Paul Rudd’s debut Netflix series is quirky, entertaining, and extremely interesting to think about.
The premise of the show is simple. Miles (Rudd) is slacking at work, disappointing his wife, and struggling to get out of bed in the morning. His co-worker tips him off about a “happy spa” which promises to make all his problems go away and restore Miles to the best version of himself. Skeptical but desperate, Miles heads to the spa with $50,000 in cash.
We’re often taught that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In Living With Yourself, this concept is taken to new heights. Following the procedure, Miles returns home to his wife as a happier, more thoughtful, and more successful version of himself. Meanwhile, another version of Miles digs his way out of the ground. It turns out the original Miles was meant to be killed so a perfect clone version of Miles could take his place.
As the series unfolds, the two versions of Miles have to navigate their way through this impossible situation. Miles 2 may be a clone, and yet he shares all of Miles’ memories and shares the same love for his wife. It quickly becomes apparent that sending Miles 2 away is not a viable solution.
The concept of two Rudd’s sharing a life is entertaining. Their unusual relationship is a source of comedy throughout and Rudd’s performance is as charming as always. More than this, the show raises some poignant philosophical questions about what it means to be human. Is life about our memories or is it about something more? Is it possible to be human and perfect at the same time?
What’s great about the concept is that there is no limit to where the show could head next. When season one wraps up, we learn that Kate (Aisling Bea) is pregnant, but she has no idea who the father is. Unsurprisingly, a standard DNA test doesn’t really offer any answers. Does it make a difference which version of Miles is the father or do they both have equal parental rights over the child? It’s all very confusing to think about.
Hopefully, the show will be renewed for a second season so we can find out what happens next.
4/5
