Comedy
English Teacher
Filled with profanity and LGBT content, FX’s English Teacher won’t be found on most families’ back-to-school shopping lists.
Ellis Dragon is a gift to the world. He’s a genius with the charisma to back it up, making the world a better place every day.
He’s the CEO of a major biotech company called Dragon that has created some remarkable things—such as an enzyme that turns sugar cane into a completely biodegradable plastic-like material, for instance. And his latest idea is even more impressive.
“It’s a way of drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and then using that to manufacture concrete,” Ellis’ CFO, Anna, says. “It’ll lock up climate-changing gases for over a thousand years and will literally save the world.”
Of course, that idea is great in theory, but what really matters is actually proving that it’s possible. And therein lies the issue, as it’s been weeks since Ellis has set foot in the lab. He’s always been narcissistic and eccentric. But after his wife died, it seems that he’s gone somewhat crazy.
Well, the board of directors’ patience is running thin, and if Ellis doesn’t get a prototype out soon, it won’t be long before he gets the boot. That’s why Anna reaches out to Ellis’ estranged son, Jackson, in the hopes that his presence can get Ellis back on track.
Jackson, however, is estranged for a reason.
“All my dad ever does is try to change me into being more like him, and the rest of the world cheers him on,” Jackson says.
If the two ever hope to make some atmospheric concrete, well, they’ll need to build a firm foundation for themselves first. And as it stands, pulling concrete out of thin air just might be the easier task.
And, in some ways, they do manage to repair their relationship. Cracks in the road to reconciliation are filled, and Ellis and his team (barely) manage to create the first successful prototype of concrete before the board votes on whether to keep Ellis in charge. Spoiler alert: he’s not going anywhere.
But just as how filled potholes inevitably wear back down, so too does Jackson and Ellis’ relationship. Hoping for a little more independence, Jackson takes a job with another biotech company called Magma, which is focused on making sustainable “bio batteries.” Upset at his son’s choice, Ellis writes a hefty check and purchases Magma for his company, bringing his son right back under his domain.
To be fair to Ellis, the move wasn’t entirely malicious: He’s beginning to recognize that, one day, he won’t be around anymore, and he needs someone who he can train up to replace him as the face of the company. Ellis thinks Jackson would be perfect for the role.
But that’s only if such a move hasn’t already pushed Jackson away for good.
While Ellis and Jackson (played by Rob Lowe and his real-life son, John Owen Lowe, respectively) might be working toward building that foundation, Unstable has some foundational issues that make it a hard watch.
The primary issue is the series’ dependence on sexual references. The jokes are often simply references to genitalia, sex or otherwise sensual activities. We also see a man’s naked rear, and the characters within the show often promote the consistently harmful hook-up culture. We’ll also be introduced to a couple LGBT characters.
Parents should also note that Unstable contains a significant amount of swearing, with the s-word and misuses of God’s name being frequent. Some characters drink until they’re intoxicated. And overall, they’re quite rude to one another, leaving the actual heartfelt moments too few and far between.
We’ll always appreciate a plot about a family attempting to reconcile despite difficult circumstances and differing personalities. But Unstable doesn’t just describe the central character’s mental state—it also describes the foundation upon which the show is built.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at [email protected], or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Jackson learns of a potential job opportunity. Meanwhile, company CFO Anna hires her stepdaughter as an intern at Dragon.
We hear an allusion to male arousal. Jackson walks around his home in a towel. Someone discusses using the restroom in front of another person.
People drink alcohol.
The s-word is used twice. “B–ch” and “h—” are both used, too. God’s name is used in vain once.
It’s been weeks since Ellis has returned to work, causing his company’s CFO Anna to bring Ellis’ son, Jackson, back to try to coax him back into his job.
We see Ellis’ naked rear, and we also see him in tight underwear from the front. Ellis talks about his genitals. We hear a reference to Ellis allegedly having sex with a tree. A scientist named Ruby references a professor who, using biotech, made male genitals. Another scientist, Luna, tells a story of when she wet herself as a child.
People drink beer and take shots. Ellis discusses when he tested hallucinogens via microdosing. We’re told that Ellis has locked a man in his basement for attempting to blackmail him.
The f-word is seen once, written on a magazine. The s-word is used three times. We also hear other swears occasionally, like “a–,” “h—” and “p-ss.” Someone says, “suck on that.” God’s name is used in vain five times, including once in the form of “g-dd–n.” The name of Jesus is abused once.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
Filled with profanity and LGBT content, FX’s English Teacher won’t be found on most families’ back-to-school shopping lists.
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