--- title: "Fleishman Is in Trouble: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 14 reviews: 12 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like Fleishman Is in Trouble, and the praise gathers around the cast. Claire Danes’s Rachel is singled out repeatedly, particularly in the late episode that turns the story over to her, and Lizzy Caplan’s Libby draws almost as much admiration for her wit and warmth. The dialogue is called sharp and natural, the ensemble strong, and several critics find the series funnier, sadder and more affecting than the novel it adapts. The reservations are about the telling rather than the acting. Several critics find the voice-over overextended, the nonlinear structure disorienting and the long stretch inside Toby’s head only partly repaid by the later episodes; a few think the finale turns corny after what precedes it. Twelve reviews are positive, none mixed and two firmly negative. Variety argues the narration keeps Rachel from emerging on her own terms, and The Ringer finds the adaptation too faithful, its perspective shift blunted on television. ## Evening Standard — Harriet Addison Rating 5/5. 20 February 2023. Addison finds the series painful and brilliant, and praises its pacy, acerbic storytelling. She singles out its sharp dialogue and its willingness to turn Toby’s flawed perspective into a mirror for the audience. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/fleishman-is-in-trouble-on-disney-jesse-eisenburg-superb-taffy-brodesser-akner-b1060883.html) ## The AV Club — Annie Berke Rating A-. 10 November 2022. Berke calls the series a sharp, fierce, funny adaptation, though its final episodes become too expository and earnest. She especially praises Lizzy Caplan’s performance as Libby, which brings wit and vulnerability to the role. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/fleishman-is-in-trouble-tv-show-review-fx-hulu-1849740280) ## Vulture — Jen Chaney Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2022. Chaney finds “Me-Time” more emotionally affecting than the novel and praises how the episode’s visual choices and writing make Rachel’s breakdown vivid. Claire Danes’s vulnerable performance is singled out as especially powerful. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/fleishman-is-in-trouble-episode-7-me-time-book-adaptation-choices.html) ## Empire — Sophie Butcher Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2023. The critic calls the series a compelling, confronting examination of aging and life’s big choices. She praises its strong performances and faithful adaptation, while noting that its nonlinear structure can be disorienting. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/fleishman-is-in-trouble/) ## The i Paper — Marianne Levy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2023. Levy finds the series illuminating, destabilising, funny, and an easy watch that raises difficult questions. She especially praises its narrative turns and Clare Danes’s astonishing performance as Rachel. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/fleishman-is-in-trouble-disney-review-an-easy-watch-that-asks-difficult-questions-2155835) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2022. Fienberg finds the series funny, sad, relatable, and more satisfying than the novel in some ways. He especially praises the superb ensemble, singling out Lizzy Caplan’s comic timing and emotional range. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/fleishman-is-in-trouble-jesse-eisenberg-claire-danes-lizzy-caplan-1235259953/) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Rating B-. 16 November 2022. Travers finds the series perceptive but ultimately weighed down by its lopsided focus on Toby. He praises the later episode centered on Elizabeth as enthralling, while arguing that the series gets to its other characters too late. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review-hulu-1234782828/) ## The Guardian — Adrian Horton Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2022. Horton finds the series smart and worthwhile, though hit-and-miss and ultimately less moving than it is intellectually engaging. She singles out Claire Danes’s performance for praise, while finding the finale too corny for the complications that precede it. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/17/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review-hulu-comedy-series) ## Variety — Daniel D'Addario Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2022. The review finds the series insightful about middle age but ultimately unable to overcome its unsettled storytelling. It praises Claire Danes’s performance while faulting the narration for keeping Rachel from emerging on her own terms. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/tv/reviews/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review-1235420145/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating A-. 10 November 2022. Bonaime finds the series fascinating and contemplative, with hard truths about starting over in middle age. He especially praises the cast, singling out Lizzy Caplan’s nuanced performance. [Read the review](https://collider.com/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review/) ## Paste — Whitney Friedlander Rating 9.0/10. 16 November 2022. Friedlander finds the adaptation resonant but somewhat unresolved, with its shifting perspectives complicating who is actually in trouble. She especially praises the four leads’ chemistry and the natural, overlapping dialogue between Claire Danes and Jesse Eisenberg. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review) ## Consequence — Jonah Krueger Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2022. Krueger finds the series empathetic, intensely literary, and deeply moving. He particularly praises how its narration and recurring motifs preserve the novel’s richness and emotional breadth. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/11/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review-fx-hulu/) ## /Film — Jeff Ewing Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2022. The critic finds the series thoughtful and worthwhile despite structural unevenness and overextended narration. They single out Lizzy Caplan’s warm, nuanced performance and the cast’s strong character work for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1095055/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review-jesse-eisenberg-searches-for-claire-danes-in-this-emotionally-complex-mystery/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2022. Herman finds the adaptation too faithful to the novel, leaving its central perspective shift less effective on television. She praises the lead performances but faults the frequent voice-over for intruding and telling viewers what to feel. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2022/11/17/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble-review-fx-tv-show-novel-adaptation) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md