Watch Work In Progress

Work In Progress is a quirky and unconventional sitcom that explores the life of Abby, a 45-year-old self-proclaimed fat, queer dyke who is struggling to find meaning in her life. The show follows her daily struggles as she navigates through the complexities of being an underrepresented minority in a world that does not always understand her.

Abby is played by Abby McEnany, who also co-created the series with Tim Mason. Abby is an anxious and socially awkward character who is struggling to come to terms with her own mental health issues, there is often an underlying sadness that is balanced by humour which Abby uses to cope with her emotions. She is at a crossroads in her life; she's stuck in a dead-end job that she hates, she's dealing with personal life struggles, and she's trying to come to terms with her own identity. But, despite all of these challenges, she's relentless in her pursuit of happiness and self-acceptance.

At the beginning of the series, Abby's life is thrown off balance when she meets a young trans man named Chris (Theo Germaine), at the trans parade in Chicago. Abby initially dismisses Chris as a potential friend due to their age difference, but after they find themselves sitting next to each other at a coffee shop, a conversation starts where Abby opens up about the struggles in her life. From there, their relationship quickly blossoms, and Chris becomes a crucial element in Abby's journey of self-discovery.

Abby's quirky personality, which often leads her into awkward situations, is juxtaposed with the supporting characters' personalities' seriousness. Celeste Pechous and Karin Anglin play her longtime friends Campbell and Alison, respectively. Both of them are struggling with their own issues: Campbell, with her alcohol addiction and Alison, with her unhappy marriage.

Work In Progress is not only a sitcom, but it is also a coming of age story that challenges its viewers’ perspectives. The show accurately portrays depression in the main character that often goes on undetected. Abby's mental illness is slowly revealed throughout the season through a series of flashbacks and therapy sessions that give insight into how her anxiety has affected her life. The show also touches on themes such as classism, homophobia, gender identity, racism, and ageism.

The show stands out for its groundbreaking style that uniquely mixes live-action storytelling with animated sequences that visually represent Abby's mind through drawings and visual metaphors. This creative choice allows the character to express herself in ways that are not possible through dialogue alone. The animation style itself is simple yet effective and adds a new layer to the story told in each episode.

The cast's performance is one of the best aspects of the show. Abby McEnany's performance as the lead character is impressive and authentic, and the supporting cast delivers exceptional performances. The chemistry between the cast is undoubtedly a highlight of the show.

In conclusion, Work in Progress is a show that is unique in many ways as it explores unconventional themes with quirky characters and a creative visual style. The series' writing and performances are top-notch, making it stand out amongst other sitcoms on television. It's a show that will make you laugh, cry and ponder on difficult topics that are often ignored in other forms of media. The show has gained a cult following and continues to receive critical acclaim for its groundbreaking and original storytelling.

Work In Progress is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (18 episodes). The series first aired on December 8, 2019.