively on Apple TV+