The Apple TV+ series Trying explores the complexities of the adoption process—from applications, social workers, and court assessments to the emotional rollercoaster that hopeful parents ride—all while navigating family drama and work stress.
★★★★☆
Trying offers a refreshingly nuanced take on the realities of adoption. As an adopted person from North London, this is the first series I’ve watched that feels both relatable and authentic.
Starring Esther Smith (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Nikki Newman and Rafe Spall (Peter Versus Life) as Jason Ross, the series follows Nikki and Jason, a couple who struggle with conceiving and decide to adopt. They then face a whole new series of challenges which come with the adoption process. Season one focuses on the preliminary stages of adoption, and in seasons two and three, they finally become parents. Season four then opens with a six-year time-jump and focuses on Nikki and Jason as they deal with being parents to teens.
Smith and Spall bring warmth and authenticity to their roles, portraying the nervous excitement and deep-seated fears of prospective adoptive parents with sincerity. Imelda Staunton (The Crown), who stars in the first two seasons as Penny, the couple’s no-nonsense but caring adoption officer, is a perfect representation of the kind of strict yet compassionate professionals who guide hopeful parents through the system.
Aside from these performances, what sets Trying apart is its honesty. It challenges the oversimplified narratives often seen in popular media and replaces them with a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply human exploration of what it means to become a parent through adoption. My mum and my dad have always told me how rigorous the adoption process is. Seeing that truth represented on screen is both refreshing and validating. Unlike in Friends, where Monica and Chandler’s adoption process is oddly smooth, even bordering on idealistic and unrealistic, with a fast bond formed with the birth mother, Trying lays bare the real uncertainties, heartbreak, and joys that adoption brings. American shows like Grey’s Anatomy or Modern Family often gloss over these complexities, portraying adoption as something achievable in a handful of episodes, neatly tucked into a plotline. While those shows do occasionally highlight emotional challenges, they rarely explore the ongoing nature of adoptive parenting.
Trying dives deep into the specifics of adoption in the UK: support groups, social worker interviews, home visits, and painfully personal panels. Nikki and Jason face everything from uncomfortable conversations with their families to learning to navigate a completely unfamiliar system. Season two picks up after they are approved by the adoption panel, which has scrutinised everything from their mental health, their struggling finances and family ties. They then face further heartbreak when their attempts to adopt fall through. They even clash over the kind of child they hope to adopt, exploring the internal tensions prospective parents rarely admit aloud.
Despite the serious subject matter, Trying never forgets to be funny, charming, and warm. It strikes a much needed balance between lightness and heartbreak. Unlike shows that use adoption as a background subplot, Trying places it firmly at the centre, reminding viewers that adoption is not an endpoint—it’s a beginning. A journey. A daily choice to love, parent, and grow. The show could have easily finished after formally adopting Princess and Tyler, but it recognises the adoption as one small part of ‘trying’ to be parents.
The character of Freddy (played by Oliver Chris, known for Rivals) is a standout comedic performance, taking on the role of Jason’s rich and often arrogant, yet supportive, best friend. Freddy begins as a selfish, clueless character—the ultimate foil to Jason. But as the series progresses, especially after his divorce, he embarks on a touching journey of self-awareness and redemption. His comical invention of AA as “Arseholes Anonymous,” with the single step “don’t be an arsehole,” marks a turning point in his character development. He goes on to be influential in Nikki and Jason’s future stability; this evolution is one of the show’s many emotional payoffs and is a key example of the ‘village’ parents need alongside the supporting cast including Sian Brooke (Blue Lights), Darren Boyd (Killing Eve) and Robyn Cara (Ackley Bridge).
The Verdict
The show doesn’t romanticise adoption. It shows the real bureaucracy, the emotional toll, and the constant questioning of whether you’re good enough to be a parent. And in doing so, Trying becomes one of the most genuine portrayals of adoption on screen—and the first I’ve truly seen myself in.
You can stream all four seasons of Trying on Apple TV+ now.
Words by Maicey Navarro Griffiths
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