You’re the Worst: 10th Anniversary
Created by Stephen Falk
Starring Chris Geere, Aya Cash, Desmin Borges, Kether Donohue
All episodes streaming on Hulu

by Chelsea Alexandra, Staff Writer 

I’m not sure how I first came across You’re the Worst, but once I did, I binged all five seasons in a single weekend. The moment I finished, I started it all over again. It’s become one of my comfort shows, ticking all the right boxes. With episodes under thirty minutes and plenty of laughs, it’s easy to sink into. But for someone like me, it feels like looking into a mirror. Then, I needed a show like You’re the Worst to feel seen by something or someone. The characters are messy, cynical, and masters of self-sabotage, constantly tripping over their flaws. There are moments when it seems inevitable that they’ll give up on each other—but they don’t. Watching two people make their relationship almost impossible, yet still choosing each other cracked me open in the best way I needed. It was a much-needed reminder that the right person will find a way to love you, taking things one day at a time. That’s exactly what Jimmy Shive-Overly and Gretchen Cutler found in each other—a connection that proved no one is too difficult to love.  

You’re the Worst follows Jimmy Shive-Overly, played by Chris Greer, a narcissistic, self-absorbed writer, and Gretchen Cutler, played by Aya Cash, a cynical, chaotic publicist, as they navigate a tumultuous relationship. Both believe romance is dead and conventional love is not in the cards for them. Yet, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. The show also explores the lives of their equally flawed and hilarious friends: Jimmy’s roommate Edgar, played by Desmin Borges, a war veteran dealing with PTSD, and Lindsay (Kether Donohue), Gretchen’s impulsive best friend.

Over its five-season run, You’re the Worst follows Jimmy and Gretchen as they navigate their wildly dysfunctional relationship. In the first season, the two meet when Jimmy, is smoking a cigarette outside a wedding. They are immediately drawn to each other’s rather dark energy. Gretchen decides to go back with Jimmy to his place. However, what starts as a passionate one-night stand begins to be filled with the two opening up to each other. Throughout the remainder of the first season, Jimmy and Gretchen navigate their new relationship with a mix of vulnerability and defiance, refusing to follow conventional rules. They form a connection built on their shared flaws, emotional baggage, and irreverent humor, all while keeping up their tough, self-sabotaging exteriors. 

Traditionally in a TV series, there is a long “will they, won’t they” arc that will go on for multiple seasons. It keeps the audience engaged and rooting for this couple as the two fall madly in love with each other. However, in the case of Jimmy and Gretchen, they immediately throw themselves into a relationship with each other with the preface of knowing they aren’t good people and “suck at all of this.” Right from the beginning we are made aware that both are terrified of committing to a relationship. They are both consumed by the pressure of what that means to “normal people” and fear having to change or sacrifice their sense of self for the other person. What we are watching are two people navigating each other’s imperfections. Most shows follow a formula of changing for the better whereas You’re the Worst allows their characters to organically evolve and grow in a way that neither are being fixed or changed for the better. You’re the Worst never tries to fix Jimmy and Gretchen. 

You’re the Worst begins to shine its brightest in how it tells the story about Gretchen’s depression. Even with the best intentions, television often struggles to capture the full spectrum of mental illness. Most depictions will use "classic cases" to portray a character's struggles. Depression on TV is often overdramatized: characters unable to get out of bed, clutching pills, and contemplating the worst. The chaotic, messy room becomes a visual cue signaling to the audience, "This person is depressed. We should care." While this portrayal captures one aspect of depression, a more debilitating and all-consuming version, this isn’t always the case.

Highly functional individuals may find it easier to get out of bed, switch to autopilot, and go through the motions of daily life, even while their mind feels disconnected and overwhelmed. This quieter, more subtle form of depression that isn’t always seen on TV. 

On the surface, Gretchen appears to be the same sharp, witty, and lively person her friends know and love. She jokes, parties, and keeps up appearances, masking the internal pain she feels every day. This facade allows her to function in her daily life, but it also creates barriers in her relationship with Jimmy. At night when her defenses are down, Gretchen’s depression becomes unavoidable. There are no more distractions to keep her mind from wandering. It starts with Gretchen secretly leaving the bed she shares with Jimmy to cry and play snake in her car. At first, Jimmy believes she is off doing the unimaginable but when he finds out the truth, he struggles with understanding the why behind it. This disconnect between how she presents herself and how she feels inside is an added tension to their relationship.

Like many people, Jimmy initially believes Gretchen’s depression is a problem that can be solved. He often tries to fix Gretchen. He believes solutions can be found if he approaches her struggles correctly. However, Gretchen’s depression isn’t something that can be solved—it is a lifelong battle. It requires patience, empathy, and understanding which isn’t the easiest for someone like Jimmy who is a textbook narcissist. You’re the Worst doesn’t treat her depression as a one-off storyline. It remains a constant struggle for both Gretchen and Jimmy. Much like Edgar’s PTSD (which is introduced in season one), Gretchen’s depression isn’t something that can be resolved with a quick fix; it’s a continuous, complex struggle that evolves. 

Despite their flaws, it’s clear that Gretchen loves Jimmy, but her depression numbs her to everything, including him. She’s disconnected from the world around her and he often bears the brunt of it due to proximity. She lashes out, argues, demands space, and leaves without explanation, all attempting to shield him from her struggle. Gretchen admits, “I’ve always been able to flip myself back over eventually, but I ran out of time. This is how I am now, and it’s not OK with you, nor should it be.”

Depression can feel selfish, narrowing your focus until your problems are the only ones that matter. When you’re consumed by it, everything else fades into the background. By the end of season two, Gretchen seeks help and begins taking medication, but the show is careful not to present this as a magical fix. You’re the Worst portrays mental illness with a depth and nuance that many television shows haven’t been able to do. It acknowledges that mental illness is ongoing and doesn’t simply disappear. Instead, the show recognizes that mental illness manifests differently for everyone. There’s no fairy tale cure, but there are ways to seek help and develop coping mechanisms. 

For many of us, a comfort show is about escaping reality. Sitcoms often strike a balance—they feel grounded in real life but remain detached, with every problem neatly resolved in under 30 minutes or frozen in a perfect, happy moment. We know the tropes like the back of our hands so there are no surprises. You’re the Worst does none of that, and that’s exactly what makes it so comforting. It allows you to have empathy for characters like Gretchen and Jimmy because their flaws are unavoidably human. We have relapsed into bad habits, and we struggle to find ourselves while also not losing the parts we still love. In the best way possible, You’re the Worst ends its story with an ellipsis, refusing to provide a tidy conclusion for Jimmy and Gretchen—just as life itself has no fixed ending.

Life is full of highs and lows. You’re the Worst reminds us that happiness is a choice we make every day, even when it’s hard and terrifying. It's a hidden gem that embraces the beautiful mess of life. You’re the Worst celebrates life in all its imperfect, chaotic glory.