One of my primary reasons for having a Hulu subscription recently has been for the show Not Suitable for Work. The comedy hit the 2026 TV schedule fairly recently, and I've been following a bunch of 20-somethings during the early days of their careers ever since. In fact, as a city girl myself, I had an absolute blast hanging out with them in New York City. However, the Rotten Tomatoes score suggests that not everyone agrees with me. Well, I’m here to say: I think the critics are wrong.
Not Suitable For Work Has A 52% On Rotten Tomatoes
Now, admittedly, even I wasn’t immediately sold on Not Suitable for Work. However, after learning how creator Mindy Kaling viewed it as part of her trilogy of shows that also includes Never Have I Ever and Sex Lives of College Girls (which are available to stream with a Netflix subscription and HBO Max subscription, respectively), I knew I’d have to at least give it a chance. I enjoyed it, so I was surprised to see so many critics lambast the show!
I mean seriously. In Variety’s review of NSFW, Alison Herman called the show a “bland take on a well-trodden setup,” while noting that there are “glimmers of a more biting, memorable take on young people juggling jobs and love in New York City.” Meanwhile, Nandini Balial's review for Roger Ebert states the series “offers too many cliches to result in anything other than mediocrity.”
Not all the reviews are horrible. THR’s Angie Han complimented the cast and called the show “a nice hang.” Plus, the project does boast a 82% Popcornmeter. However, for the most part, critics are down on NSFW, and It really surprised me.
Why Not Suitable For Work Was Very Suitable For Me
I’ve grown up on comfort comedies like Friends and New Girl. They’re some of the best sitcoms, and they’re wonderful hangout shows. However, I’m not of either of those generations. I am of the Not Suitable for Work generation. I’m the same age as most of the cast in real life, and I’m just a few years further along in my professional journey than their characters. So, I can relate to their highs and lows in a very real way.
I know what it’s like to be a 20-something in New York, I’ve been there, I’m still doing that, and I know many people who are still very much in the thick of it, too. So, it was fun and very relatable to watch AJ, Davis, Kel, Josh and Abby go through all this.
Along with that, I think NSFW brings the drama in a fun and unique way while also being genuinely funny. I loved seeing how the boys dealt with the bad news they had to give Davis. I couldn’t stop laughing as I watched Kel move in with the girls for an episode. And I am so here for the romantic drama that’s going on between AJ, Davis, and Josh (that’s right, I’m shipping AJ and Josh for the long haul). Is it a perfect show? No. Does it deserve a negative RT score? Also no.
All in all, I think Not Suitable for Work is an awesome show about Gen Z joining the workforce, and I had a fantastic time watching it. So, here’s hoping Hulu can see past this critics score and this comedy can get a Season 2.
