User reviews

Rose Byrne rocks. Is her character totally likeable? Maybe not initially, but you grow to love her as you come to understand that she struggles deeply with self-loathing and body image issues, and she feels stuck in her life. She's the woman who's smarter than the men in the room, but she doesn't have a place in the board room. A feminist tale that doesn't try to be sweet or inspiring, but somehow ends up being inspiring despite it's dark edge. Dramedy. Darkly funny but also serious.

Great Acting, interesting story. After the first 2 episodes it picks up steam. I'm really enjoying a dive into the 80's and into the mind of a woman with a eating disorder. I thought it was brilliant how you can see what low self worth takes over and what you are willing to settle for. Don't listen to the ratings on this one,they probably didn't really give it a chance, those are the same people who give Grey's Anatomy 10 stars.

S1 = 8, S2 = 7, S3 = a 4 or 5. It's a shame it was great and unique when it was at its best.

Completely fell to pieces in the most uninteresting way.

Season two felt a bit all over and not as tight of a story telling experience.

Season three is just completely unfocused, rushed and either unsatisfying or underwhelming character/story conclusions.

It feels like they possibly got cancelled behind the scenes and they gave them enough notice to work it into most of season 3. Even with that in mind, it's such a disjointed unsatisfying experience.

The horrible final dialogue not only sounded laughable (in the show, and for us the audience). Even if it some how hadn't been laughable, it was unearned and more importantly not show as plausible character growth.

That wasn't the journey we were along for the ride with.

A couple of months ago, after 10 minutes of watching I turned it off as I was expecting something different. Last night, I wanted different and oh my word, this is brilliant!! I binge watched season one in one go and then season two.

Rose Byrne is absolutely PHENOMENAL, the soundtrack is fantastic and the story sharp. I also love how it captures the 80's so well! (I grew up in the 80's, my mum had the same kind of video camera and black hard plastic bag that it came with-so funny seeing that and other 80's scenes/things) Cannot wait for season three!

This was one of my favorite shows EVER. I was hooked from the first episode. After an excellent first season I thought the second season dipped in quality and believability but I was still excited for season 3 to come out. I am incredibly disappointed in this season. It has become almost a caricature of itself. The dialogue is kind of ridiculous, and some parts just make you roll your eyes. They seem to have totally abandoned logic behind. The characters' reactions don't make any sense, nothing seems fitting for the time period it's supposed to be in. I cannot believe they would ruin an amazing show like this.

Whoever did the trailer and write up for this one scared a lot of people off-I almost didn't watch-it's really not about a woman making an exercise video or finding herself through exercise.....it's a dark and hard look at bulimia, the role/portrayal/treatment of women in the 80s, and abusive relationships. Rose Byrne and Deidre Friel are particularly excellent in this! Edgy and unexpected, a great watch.

I can't believe this has such a low imdb rating. I watched the first 3 episodes and am hooked. It's dark and twisted just enough so far. Hope it stays this good and earns a 2nd season.

With the first 3 episodes, I'm getting a good feel of the early 80's. But, I have yet to see a major shift in the storyline. I'm just here for Rose Byrne.

I can say this was a legit representation, it very much reminded me of times when I struggled with mine.... Not sure why people say it "doesn't bring awareness to eating disorders" - how so?? By being a realistic representation it absolutely brings awareness, and just because something makes you uncomfortable doesn't mean it wasn't well done. Oh and she definitely was bulimic (people wondered if she actually was or not due to no toilet flushing, etc).... When her husband comments on her eyes being all bloodshot that's from the pressure of vomiting.

The show is good. It took way too long to get here.(by 7 it hooked me) Have they been greenlit for 5 seasons? Can't there be world building while keeping the viewer engaged. Good supporting cast. Rose Byrne is amazing as usual.

Watched the first 4 episodes and got hooked on it. Good acting, dark, funny, love Robe Byrne, she is always very good but as rest of the cast in this case.

Some people complain and low rated this show because it is not 100% on aerobics or because the house's style is more 70's than 80's.

Nobody said it was an aerobics documentary and if you have decorated or remodelled your house in 1975 you are not gonna necessarely change it in 1981 with the 80's style.

I think it is much more realistic than many movies/shows where the decade style is overly exaggerated, especially in the transition period.

