I Caught Up on Apple TV’s Best Comfort Watch — And No, It’s Not ‘Ted Lasso’

Discovering Apple TV's Ultimate Comfort Watch

I have a confession to make: I completely missed the release of 'Trying' season 5 on Apple TV over the summer. For me, this is doubly embarrassing. Firstly, because as a streaming editor, it’s my job to be on the pulse of the latest arrivals on the best streaming services, and secondly, because I’ve been shouting about this wonderfully warm show for years.

The moment I discovered that 'Trying' season 5 was out, I dropped everything and binged all eight episodes in a single day. That speaks to the easygoing nature of Apple TV’s best comfort watch. While optimistic soccer coach comedies like 'Ted Lasso' get all the mainstream press, real television fans know that 'Trying' is actually the most charming and purely sweet show on the platform.

The Heartwarming Premise of 'Trying'

For those out of the loop, 'Trying' follows a youngish couple, Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), who enter the world of adoption after experiencing difficulties conceiving a child. With their eccentric friends and family in tow, they navigate the lengthy, often stressful process while trying to prove they are grown-up enough to handle the immense responsibilities that come with parenthood.

Across its first four seasons, the series struck a perfect balance between good-natured comedy and a sensitive exploration of deeper life issues. Season 5 delivers more of the same, which is far from a criticism. 'Trying' isn't a show that thrives on shocking mid-season plot twists, and as a loyal viewer since day one, that comforting consistency is precisely why I love it.

Breaking Down Season 5: Sweetness Meets Familiarity

Season 5 briskly picks up in the wake of season 4's cliffhanger, which saw Princess (Scarlett Rayner) and Tyler’s (Cooper Turner) biological mom, Kat (Charlotte Riley), show up unexpectedly on the doorstep of Nikki and Jason’s London home. The narrative largely centers on Princess attempting to connect with her long-absent biological mother and how Nikki handles this complex new family dynamic.

Meanwhile, recurring character Scott (Darren Boyd) attempts to row the Atlantic Ocean single-handedly—a hairbrained scheme that quickly falls apart, as fans of the show would expect. Scott and Sian Brooke's Karen continue to be absolute highlights, stealing the spotlight in the season's standout episode, 'The Hurricane'.

Is This the End for Nikki and Jason?

Overall, it is an unambitious season of television, with minimal character development and plotlines that resolve neatly or get discarded entirely. However, 'Trying' was never about grand multi-episode arcs; it’s a show about simple, heartfelt moments between highly likable characters.

Notably, season 5 does not end with a massive cliffhanger. Instead, the final scene feels much more like a definitive series finale. If this is indeed the end of the road for Nikki and Jason, I am entirely content. We received five brilliant seasons of a show that never needed mainstream blockbuster status to prove its worth, leaving us with a deeply satisfying conclusion.