One comedy is defining the sophomore slump that has plagued even some of Netflix’s biggest shows.
The woes of the world’s most-well known streaming platform have been among the biggest headlines of 2026. Netflix Originals as varied as Wednesday and Beef all saw notable viewership declines, and the trend has continued recently with the gritty crime drama The Gentlemen. It’s the same issue that has plagued the streamer’s comedy line-up, as Nobody Wants This, A Man on the Inside, and Running Point all experienced drops compared to their debuts.
Adults, an FX Original that streams on Disney+ and Hulu, is one comedy that’s bucking the trend with an increase in audience buzz, a boost in critical acclaim to a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a significant viewership jump that seemingly paves the way for a season 3 renewal.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Adults season 2 is up 40% in its first 12 days, compared to the same period for season 1. Although specific viewership numbers are not available, it’s noted that a significant amount of the increase is coming from viewership outside the United States, where the comedy is available to stream on Disney+. The series is still presented as an FX and Hulu Original before the start of each episode.
Hailing from the married co-creating duo of Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, with 16 total episodes and one special episode, Adults follows five friends — Anton, Billie, Issa, Paul Baker, and Samir — as they experience love, life, and work woes in New York. The comparisons to Friends and similar hangout comedies are very much intentional, and the FX Original expertly pays homage to what came before.
But with an excellent Adults cast comprised of Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, and Owen Thiele, the series excels as being its own thing while also finding ways to welcome in new viewers, as is the case with a special episode focused on Innanen’s Paul Baker that doubles as a second pilot episode. And like Friends or New Girl, it has several pairings and scene partnersfans can root for.
As with those shows as well, Adults is already building a sturdy reputation and an impressive list of guests, including Daredevil‘s Charlie Cox and Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo. Although it’s no guarantee, and FX has yet to make an official announcement, it’s hard to imagine that season 3 won’t happen. Season 2 was renewed despite low viewership. Hopefully, this increase in viewers will be rewarded with another renewal and an increase in the episode count.
