Indebted

Indebted is an American sitcom that made its premier on NBC on February 6, 2020. The show hails from creators Dan Levy and Doug Robinson, and offers a charming blend of comedy, drama, and family lifestyle that is both engaging and humorous.

The premise of the show is engagingly simple: Indebted explores what happens when parents, who have spent their entire lives taking care of their children, become financially incapable and are actually the ones who need support. To fund their overspending habits and to balance their debts, they decide to move in with their son, played by Adam Pally known for his roles in Happy Endings and The Mindy Project, and his wife Rebecca, played by Abby Elliott known for her work on Saturday Night Live.

The title of the show itself, Indebted, is an obvious reference to the financial struggles of the main characters, Stew and Debbie Klein. They are played by prolific performers Fran Drescher, known for her iconic role in The Nanny, and Steven Weber who rose to fame with Wings. But the term 'indebted' also relates to the moral obligation that their son, Dave feels towards his parents. Regardless of the discord and chaos they bring into his home, Dave feels strongly about helping his parents when they are in dire need. This theme of indebtedness, not just financially but emotionally as well, plays both as a source of humor and sentimental family drama throughout the series.

Indebted spends much of its time exploring the entertaining dynamics and funny conflicts that transpire from this new living arrangement. Dave and Rebecca, who are already busy parenting their young kids, suddenly find themselves in the position of 'parenting' their actual parents. The couple also has to balance their own personal lives and marriage, amidst all the chaos, making for some entertaining and relatable scenarios.

The show cleverly carves out a niche for itself amidst a sea of family sitcoms with its acute, funny observations about the trials and tribulations of multi-generational living. Mildly chaotic, incessantly funny, and sincerely touching, the show takes viewers on a roller-coaster ride of laughter and emotion.

A central narrative focus of the show is the contrast between the carefree approach of Stew and Debbie towards financial responsibility, as opposed to the sensible, conservative approach of their son and daughter-in-law. This tension flares up in various forms throughout the series. The premise of children becoming caretakers for their parents — financially and emotionally — offers an amusing reversal of roles that's ripe for comedy.

The pace of the show is brisk, with each episode of the first season featuring its own self-contained story. At the same time, there is a steady undercurrent of overarching storylines revolving around the family's attempts to adjust to their new dynamics. The writing of the show is sharp and insightful, and it mostly does well in avoiding genre cliches.

The performances all round are commendable. Fran Drescher and Steven Weber steal the spotlight with their effervescent performances as the financially irresponsible parents. Adam Pally and Abby Elliott also shine as the overwhelmed son and daughter-in-law. Comedian Jessy Hodges brings in more humor as Joanna, Rebecca's quirky sister.

Indebted carries the elements of traditional situational comedy with modern subplots and character development that hit home in today’s world. The show can be seen as a commentary on the contemporary culture of credit and debt, while also portraying the beautiful chaos of a loving family.

In conclusion, Indebted merges traditional family sitcom traditions with a contemporary premise to create a series that's laugh-out-loud funny while also being revealing about the tensions and bonds of multi-generational families. Whether you're in it for the humor, the stellar cast, the cleverly executed themes, or relatable family dynamics, Indebted is a refreshing addition to the sitcom genre.