Hammer and tongs

If you’re tired of shows about wealthy idiots making terrible decisions, ‘Your Friends & Neighbours’ isn’t likely to win you over. But if you’re willing to indulge in a glossy, darkly funny meltdown, this series might just hook you. Think ‘Breaking Bad’, but with less meth and more stolen luxury watches.

The show follows Andrew Cooper aka Coop, played by Jon Hamm, a former hedge fund manager who has lost his job, his marriage and, most importantly, control over the life he once so carefully curated. Instead of cutting back or owning up, Coop takes a wildly unexpected route. He starts stealing from his even richer neighbours. No violence, no drama, just smooth heists of luxury watches and designer jewellery that no one notices. It’s a perfect setup for satire and the show almost nails it. There is something weirdly satisfying about watching Coop oozing midlife-crisis charm and swiping Cartier bracelets while his clueless victims sip champagne.

The story builds slowly, letting you get to know the characters and their secrets. By the final episodes, things get intense. Coop is framed for a murder he didn’t commit and it looks like his secret life is finally going to catch up with him. But there’s a twist and, without spoiling it, let’s just say the truth is a lot messier than you expect.

Jon Hamm is excellent throughout, delivering a performance that’s both funny and sad. He narrates the series with dry wit. The rest of the cast is just as compelling. Amanda Peet is icy and sharp as Coop’s ex-wife Mel, who hasn’t fully moved on. Olivia Munn steals scenes as a savvy divorcee.

The chemistry between the actors is palpable. The women are given plenty of screen time, which is refreshing in a genre that often sidelines them.

Visually, the show nails its tone. The mansions, the designer clothes, the spotless kitchens, they are all shot beautifully, but there’s always something off. It feels like a suburban horror movie dressed as a comedy, where every smile hides something sinister. The attention to detail, from the $45,000 skincare bills to country club politics, makes the world feel both absurd and believable.

The show is part crime drama, part satire and part murder mystery. There’s even a stretch where Coop wakes up next to a corpse, turning the plot into a darker direction. Some viewers might feel the show tries to juggle too much, especially with its shifts between heartfelt moments and biting humour, but it mostly works. The pacing can be uneven, but the show’s mix of tones keeps things fresh.

‘Your Friends & Neighbours’ doesn’t offer grand statements about wealth or morality. What it does is show you what happens when someone clings too tightly to a life they can no longer afford. It makes you laugh, then quietly asks as to how far would you go to keep up the illusion?

‘Your Friends & Neighbours’ is slick, smart and surprisingly emotional. If you enjoy sharp writing, flawed characters and the thrill of secrets hidden behind gated communities, this show is well worth the binge.