Casual Information

Casual is an American television comedy-drama series that premiered on October 7, 2015 on Hulu. Created by Zander Lehmann and directed by Jason Reitman, the series centers on Valerie (Michaela Watkins), a newly divorced single mother living with her brother Alex (Tommy Dewey) and her daughter Laura (Tara Lynne Barr). The cast also includes Frances Conroy and Nyasha Hatendi.

In advance of its premiere on Hulu, the first two episodes of the series received an advance preview screening at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, as part of the festival's new Primetime platform of selected television projects.

On October 19, 2017, Hulu renewed the series for a fourth and final season with all 8 episodes being released simultaneously on July 31, 2018.

Cast

Main

• Michaela Watkins as Valerie, a successful shrink divorcing her husband after finding him with a younger woman.
• Tommy Dewey as Alex, Valerie's younger brother who co-founded the popular dating site Snooger
• Tara Lynne Barr as Laura, Valerie's teenage daughter
• Nyasha Hatendi as Leon, Valerie's one-night stand whom Alex befriends
• Frances Conroy as Dawn, Valerie and Alex's mother

Guest and recurring

• Fred Melamed as Charles, Valerie and Alex's hedonistic father
• Evan Crooks as Emile, Laura's boyfriend
• Julie Berman as Leia, Valerie's assistant
• Patrick Heusinger as Michael, Laura's photography teacher
• Zak Orth as Drew, Valerie's ex-husband
• Eliza Coupe as Emmy, Alex's free-spirited romantic interest
• Katie Aselton as Jennifer, a therapist who works in the same building as Valerie.
• Dylan Gelula as Aubrey, a student in Laura's homeschool group.
• Britt Lower as Sarah Finn, Alex's ex-girlfriend.
• Vincent Kartheiser as Jordan Anderson, Alex's new partner in his company and Sarah's fiance
• Britt Robertson as Fallon, Jordan's assistant.
• Kyle Bornheimer as Jack, Valerie's love interest, friend of Jennifer.
• Rhenzy Feliz as Spencer, Laura's classmate, suffers from terminal cancer.
• Jamie Chung as Tina
• Judy Greer as Judy, a single mom.
• Lorenza Izzo as Tathiana, a friend that Laura met traveling.

Reception

The first season received critical acclaim. On Metacritic the first season holds a rating of 77 out of 100 based on 20 critic reviews, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'. Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season a 93% 'certified fresh' rating based on 28 critic reviews, with the critical consensus "Jason Reitman's Casual is a funny -- albeit very specific -- look at modern dating, sharpened by edgy dialogue and self-assured performances." For the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, the series was nominated in the category for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy.

The second season received similar acclaim. It holds a 87% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Well-written and solidly acted, Casual offers a profane -- yet profound -- take on life's many challenges". On Metacritic, the season holds a rating of 88 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "Universal acclaim".

Episodes

Series overview

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	1	10
	2	13
	3	13

Season 1 (2015)

|ShortSummary = Both Valerie and Alex go on dates based on matches on Alex's dating website.
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|ShortSummary = Alex spends the day with Valerie's one night stand Leon, and winds up having a crazy night. Valerie goes out with a group of 20-something girls who coach her on dating young men. Laura gets in trouble at a high school house party.
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|ShortSummary = Valerie decides to move out of Alex's house but is blind-sided by the financial repercussions of divorce. Alex adopts a dog. Laura fantasizes about her photography teacher Michael.
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|ShortSummary = Valerie breaks Alex's rules of casual sex. Alex is interviewed about his dating site. Laura makes a move on her teacher Michael.
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|ShortSummary = Valerie and Alex's mother shows up unannounced. Valerie gets good advice from an unlikely source. Laura and Michael share a moment after she sees her father out with his new girlfriend.
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|ShortSummary = Alex's secret profile gets its first real match. Laura bonds with Michael after her sex tape goes viral at school. Valerie gets closure with her ex-husband.
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|ShortSummary = Alex and Emmy (Eliza Coupe) have a foursome. Laura discovers Valerie has been seeing Michael and moves out.
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|ShortSummary = Laura invites her estranged grandparents and her father and his new girlfriend to Thanksgiving dinner without telling Valerie or Alex.
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|ShortSummary = Alex and Valerie attend their parent's wedding rehearsal dinner. Laura attends a gallery where Michael is showing some of his photographs.
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|ShortSummary = Alex leaves the rehearsal dinner to spend the night at Leon's house. Valerie and Emmy spend the day trying to find him. Laura plans to move to Mexico.
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Season 2 (2016)

|ShortSummary = Alex's troubling new obsession leads Valerie to take matters into her own hands. Laura investigates switching high schools.
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|ShortSummary = Alex embraces his new role as Laura's teacher but his methods are questionable. Valerie reaches out to old friends and makes an unsettling discovery.
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|ShortSummary = Valerie tries to take her friendship with fellow therapist Jennifer (Katie Aselton) to the next level. Alex considers an offer from a venture capitalist to keep Snooger from going under. Laura considers joining a homeschool study group.
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|ShortSummary = Alex invites new investors to his house for barbecue, one of whom is engaged to Alex's ex-girlfriend, Sarah (Britt Lower). Jennifer plans to set Valerie up with one of her friends, but not all goes according to plan. Laura and Aubrey (Dylan Gelula) bond over a coffee.
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|ShortSummary = Alex struggles to get along with his new business partner and receives a shocking fact about his past and Sarah from his father. Valerie considers freezing her eggs. Laura and Aubrey get high and kiss.
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|ShortSummary = Alex wonders about the wedding gift for Sarah that can get her attention. Valerie goes out on a date with Harry, one of the friends of Jennifer. Laura and Aubrey take up a task of creating a care package for one of their classmates, Spencer (Rhenzy Feliz), who suffers from cancer.
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|ShortSummary = Alex dates Fallon (Britt Robertson), Jordan's assistant, to make Sarah jealous, Fallon reveals that she's helping him because she's interested in Jordan herself. Valerie consults Jennifer about her dilemma of choosing Jack or Harry. Aubrey and Laura have a threesome with Spencer.
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|ShortSummary = Alex, Jordan, and Sarah deal with the fall out of earlier events. Laura's growing feelings for Spencer creates problems in her relationship with Aubrey. Valerie is unsure about dealing with her feelings for Jack.
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|ShortSummary = Alex is served a notice for negligence by Jordan. Valerie goes to a hiking trip with Jack, but is distracted by Alex's problems. Laura continues her relationship with Spencer; Aubrey confronts her.
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|ShortSummary = Alex is uncomfortable with Sarah's growing presence at his house. Jack and Valerie pretend to be a couple on their honeymoon and crash a high school reunion at the hotel. Laura grows closer to Spencer.
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|ShortSummary = Valerie and Drew file their divorce settlement papers and Valerie stalks one of her ex-patients. Alex seeks professional help for therapy. Laura and Spencer go funeral casket shopping for Spencer.
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|ShortSummary = On Valerie's 40th birthday, Valerie and Drew rekindle their relationship. Alex tries to make up with Valerie by planning a surprise party, much to displeasure of Valerie. Spencer's trial is successful and cancer is in remission.
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|ShortSummary = After Spencer's cancer goes into remission, Laura loses all love interest for him. Alex and Valerie's father turns up with his mind made. He's ready to die and he wants Alex's help. With the help of Valerie and Laura, they poison his drink. Valerie decides to move out of Alex's house. 
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Season 3 (2017)

On June 23, 2016, Hulu renewed the series for a 13-episode third season. The season premiered on May 23, 2017.

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See also

• List of original programs distributed by Hulu