I just caught up on the new season of Apple TV’s best comfort watch — and no, it’s not ‘Ted Lasso’

I must admit, I completely missed the launch of season 5 of "Trying" on Apple TV over the summer. As a streaming editor, it's embarrassing to be out of touch with such a beloved show. I've been a passionate advocate for "Trying" for years, so it felt like a personal failure to miss its new season. I immediately dove into binge-watching the eight episodes as soon as I learned they were available.

The show's easygoing charm left me completely captivated within just one day. Yes, I was comparing it to another comfort watch, "Ted Lasso," but that's a fair assessment. While "Ted Lasso" gets all the attention, "Trying" is the true heartwarming gem of the platform. The series follows the journey of a young couple, Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), who become parents through adoption after struggling to conceive.

Alongside their quirky friends and family, they navigate the adoption process, finding joy in the simple moments together. Season 5 continues this delightful tradition, with Nikki and Jason welcoming Princess (Scarlett Rayner), their biological daughter, into their London home. However, Princess' arrival brings unexpected challenges as she reconnects with her absent birth mother, Kat (Charlotte Riley), who shows little interest in her.

Another subplot sees recurring character Scott (Darren Boyd) attempting to row the Atlantic solo, but of course, his ambitious plan inevitably fails. The season is largely consistent with previous seasons, featuring the same core cast and minimal character development. The focus remains on the charming relationships between the characters, with the standout dynamic being that between Nikki and Jason.

While some short-lived storylines, like Nikki's crush on her new co-worker, feel forced, the show maintains its trademark gentle humor and witty exchanges. One could argue that season 5 doesn't provide much new ground for the characters, as most of their arcs remain unresolved or quickly resolved. There's also a lack of a cliffhanger ending, suggesting this might be the final chapter for "Trying."

But I'm content with this resolution, as the show has given us five seasons of a heartfelt, feel-good series that rarely gets the mainstream attention it deserves in today's streaming landscape. Nikki and Jason have found their family and proven themselves capable caregivers, making this a fitting conclusion to their story. I encourage everyone to watch "Trying" seasons 1-5 on Apple TV, as it's a testament to the power of simple, wholesome storytelling in an era of fleeting content.