Physical is a show about a subject matter that I'm not really interested in. It's something I never expected to like. But because of Rose Byrne and a friend's recommendation, I gave it a shot. And I was not disappointed.

It's an interesting show that does an amazing job of demonstrating different things like bulimia, low self-esteem, and domestic slavery, among others. I was familiar with most of it, but this show made me really understand and empathize.

It has a good story with great characters. They're all flawed but you still care about them. It's regularly amusing with some hilarious moments. And there are numerous standout performances.

But the one who shines the most is lead actress Rose Byrne. She was already my favorite actress before this. She's amazingly talented, but that's not what separates her. There are other actresses with her level of talent. For me, it's her choices in movies/shows. She's in a whopping 15 movies/shows that I've rated 7 stars or higher. I just looked up Bale, DiCaprio and Hardy, they each have less than 10.

Seasonal ratings: 7, 7, 6.5

(1 viewing, 2/9/2024)

This series started out really well. It had quirky elements that made it highly watchable. Series 2 was a little bit less coherent, but still entertaining to a degree. When that final episode of the series hit, I honestly didn't care if another season was picked up.

Now watching series 3 and it's chaotic and not in a good, dramatic way, but in a "we don't know what we're doing here" way that makes me zone out while trying to finish an episode.

We've got random odd characters (Zoe Deschanel) dropping in, then dropping out, but not adding anything to the plot. And the annoying husband is the focus of the 3rd series, which we could totally do without,

At this point, I'm hoping the series will get cancelled because what are we watching anymore?

Rose Byrne isn't just a great actress, she's also sexy as all hell and somehow pulls off the whole "almost Jennifer Beals" look in this charming and fun snapshot of my favorite decade. I'm serious, I love Rose Byrne, and she can "get it", as the young people say.

Rose Byrne portrays a woman named Sheila, and also serves as executive producer on this fascinating show that appears to have a lot of promise.

Unfortunately Sheila is clearly going through a lot of extreme issues, Partly a consequence of a culture that values beauty over well-being and self care. That's the 1980s for you.

The first episode was really good and I'm looking forward to seeing more of this interesting dive into days long gone by.

I'm hooked. Watched the first three episodes and I'm amazed at how authentic the 1980s are depicted. Someone did their homework. Rose Byrne really rocks her character. I'm sure I still have my original Jane Fonda Workout VHS tapes in a box somewhere. Two more days until Friday and Episode #4. Looking forward to it!

It captures the heart of being a woman in the eighties so well. Split a dozen ways, trying to keep your head above water as you fulfill everyone else's needs. If only you are thin and pretty enough you will be happy. Nailed it. Byrne's character even has a bit of the snarky feminist attitude leftover from the seventies.

I love it so far. Yes, there's lots of in-head dialogue, but that's what obsessive people do.

Love the actor playing the aerobics guru - she fits the part exactly. LA in the eighties.

Looks like its going to be a fun ride.

Give it a try if you like real, snarky women or if you lived through that era with open eyes.

Please bring back Dela Saba and kick Zoey Deschanel to the curb. Bunny was such an interesting and fresh character and whatever season 3 is it's just flat without Bunny. First of all what did Zoey do to her face?! It's such a downgrade and quite frankly vey cringe to look at her let alone see her attempt to act quirky. She is seriously failing and the episodes need to use less and less of her if they are to remain even remotely entertaining. Sheila is getting a bit tired too. Greta is losing her spicy disposition. Why is this show becoming a drip fest? Bring back the silly and the angst of Bunny and start from there.

Rose Byrne is amazing and everything she did but this one is a very, very different role for her and I cannot get enough of it! That voice inside your head is loud and strong in this series and I am glad for it. The only regret I have is that now I have to wait for the rest of the season because I watched the first 3 episodes in one go.

I enjoy that not a single character is a role model, not even likable. We get to see the inner and outer demons of women and men through the dark and ruthless mind of someone struggling with self love and respect.

Great combination of a witty script and good performances, specially Rose Byrne.

UPDATE: After the 6th episode it gets repetitive and tedious as you already know the "final outcome" based on the first episode. They should have sticked to 5 or 6 episodes.

Love everything about this show. The internal dialogue is dark, cutting, and hilarious. The 80's setting adds to the comedy and brings a note of nostalgia for those of us who loved it. Obsession, addiction, sex, and delusion are all in the menu.

Love it.

