This Close

One of these unique jewels, and well worth watching for something that feels, and is, completely different from most other TV. ... Ultimately, This Close continues to explore the uncertainty of growing up and learning who you are in very grounded and emotional ways, as Season Two leans in more than ever to the idea of how to love yourself, love others, and be loved by others.

This Close isn’t at those shows’ [Better Things, Insecure or Atlanta] level--it’s more conventional, with familiar relationship and family situations, and it doesn’t really have a distinct sensibility. But it’s funny and poignant in ways we haven’t seen before, and more deftly directed and impressively cast than you’d expect for an original series on a small streaming service.

This Close has a lighter, more hopeful spirit than any of its “sad in California” counterparts, and its characters are more inherently decent. Stern and Feldman are both convincing in their roles.

This Close is a little funny, a little sweet, unexpectedly insightful and a worthy reminder that Stern was great on Weeds and very good on Jericho and probably would have been a star long ago if Hollywood were more creative when it comes to utilizing deaf actors. ... Ultimately, the series works because deafness isn't a twist, but the specificity in what would still be a well-executed buddy dramedy.

The narrative arcs aren't always original, but Stern and Feldman's touching performances make the series this close to perfect. [16 Feb 2018, p.49]

This Close isn’t perfect. It’s a little loose at times, and it would be nice to see fresher emotional beats come into play. But Stern and Feldman are more than enough reason to watch; they deserve to be in many more series and movies to come, but not before this series makes them heard

This Close is raw and insightful, but it’s only fair to mention that it’s also messy, a little cliche, and ends with a questionable cliffhanger. ... When This Close works, though, it’s reminiscent of the best of HBO’s wonderful Looking.