‘Trying’ Review: London Couple Navigates Adoption in Delightful Apple TV Series

Sandra Miska

A couple’s journey to adopt is chronicled in “Trying,” the latest comedy series from Apple TV Plus. Co-produced by the BBC, the show follows a London couple, Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), as they navigate the world of adoption. Over eight episodes, creator Andy Wolton, himself a child of adoption, delivers a lively story full of laughter and pathos.

At 33 and 36 respectively, Nikki and Jason are a quintessential millennial couple living in London’s Camden neighborhood. Like so many of their generation, neither of them are exactly where they thought they would be at their age. Nikki works a customer service job at a car rental company, while Jason teaches English to foreign students. While they cannot control everything in life, they do know that they want to be parents, and by the time we meet them, they’ve already been trying for a while to conceive and even went through a round of IVF. Nikki is particularly serious about babymaking, as we see in a memorable scene early on in the pilot when she pressures Jason to have sex with her on a nearly empty bus, convinced if they wait until they get home she will be less fertile. 

Months after being told that they would have to pay out of pocket for another round of IVF, and even then there would be a slim chance of success, Nikki brings up the idea of adopting. Jason is excited at the prospect, or at least he acts like he is for Nikki’s sake. They have all the usual questions a couple in their position would have, such as if an adopted child would ever truly feel like their own, but the story really kicks into gear once they commence the arduous application process. 

Nikki and Jason’s usual millennial anxieties are amplified once they are put in the position of being scrutinized by the council that will decide whether or not they get a child. Once they get to meet the other potential parents, many of whom have prestigious jobs, they worry about their own lackluster careers and the fact that they rent and don’t have high-class hobbies or reading habits. Fortunately, they have a kindhearted caseworker, Penny (Imelda Staunton, who is delightful in this rare comedic role), in their corner. She speaks the truth in one emotionally-charged scene after a home visit in which she basically says that kids don’t care about fancy toys or books, they just want Barbies, G.I. Joes and loving parents.

The couple face other obstacles outside of adoption that make them very relatable, especially to thirtysomething viewers, being at that age where their friends find themselves at crossroads in their personal relationship and they have to stand by and watch. Nikki’s frustrations are palpable as she witnesses her smart and successful older sister become engaged to an unemployed jerk, and she must bite her tongue or else jeopardize her relationship with her. Meanwhile, Jason finds himself in an uncomfortable predicament after his best friend Freddy (Oliver Chris) confesses to him that he is cheating on his wife and the mother of his new baby and little girl, Erica (Ophelia Lovibond), who is Nikki’s best friend. There’s a parallel plot involving Jason being tempted by one of his students that at first seems rather forced, but later pays off.

Smith and Spall compliment each other well, and Nikki is an especially endearing character. It’s not easy to tell this type of story without being overly sentimental and/or melodramatic, but Wolton and the cast do a superb job of conveying authentic feelings. In the end, the couple have to answer some tough questions that spark deep emotions, such as if they never become parents, will just each other be enough? Fortunately, the door is left open for another season, and it will be interesting to see how the journey of Nikki and Jason continues.

“Trying” premieres May 1 with new episodes streaming every Friday on Apple TV+.