Friends From College Season 1 Episode 1 Welcome to New York

Welcome to New York is the first episode in the first season of the American comedy-drama Netflix series, Friends from College. The show revolves around a group of Harvard alumni who are now in their forties, living in New York City and struggling to balance their personal and professional lives.

In this pilot episode, we're introduced to the main characters, each with their own quirks and issues. Ethan (played by Keegan-Michael Key) and Lisa (Cobie Smulders) are a married couple who have just moved back to New York after several years in Chicago. Sam (Annie Parisse) is Ethan's former college girlfriend who is now a successful writer in the city. Max (Fred Savage) is a gay literary agent who is going through a dry spell in both his career and personal life. Lastly, Nick (Nat Faxon) is an actor who is struggling to make it in the industry.

The episode kicks off with Ethan and Lisa moving into their new apartment, a cramped, run-down space that's not exactly what they were hoping for. But they make the most of it, especially when they're greeted by their old friends Sam and Max. It's immediately clear that these guys go way back and that their bond runs deep, despite the fact that they're all in very different places in their lives now.

As the episode progresses, we see the characters grappling with various personal and professional problems. Ethan, who is now a successful novelist, is trying to finish his latest book but is struggling with writer's block. Lisa is unhappy in her job as a corporate lawyer and is considering making a big career change. Sam is dealing with the fallout of a failed relationship and is trying to figure out what her next move is. Max, meanwhile, is trying to land a big-name author to represent but is having trouble closing the deal. And Nick is working as a waiter while waiting for his next big break in the entertainment industry.

Throughout the episode, we see the group come together for various social events, including a dinner party at Ethan and Lisa's new place and a night out at a fancy club. We see their dynamics and how they interact with each other, and there are hints of romantic tension here and there. We also see each character's flaws and vulnerabilities, making them all feel like real people with real issues.

In one of the more memorable moments of the episode, Ethan attends a book reading by his former college professor, Jon (played by Greg Germann). Jon is an important figure in Ethan's life and was instrumental in getting him interested in writing in the first place. However, Ethan is dismayed to find that Jon is now peddling a self-help book that's full of clichés and bad advice. It's clear that Ethan feels disillusioned and disappointed by his former mentor's new direction.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger: we see Ethan and Sam sneaking out of the fancy club and into a cab together, implying that something might be happening between them. It's unclear what exactly is going on, but it's clear that this will be one of the main threads of the show going forward.

Overall, Welcome to New York is a promising start to Friends from College. It sets up the characters and their relationships in an intriguing way, and there's enough humor and heart to keep audiences engaged. While some may find the show's self-centered characters unlikable, there's no denying that they're entertaining to watch – and with plenty of drama and romantic intrigue yet to come, viewers are sure to be hooked.