Peacock’s Laid is a unique blend of dark humor and rom-com absurdity, offering something a bit different from the usual fare in the genre. The series, starring Stephanie Hsu as Ruby, centers on the chaotic and often cringeworthy world of modern dating, only with a twisted supernatural twist: Ruby’s exes are mysteriously dying in violent, often bizarre ways, in the order that she slept with them. What starts as a quirky and outlandish premise soon develops into a deeper reflection on relationships, emotional baggage, and the ways we sabotage our own chances at love. While the show is often light-hearted and comedic, it also touches on some profound themes that resonate on a personal level.
From the very first episode, Laid sets itself apart by taking the typical rom-com protagonist and turning her world into something unsettling. Ruby, a thirtysomething woman who is unlucky in love and obsessed with rom-com tropes, begins to wonder if she’s somehow cursed. After all, why would her exes all start dying in the order they slept with her? The show does a fantastic job of blending absurdity with genuine suspense, especially as Ruby starts to realize that her love life might actually be a death sentence for the men she dates. It’s a quirky premise, and at first, the show feels like a fun, unpredictable ride, a romp through Ruby’s romantic history as she tries to figure out what’s causing the deaths and whether she’s responsible for them.
However, as the series progresses, the novelty of the curse starts to wear off a bit. After the initial shock and mystery of the deaths, the show begins to fall into familiar rhythms, and the central mystery loses some of its intrigue. Ruby starts looking for ways to circumvent the curse—entering into “Cyrano sex” scenarios or trying to sleep with people without causing them to die. But these plot twists begin to feel a little far-fetched and, at times, too focused on the gimmicks rather than the deeper emotional undercurrents at play. Despite this, the show’s charm lies in its characters, and in particular, Ruby’s journey of self-discovery amidst the chaos she’s unintentionally causing.
Stephanie Hsu’s portrayal of Ruby is a big part of why the show works as well as it does. Fresh off her Oscar nomination for
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Hsu brings both depth and levity to the role. Ruby is messy, insecure, and endlessly relatable. She’s the kind of character who, despite her best efforts, constantly sabotages herself when it comes to love. She’s not immune to the same emotional baggage that many of us carry around—insecurities, doubts, fears of rejection—and watching her try to navigate a literal “kill list” of exes, all while trying to salvage her love life, feels both ridiculous and poignantly real. Hsu’s ability to bring empathy to a character who is sometimes downright unlikable is what makes Ruby such a compelling and layered protagonist. She never lets Ruby become a mere caricature of the unlucky-in-love woman; instead, she gives her a richness that makes us root for her, even when she makes questionable decisions.
Ruby’s relationships with the people around her are also a highlight of the series. Zosia Mamet’s performance as AJ, Ruby’s best friend and true-crime-obsessed partner-in-crime, is a perfect counterbalance to Ruby’s self-absorption. AJ is the kind of friend who’s both a source of comic relief and an emotional anchor, helping Ruby navigate the increasingly bizarre situation she finds herself in. AJ is a little unhinged, a little obsessed with solving Ruby’s “case,” but she’s also grounded, providing the kind of honesty and tough love that Ruby desperately needs. Their dynamic is full of humor, but it’s also a reflection of how close friendships can ground us, offering us perspectives on our flaws that we often refuse to see ourselves. There’s something incredibly heartwarming about AJ’s loyalty to Ruby, even as Ruby’s mistakes pile up and the body count rises.
Yet, as much as I enjoyed the performances, the show struggles a bit in terms of pacing and the overall mystery. As Ruby’s list of exes dwindles, and the logic behind her curse is revealed, the intrigue around her predicament starts to lose steam. The show introduces increasingly convoluted explanations, and while the humor keeps things from feeling too heavy, the central mystery of why Ruby is cursed isn’t as gripping as it initially seemed. It felt like the series could have delved more into the emotional impact of Ruby’s past relationships, exploring her fears and regrets in a way that would add weight to the deaths around her. Instead, we’re left with a series of increasingly bizarre scenarios that feel more like plot devices than meaningful character development.
That being said, Laid does offer an interesting reflection on the emotional baggage we bring to our relationships. Ruby’s curse isn’t just about literal death—it’s a metaphor for how our past mistakes, regrets, and unresolved issues can follow us into new relationships, poisoning our chances at happiness. There’s a clear focus on Ruby’s inability to move past her past loves, to truly be vulnerable with someone, and to accept herself as she is. The fact that her exes are dying in a direct reflection of her romantic history makes it feel like the universe is punishing her for her inability to learn from her mistakes. But it’s not just about Ruby; the show subtly explores how we all carry baggage that can prevent us from truly connecting with others. It’s a reminder that the emotional weight we carry—whether from previous relationships or personal experiences—can be the thing that stands between us and the love we truly deserve.
Personally, I found the moments where the show focused on Ruby’s emotional growth to be the most compelling. The premise may be outlandish, but the deeper emotional core of the show—the way Ruby’s past affects her present and her future—is something I could relate to. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of finding “the one,” but the real journey is about understanding yourself, letting go of past baggage, and being open to love without fear. Ruby’s journey of self-discovery, and her attempts to break free from the pattern of toxic relationships, felt like an important reflection on modern dating. We all carry some version of Ruby’s baggage, whether it’s fears of abandonment, the weight of past heartbreak, or the pressure to conform to a specific romantic ideal. Laid doesn’t offer any easy answers, but it does challenge us to think about how we approach relationships and whether we’re truly ready to let love in.
In the end, Laid is a quirky, charming series that blends dark humor with an exploration of modern love, dating, and the emotional baggage we all carry. While it falters in the later episodes, losing some of its initial intrigue and momentum, it’s still worth watching for the performances, the humor, and the deeper reflections on what makes us truly ready for love. Ruby’s journey may be filled with chaos, but there’s something deeply relatable about it—something that speaks to the way we all stumble through relationships, making mistakes, learning from them, and ultimately hoping to find a little bit of redemption in the process. Here’s hoping that future seasons lean into the emotional complexity of Ruby’s character even more, because there’s a lot of potential for this show to dig even deeper into the messiness of love, self-discovery, and what it really means to be ready for a relationship.
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