Married

The writing is superb and painfully funny, while the cast is terrific.

Married turns out in succeeding episodes to be an increasingly sturdy comedy-drama of married life--dour, but recognizable, with strong performances from Ms. Greer and Mr. Faxon.

What saves the show is that even when the humor doesn’t quite land--usually because it gets trapped in the tortured egos of the protagonists--the story of these flawed people attempting to be better is engaging.

Up front, at least, the show too often feels like its fighting with itself.

This kind of series still requires a deft touch, even with the expanded license FX offers to explore sexual situations more frankly than in the broadcast realm. It’s to Greer’s credit, moreover, that she manages to make Lina more fleshed out than just a tiresome scold, since this portrait of Married life tilts heavily toward Russ’ perspective.

The material is wooden, lacking the kind of deft writing that would push the premise beyond sitcom cliché and make the characters more engaging. Show creator Andrew Gurland tries to add some racy fun with a few super quirky supporting players, but they only feel tacked on and forced.

A grisly wallow in domestic dysfunction that reaches for indie-film cred but collapses under a toxic barrage of bleak vignettes of gamy misery.