The premiere of the series Alice and Steve on Disney+ this past Monday has ignited a flurry of vibrant discussion within the television-loving community. Far more than a mere comedy, this six-part series is being hailed as a gritty “psychological battleground” where the boundaries of friendship, family, and vengeance are pushed to the brink of chaos.

A Dramatic “Anti-Romantic” Plot

At the heart of the narrative is the story of longtime best friends Alice and Steve—individuals who have weathered three decades of shared history. However, that “unbreakable” bond crumbles into dust when an unthinkable event occurs: Steve begins dating Izzy, the 26-year-old daughter of his own best friend.

Departing from typical romantic tropes, Alice and Steve defines itself as an “outrageously witty wrong-com.” The character Alice, portrayed by actress Nicola Walker, emerges as a bold, impulsive, and eccentric woman. She refuses to sit idly by and watch the relationship flourish; instead, she launches a series of extreme schemes intended to dismantle her daughter’s romance. Conversely, Steve (played by Jemaine Clement) is no pushover; he prepares himself for any offensive maneuver launched by his former friend.

The plot is summarized with an intriguing edge: “What begins as a perfect friendship devolves into an all-out feud.” The show poses a challenging question to its audience: “A hilarious, messy, and complicated exploration of friendship, family, and love, Alice and Steve is an anti-romantic comedy that asks the question, how far would you go for love – or revenge? Will Alice forgive Steve? Will Steve and Izzy make a relationship work? Amongst all the questions hanging in the balance, one thing is certain; their lives will never be the same again.”

Perspectives from the Insiders

For Nicola Walker, taking on the role of Alice was an effortless decision, as she was drawn to the freshness of the character compared to her previous roles. She shared with HELLO! magazine: “I love all of the women I’ve played. Then when Alice came through, I thought, well, I haven’t really played someone like her. That was the main draw. And the writing is so incredibly good. It was a bit of a no-brainer actually.”

Divided Public Opinion

Since its release, the series has received enthusiastic support from a large fan base on social media. They have been captivated by the dramatic “retaliations” between the two protagonists. One fan wrote: “I loved the wicked humour & friends to enemies about turn. Emotional warfare is funny & the love/hate between these two is epic.” Furthermore, Jemaine Clement’s performance has been praised for his “deadpan” style: “Loved this show hoping to see more of Jemaine Clement. His deadpan delivery is brilliant to watch.” The success of the first season has left many viewers eagerly calling for a follow-up.

In contrast to the excitement of the general public, television critics have voiced sharply conflicting opinions. Publications such as The Guardian and The Telegraph awarded the show a modest two out of five stars, describing the plot as “dated” and “wrong,” emphasizing that the show’s heart is too “icky” to ignore. Conversely, RadioTimes.com offered a much warmer perspective, awarding it four out of five stars and hailing the show as both “poignant and funny.”

Despite the polarized reviews, it is undeniable that Alice and Steve has carved out a unique footprint on Disney+. For those who enjoy dark comedy and wish to witness complex psychological “warfare,” this is undoubtedly a series not to be missed this month.