Netflix's Unstable offers one-note quirkiness in its second season

Unstable made a name for itself in its first season with a fresh and quirky take on the workplace and family comedy. Initially, the concept followed the complicated father-son dynamic between Ellis and Jackson as the duo had to find a way to work together, reconcile their relationship, help the Dragon company, and manage to keep Ellis on track. But, what season one offered in layers, season two strips down to wacky shenanigans, removing most of the heart from the story.

Season two picks up with the unfortunately realistic approach that the rich Ellis Dragon would not face the repercussions of his actions from season one. Although watching Ellis Dragon's quirky behavior attempt to work his way out of being on trial in court could have been a unique approach given the show's tone, instead, Unstable season two jumps right ahead to moving on and heading into the fairly plain storylines the season delivers.

Although Rob Lowe is still charming as the charismatic, witty, and manic Ellis Dragon, season two relies too heavily on Ellis' mania at times to reign the show back in to remember the relationships that ground it. The attempt to show Jackson's desire to branch out from underneath his father's shadow and make a name for himself is ultimately a going-nowhere story, as Ellis is quick to get Jackson right back under his thumb again. The witty back and forth between Anna and her ex-stepdaughter Georgia adds some extra fun to the story but is not quite enough to save it from one-note craziness and jabs.

Luna and Jackson's growing romance from season one gets acknowledged and dropped so quickly that it is as if it never existed at all. Although both characters reference remembering it happened, Unstable's second season does not expand on their romance or bother to expand on the duo's friendship. The characters, although having moments that quickly address their past, tend to leave it be, even though their past did not move beyond a kiss at the end of season one.

Season two wants to address plot lines such as questioning what Jackson's role is in the company moving forward. Unstable tries to do that through the eyes of Jackson acknowledging how nepotism plays a role in his career. It can not be ignored that Jackson's father is successful, and as the series even acknowledges, no matter what Jackson may do in the future, people will assume that his father helped him get there.

It is an interesting attempt to show nepotism from the opposite perspective, where Jackson wants to prove himself as an individual, but, no matter what he does, can not escape his father's shadow, and even when they pretend to have no relationship, Jackson still pulls from his father's stories instead of inventing his own. For as much as Unstable may want to make a point on Jackson's behalf that his privilege or the nepotism he finds himself in do not prevent him from having his own talents, the show never quite digs in to allowing Jackson the freedom to prove those points as Ellis remains a strong and overbearing presence.

Although Unstable does introduce a potentially promising quirky story for an undetermined third season, the series would need to figure out how to ground itself again rather than just relying entirely on crazed mania.