Review: Jon Hamm returns to Don Draper territory in ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’

In “Your Friends and Neighbors,” airing this Friday on Apple TV+, Jon Hamm takes on the role of Andrew Cooper, also known as Coop, a successful hedge fund trader who gets fired from his job for violating company policy on office relationships. Dealing with his wife’s infidelity with his best friend, and struggling to connect with his kids, Coop finds himself in a complicated situation.

Living in an upscale New York City-adjacent community, Coop is entangled in a web of wealthy friends and neighbors. To make matters more complicated, he is having an affair with Sam, whose husband left her for a younger woman. The series delves into the complexities of their lives and relationships, magnifying the drama and humor that results from their inability to be honest.

Despite moving out of his luxurious home into a modest rental, Coop is still financially supporting his family. Wrestling with the consequences of his firing, his inability to secure new employment, and the presence of his uncooperative former boss, Coop faces tough decisions about his future. The show explores themes of lying, self-deception, and the consequences of toxic masculinity in a refreshingly modern way.

While the power dynamics between the characters may feel traditional, the show does offer glimpses of the female characters as strong and independent individuals. Everyone, regardless of gender, spends their time socializing at expensive country clubs, poolside, on the tennis court, and at various events. The series captures the essence of their wealthy, interconnected world, where honesty is in short supply but drama is plentiful.