I wasn't sure what to think of this show going into it. I like Rose Byrne and haven't seen her in anything I didn't like and Apple TV has such good shows that I thought I'd give it a try. Boy am I glad I did! This show is funny and irreverent and I love how you see into the mind of a woman with bulimia, and how she'd say one thing to her husband and friends and whatnot, but really be thinking something else entirely. It made for a one of the most fleshed-out characters I've seen in years.

However, where she was fleshed out, I felt like most of the other characters were one note, and that's where this show falls a little flat, taking this from a 10 to 7 1/2 rating. Especially when it comes to the "evil Mormons" in this. I grew up Mormon. Did I ever believe it? No. So I'm not one of those people who is just mad that they bad-mouthed my religion since it's not my religion and hasn't been since I was old enough to think for myself. However, the way that they show the Mormons in this is 100% wrong. If you're going to show a religion, at least make it a true vision of them. For one, in one of the first scenes with the Mormon family, they show them praying at the food court. Yes, it's true a lot of Mormons would do that (my own VERY Mormon brother does), but the way they were folding their arms was like they were freaking vampires rather than humans. I'm sorry but Mormons don't hold their arms that way (with the hand open on the opposite bicep). They hold it with the hands fisted under the opposite bicep. One looks cooky and crazy and vampire-like and the other distinguished and normal.

And honestly, everything they showed about the Mormons in this followed this. Like I'm sorry, but Mormons don't say "our blessed family" and our women don't act like slaves to their husbands. There were at least 15 more of these very wrong and inaccurate situations (or things that the Mormons say) that could have been done correctly if they'd taken even 5 seconds to actually research Mormons. If they DID do research, it was from people who just hate Mormons and don't actually know any true facts about them, but just the stupid "facts" people say (I once was literally asked if I have scales on my legs like a fish and horns hidden under my hair and if we really do satanic worship/sacrifices under our trampolines...yes, these weren't jokes but things people actually thought! And it's because of shows like this). They even make the Mormon lines stilted (which the actors really play into, obviously also hating Mormons and just doing the part to show that hatred rather than actually trying to be and empathize with their characters) and written weird, like a totally other language, which isn't how Mormons even talk. Mormons talk like normal people and don't use the words the writers seem to think they do.

On the other hand, notice the liberal people in this. Even though the husband is treating his wife just as bad as the Mormon is in this, he's the hero and the Mormons are the bad guys. Then the Mormon guy goes to his bishop and that whole scene, everything that was said and assumed there isn't true and isn't how those bishop meetings even go, nor did they ever. At the end, the Mormon guy has an affair. I'm not saying Mormons don't have affairs. I've known some that did, since they're just as human as anyone else. But it's just the fact that when the main character's husband wants to have a threesome it's played out as fine and dandy but when the Mormon guy has bad thoughts, it's seedy and whatnot and like this guy is a terrible person for it. There are completely different rules for each and shown in different lights, even though both are doing the same thing. It's very obviously anti-Mormon propaganda and that's messed up.

I really hope that for season 2, the writers and actors can actually flesh out all of the secondary characters and actually learn TRUE things about Mormons, maybe hire a Mormon to say what is real (nothing) and isn't real (everything) in the script. And then shed the same light over both families and sets of characters. I guess they thought no Mormons would watch a show with cussing and sex and whatnot but, again, that's a complete misconception that just a little research would show you it's frowned upon but not forbidden and plenty of Mormons who go to the temple also watch R rated movies and tv shows. So please stop assuming so wrongly and then showing your false assumptions as "fact" because that makes the rest of the show and it's reality as false as well.

I love the honesty this shows brings to what life can be like for a woman. People are complaining in other reviews about too much negative self-talk in the show but for some of us that is what life can be like. Glad to see such a relatable character in a show. Will keep watching!

This is a well written, well directed, well-acted show. But, oh so very dark and ugly in its themes. It really is rather bleak. The writers forgot to include any likeable characters. You will want to take a shower after spending two seasons with these depressing and rather horrible people. I really don't see why this had to be so depressing. They did not need to mke a sitcom. But nor did it need to a trip into the dark underbelly of the human soul. A little comic relief would have got a long way. As it is, you are left with no one to root for. That does not make for good story telling. The best character in the show currently is Vinnie Green. But even there, the writers have him mixed up in a horrible mess of a personal life.