Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Mid-Century Modern, which brings us Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham in a heartwarming sitcom about three gay best friends choosing to live together in Palm Springs during their golden years.
The series premiered on Hulu on March 28, 2025, with all 10 episodes released simultaneously, and was created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Each episode runs approximately 30 minutes and features the kind of classic sitcom formula that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary. The show marks Linda Lavin’s final television role, as she passed away having completed seven episodes, appearing in a total of eight episodes.
The series follows three best friends — gay gentlemen of a certain age – who, after an unexpected death, decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs where the wealthiest one lives with his mother. It’s a show about chosen family, proving that no matter how hard life gets, friendship and laughter can see you through anything. The Palm Springs setting provides the perfect backdrop for both gorgeous visuals and the kind of retirement community dynamics that create endless comedic opportunities.
When Life Begins Again at Sixty
Best friends Bunny (Nathan Lane), Jerry (Matt Bomer) and Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham) decide to live together in Palm Springs with Bunny’s mother (Linda Lavin) during their golden years. What starts as a practical arrangement quickly becomes a journey of rediscovery, romance, and the realization that your sixties might just be the best decade yet.
The genius of Mid-Century Modern lies in how it treats aging not as decline but as opportunity. These aren’t characters waiting around to die; they’re men embracing a new chapter with the wisdom of experience and the freedom that comes with having less to lose. Each episode explores different aspects of their Palm Springs life, from dating younger men to dealing with family expectations to navigating the unique social dynamics of a wealthy retirement community.
The series doesn’t shy away from the realities of aging while maintaining an optimistic outlook that feels earned rather than forced. It’s about friendship that has weathered decades and continues to evolve, family relationships that require constant renegotiation, and the discovery that it’s never too late to surprise yourself.
Bunny: Nathan Lane’s Perfectly Crafted Leading Man
Nathan Lane delivers one of his finest television performances as Bunny, the wealthy friend whose Palm Springs home becomes the trio’s headquarters. Lane brings all of his theatrical training to bear while perfectly calibrating his performance for the small screen. Bunny is generous, neurotic, loving, and occasionally insufferable in the way that only truly close friends can be.
Lane’s chemistry with Linda Lavin as his mother Sybil creates some of the series’ most touching moments. Their relationship feels lived-in and authentic, showing how adult children and aging parents navigate changing power dynamics with humor and love. Bunny’s journey involves learning to share his space and his mother while discovering new aspects of himself in this communal living arrangement.
The character could easily become a caricature in lesser hands, but Lane finds the humanity in Bunny’s quirks and anxieties. It’s a performance that showcases Lane’s incredible range, from broad physical comedy to moments of genuine vulnerability.
Jerry and Arthur: Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham’s Perfect Chemistry
Matt Bomer brings his natural charm and emotional intelligence to Jerry, creating a character who serves as both the group’s voice of reason and its romantic idealist. Bomer’s performance is grounded and authentic, showing Jerry as someone who genuinely loves his friends while also maintaining his own identity and desires.
Nathan Lee Graham rounds out the trio as Arthur, and his chemistry with both Lane and Bomer feels effortless and natural. The three actors have created believable decades-long friendships that feel specific and lived-in. Graham brings wit and wisdom to Arthur, making him far more than just the third wheel in this dynamic.
The beauty of these three performances is how they avoid falling into typical sitcom archetypes. Each character has depth, flaws, and growth throughout the season, and their individual storylines feel as compelling as their group dynamics.
Linda Lavin’s Farewell Performance
Linda Lavin’s final television role as Sybil is both heartbreaking and perfect. Lavin brings decades of television experience to create a character who is sharp, funny, and completely her own person despite living with her adult son and his friends.
Sybil isn’t the typical sitcom mother figure. She’s a woman with her own interests, opinions, and romantic possibilities. Lavin’s scenes with Lane crackle with the kind of authentic mother-son dynamic that feels both specific and universal. Her presence elevates every scene she’s in, and knowing this was her final role makes every moment she’s on screen feel precious.
The series handles her character with tremendous respect and love, creating a fitting tribute to one of television’s most beloved performers.
Success on Hulu
Mid-Century Modern received generally positive reviews from critics and has been praised for its humor and nostalgic charm. Harkening back to the classic sitcom formula while unafraid to have a contemporary, risqué sense of humor, Mid-Century Modern is endearingly old-fashioned.
The series has found its audience on Hulu among viewers looking for quality character-driven comedy that doesn’t rely on cynicism or cruelty for laughs. Mid-Century Modern is a charming throwback comedy with edge, elevated by top-shelf performances. The show proves there’s still an appetite for traditional sitcom storytelling when it’s executed with this level of care and talent.
Critics have particularly praised the series for treating its older characters as fully realized people with active romantic and social lives, rather than as the punchline to aging jokes. It’s representation that feels both groundbreaking and overdue.
If you love stories about friendship, family dynamics, and the idea that life’s best chapters might still be ahead, Mid-Century Modern is the perfect series to binge on Hulu. It’s a show that celebrates both the wisdom that comes with age and the eternal possibility of new beginnings, wrapped in the kind of warm, funny storytelling that classic sitcoms do best.
A beautifully crafted series that proves friendship, laughter, and love don’t have expiration dates, featuring career-best performances from its entire cast in Linda Lavin’s touching farewell role.
Series Details:
Number of Episodes: 10
Platform: Hulu (US) / Disney+ (International)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Genre: Comedy
Protagonists: Nathan Lane (Bunny), Matt Bomer (Jerry), Nathan Lee Graham (Arthur)
Antagonist: Life’s challenges and family dynamics (situational conflicts)