It Gets Worse: A Sharp Gen Z Comedy Series Debuts on Paramount+
Leo Reich’s new series offers a cynical, comedic look at modern London life.
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1Generational Torch Passing
Premiering November 6 on Paramount+, the British comedy It Gets Worse features a notable cameo by Lena Dunham. Playing an inappropriate tech CEO, Dunham’s guest role serves as a symbolic passing of the torch from the millennial era of Girls to creator Leo Reich’s sharp, Gen Z-focused perspective.
2Premise and Plot
The six-episode series follows three college friends—Ethan, Abi, and Sam—navigating a chaotic transition in London. After being evicted from their shared flat, the trio must scatter into temporary living arrangements. Their struggle to secure a new home highlights the precarious nature of contemporary life for young, overeducated urbanites.
3Character Dynamics
Leo Reich stars as Ethan, a self-deprecating gay man avoiding seriousness. Emily Fairn plays Abi, who seeks stability through a white-collar job and a relationship with her boyfriend, Tom. Olive Gray portrays Sam, an aspiring writer whose maturity is tested while living in an anarchist coop with her former girlfriend.
4The Zadie Smith Narration
The series employs a unique narrative device: voice-over commentary provided by author Zadie Smith. Her cool, ruminative tone frames the characters' frantic misadventures, offering a stark contrast to their anxious scrambling. This literary touch elevates the show's exploration of generational malaise, providing an unsparing look at their self-inflicted personal crises.
5Workplace Satire
Abi’s career path serves as a focal point for the show’s critique of modern employment. She accepts an entry-level role on a tech startup’s people team, a position described as requiring no training. The show highlights the futility of these roles, mirroring the professional disillusionment often found in earlier millennial comedies.
6Rejection of Optimism
The title, It Gets Worse, acts as a direct rebuttal to the It Gets Better Project. Unlike the optimistic narratives of previous generations, the show suggests that adulthood offers no inherent improvement. Characters face a reality where dating is a nightmare, housing is unaffordable, and traditional milestones remain perpetually out of reach.
7Cultural Commentary
The series avoids constant references to climate change or AI, focusing instead on the banal doom of daily life. It mocks older cohorts through subtle jabs, such as a character’s disdain for a framed photo of Anthony Bourdain. These moments ground the show in a specific, relatable cultural critique of modern adulthood.
8Production and Pedigree
Produced by A24 and originally airing on Channel 4 in the U.K., the show features a high-profile creative team. Beyond Dunham, the series includes guest appearances from BAFTA winner Andrew Scott. Leo Reich, the son of a film producer, leverages his industry connections to craft a deeply cynical, polished production.
9The Nihilistic Tone
The show’s humor is rooted in gallows comedy and resigned nihilism. Ethan’s character embodies this, as he once contemplated suicide but found the logistics too inconvenient. This dark approach to storytelling suggests that for this generation, the liminal period of young adulthood does not end; it simply continues indefinitely.
10Defining Gen Z TV
It Gets Worse stands out as a definitive portrait of Gen Z, prioritizing lowered expectations over traditional growth arcs. By rejecting the idea that friends are a substitute for family, the show argues that these bonds are merely a survival mechanism. It remains a bleak, sharp, and necessary look at modern existence.
Original article: Time — It Gets Worse: A Sharp Gen Z Comedy Series Debuts on Paramount+