TV legend Sharon Horgan’s new drama is messy, steamy – and near-perfect

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This review is based on the first seven episodes of Youth on HBO Max. Whenever I switch on a Sharon Horgan TV show, I know I’m almost guaranteed to have a great time. The Irish actress and comedian is a hit-making machine with her uncanny ability to capture the messiness of humanity and all the ways that make life wonderful (and occasionally not so wonderful). Her shows like Catastrophe and Motherland have become defining British sitcoms with a very unglamourised version of motherhood at the heart of both. Bad Sisters on Apple TV showcased her thriller chops and seasoned skill at writing tangled and distinct family dynamics, and her latest spin-off, Amandaland, proves that even her most outlandish ideas can become instant classics. Now, she’s returning to her roots with her new HBO Max comedy, Youth, a spiritual successor to her 00s sitcom Pulling and 2010s hit, Catastrophe, as she commits the highs and lows of a new phase of her life to the screen. Sharon Horgan smashes it out of the park with her new series (Picture: Colin Hutton) In her most personal project in years, Youth follows 50-something-year-old Alex, a mum of a lost teenage son, working in the publishing industry and confronting the ever-messy world of sex and relationships head-on. Unsurprisingly, Sharon embodies her TV alter-ego, Alex, with a charming ease and, as is her skill, you truly feel like you are watching real people dealing with real life in her shows. Sign up to Switched On, Metro's new TV newsletter Hiya! I’m Sabrina Barr and I’m Metro’s TV editor. I have spent almost six years at Metro covering all corners of the TV world, and I’m now sharing all my expert insights in my brand new newsletter, Switched On. Join me for Metro's exclusive weekly guide of to what to watch From recommendations for your next binge-watch on Netflix to jaw-dropping exclusive interviews with the planet’s biggest stars, sign up to get plugged into the week’s biggest TV moments. Get the next edition below. Sign up now Alex is facing all the pitfalls of growing older, from jaw arthritis to unruly grown-up kids to ageing parents who need near-constant care. But also, as the title suggests, this is also the beginning of an exciting new phase. Youth: Key Details Creator Sharon Horgan Cast Sharon Horgan, Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte, Aran Murphy, Tim McInnerney Runtime Eight episodes; each half an hour Release date Youth premieres on HBO Max in the UK and Ireland on September 21 We touch on friendship, sex and family – all staples of a Sharon Horgan show (Picture: Colin Hutton) She’s eyeing up an empty nest, getting herself into romantic entanglements, sexcapades and sharing a full life with close friendships. The main love interest in the show is a dashing man in his 40s, Patrick (played by Rupert Friend), with whom she has an on-again, off-again relationship. Rupert masterfully portrays a man who both endears you and makes you groan over his poor decision-making, so you can’t decide whether you’re rooting for him or not at any given moment. And the slow burn of their romance will utterly reel you in, whether you like it or not. Meanwhile, Aran Murphy (son of Irish actor Cillian) has inherited his dad’s acting chops as he brings to life a spiralling teenage boy in a world he doesn’t quite fit into or understand. Rupert Friend and Sharon Horgan’s will-they won’t-they dynamic is expertly done (Picture: Home Box Office (HBO)/Colin Hutton) Every episode made me laugh out loud more than once, whether watching the subplot where Alex attempts to date an older man (played by Tim McInnerney) to bizarre results or when Damian Lewis storms onto the screen as an insufferable version of himself trying to flog a terrible debut novel about dogmeat. Verdict This sexy, silly and sometimes serious addition to Sharon Horgan’s repertoire is very welcome – you won’t be able to stop watching. The story Sharon has penned flows so beautifully and keeps you hooked enough that you’ll find yourself playing the next episode without even realising. Seriously, with its snappy 30-minute episodes, it has got to be the easiest binge of the year. For me, however, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of some of her previous work, like Catastrophe, with its shining chemistry between Sharon and co-star Rob Delaney or Bad Sisters season one, which balanced humour and drama with a gorgeous finesse. It may not be perfect, but it’s pretty damn close. Sharon take a bow; you’ve done it again with this addictive new watch. Youth will debut on HBO Max in the UK and Ireland on September 21. 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