When the late TV kingpin, Norman Lear, execs a project, you know you're in for a fun but tumultuous ride. Co-created by the lead star, Laverne Cox (who pitched to idea to Lear), Clean Slate follows Desiree, a trans woman who ran away from home as a teenager as she reunite with her father 23 years later. Amusing but arguably slightly risk-averse in comparison to the previous Norman Lear work we have seen and loved in the past, Clean Slate still exudes his signature velvet touch.

Desiree is glamorous. Even in the depths of her despair, her hair is always laid and her outfits are extremely dapper. We follow her as she arrives back home in Alabama penniless and single — in stark contrast to the life she built for herself in New York as an art dealer with the world at her feet. Desiree's father, Harry, (George Wallace) is surprised to see her on his doorstep and doesn't recognise his child. He even tells her that “now isn't a good time,” as he's expecting an important visit from someone else. Next comes a truth-bomb and some awkward fumblings and exchanges as the pair try to compensate for lost time. Despite being in his 60s, Harry remains open-minded and tries his best to make his daughter feel welcome. He can get his head around his child's gender, but draws the line at her vegetarianism.

With relatively low stakes, what's a sitcom if there isn't a will-they-won't-they moment? From the moment we meet Mack (Jay Wilkison), an alluring energy enters the room. Mack works for Desiree's dad Harry, who runs a car wash business. His kind and smart daughter, Opal (Norah Murphy) is a breath of fresh air and strikes up a sweet bond with Desiree. Murphy absolutely shines in this role. She is a real standout and holds her own opposite such an esteemed cast, including Cox and Wallace. The black sitcom powerhouse, Telma Hopkins stars as Ella, Louis's mum. Hopkins is a wonderful addition to the cast. For those who grew up with The Hughleys, Half and Half, and Are we there Yet? Hopkins will feel like a recognisable and warm hug. Her presence on screen is simply magnetic.

The series tackles serious topics in a way that doesn't feel preachy. Leaning in on one-liners, dry jokes and George Wallace's humorous touch, Clean Slate addresses voting rules and restrictions, racism, and LGBTQ+ rights in a warm way that feels accessible to viewers and packed with a punch. At a time when Trans people are being persecuted, the series feels like vital viewing. Clean Slate pokes fun at Desiree, but in a way that doesn't ridicule her. She is flawed and unlikeable at times, but this is not to do with her gender identity, rather with the unease of leaving somewhere as a child and coming back as an adult who just so happens to look and sound different than everyone remembers. Her childhood room is preserved and Harry's cantankerous ways are still intact, and as the series progresses, the pair grow together – and so does the comedy. Wallace and Cox are humorous in their own right, but the child characters' retorts and snappy punchlines will have you giggling uncontrollably.

This first season of Clean Slate paves the way for a second instalment, but there is currently no news on whether it will be recommissioned. With the exploration of tangled and messy family dynamics, a socially conscious storyline at its core, and issues addressed in a way that makes you think whilst putting a smile on your face in the same breath – Clean Slate is a slice of '80's Lear Nostalgia wrapped in 2025 shaped paper.

Clean Slate is now available to watch on Prime Video.