If Seth Rogen desires to dial the Meta Meter to 11, possibly we’ll see Rogen’s character of Will from “Platonic” crossing over to look on an episode of “The Studio,” the place he can host a premiere get together at a brewery within the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles for a brand new film from Continental Studios, with Rogen’s character of Matt internet hosting. It’ll be the best pairing of its sort since Lisa Kudrow’s Ursula Buffay from “Mad About You” appeared with Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay, Ursula’s twin sister, on “Mates!”

Or possibly not.

For many years, Rogen has crafted a picture of the last word laid-back pothead hipster who typically initiatives an “I might give two s*****” perspective, however the dude has all the time labored laborious as an actor/author/director/producer. He’s driving one of probably the most prolific and productive streaks of his profession in recent times, as an govt producer on Amazon Prime’s “The Boys” and Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy,” and a hyphenate power on the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ comedy hit “The Studio,” which tied the comedy document with 23 Emmy nominations in its first 12 months, and “Platonic,” which additionally has its share of eeeesh moments however is a kinder and gentler model comedy. Rogen and the invaluable Rose Byrne create a pure and simple chemistry as greatest pals who’re all the time there for each other—besides after they’re not, as a result of they acquired into one other large combat, or one of them has screwed up the opposite one’s life in epic and horrific (and hilarious) vogue.

The primary season of “Platonic” ran from Could to July 2023, ending with a number of notes of closure after Byrne’s Sylvia and Rogen’s Will had reconnected in early mid-life after an prolonged interval of estrangement and turn out to be greatest pals once more. There have been no main cliffhangers and, frankly, there was no compelling purpose for a second season; in reality, the present was initially meant as a one-off restricted collection. Nonetheless, due to the inventive imaginative and prescient of showrunners and real-life married couple Nicholas Stoller and Francesca Delbanco (who additionally has a recurring position on the collection as Diane, the actual property agent), the casually lived-in, best-friends rapport of Rogen and Byrne, and an impressive supporting solid, Season 2 is traditional twenty first century consolation viewing. With this outing, “Ted Lasso,” “Shrinking,” “Loot,” “Palm Royale,” “Acapulco,” and the lately launched “Stick,” Apple TV+ has turn out to be the business chief in warm-hearted, feel-good comedies punctuated by the occasional dramatic beat.

Rogen and Byrne have been terrific as a married couple within the Stoller-directed “Neighbors”(2014) and “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” (2016), but it surely’s refreshing to see them play actually platonic friends right here; though Will and Sylvia are nice collectively, they’re sensible sufficient to know they’d be disastrous together-together; there’s by no means even a touch of a “When Harry Met Sally…” will they/gained’t they dynamic.

Season 2 picks up with every of them ensconced within the subsequent chapter of their lives. Will is now working as an exec for the Johnny 66 chain of gastropubs, which has unironically rebranded itself as J-6 after its founder was ousted, and he’s engaged to his boss, Jenna (Rachel Rosenbloom). This dovetails properly with Sylvia’s nascent profession as a celebration planner; naturally, she’s in cost of placing collectively all of the attendant occasions for the nuptials. In fact, issues aren’t precisely going swimmingly for both of them; in the event that they have been, we wouldn’t have a Season 2. Will is having critical misgivings about spending the remainder of his life with Jenna, whereas Sylvia’s enterprise is struggling, and her good-guy lawyer husband Charlie (Luke MacFarlane) goes by way of a mid-life disaster that has him considering leaving the agency and pursuing his dream of changing into the following Scott Turow.

With episode lengths starting from 24 to 40 minutes, “Platonic” settles into an easy single-camera comedy rhythm. Byrne and Rogen do most of the heavy lifting, however the supporting solid has recreation as properly. MacFarlane has some excellent showcase moments as Charlie, who’s obsessed with “Jeopardy!” and desires of touchdown a spot on the present, whereas Carla Gallo kills as Sylvia’s good friend Katie, who has a “Boss Mama” podcast the place she speaks with “vocal fry,” and sells merchandise “to boost consciousness.” (When Sylvia says, “Elevate consciousness for what?”, Katie deadpans, “You title it.”) Andrew Lopez is a hoot as Will’s enterprise associate Reggie, whereas “SNL” alums Aidy Bryant, Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney all have memorable visitor star turns.

There’s a gradual eating regimen of popular culture references, from “Deadly Attraction” to a well-deserved shot at Russell Model to “Avatar” to Dr. Melfi from “The Sopranos,” however the name- and title-drops by no means really feel pressured or overwritten. I additionally love the eye to element, from Will’s thrift-store hipster wardrobe decisions (he clothes like a 13-year-old’s concept of what a cool 43-year-old would put on), to little moments expressing Sylvia’s household dynamic, e.g., when she takes her three youngsters to high school, and solely the youngest one provides her an unprompted hug goodbye, as a result of she’s nonetheless at that age of not being self-conscious about Mother. “Platonic” is good and lightweight and makes for excellent late summer season viewing.

All 10 episodes of Season Two have been screened for overview. The primary two episodes of “Platonic” Season 2 premiere on Apple TV+ on August sixth, with a brand new episode every week after that.