Pop Culturing: Kathryn Hahn Shines in HBO's Warm Comedy 'Mrs. Fletcher'

Coming-of-age stories usually follow teens or young adults in a journey of self-discovery. Whether that's someone coming out, a battle with substance abuse, a fight against a sickness, or the fish out of water trope, these tales all find their protagonist facing big obstacles that they overcome, thus go through an inspiring transformation in a pivotal moment of their life. For "Mrs. Fletcher," a seven-episode miniseries debuting on HBO Sunday, its titular character, played by an absolutely wonderful Kathryn Hahn, has her coming-of-age moment much later in life when her only child moves out of the house to go to college.

Working as a director for a nursing home in upstate New York, Eve Fletcher is preparing for lots of change and free time while grasping on to the few moments she has left with her aloof son Brandon (Jackson White), who, like his mother, goes through his own coming-of-age trek when he realizes he's no longer top dog in school. On the night before he's set to move out, Eve has some wine with her friend Jane (Casey Wilson), who tells her she's a "M.I.L.F.," which Eve later Googles that night... only to find lots of porn related to the acronym. After shutting her laptop in shock, Eve can't help but be drawn in and finds herself fascinated by all the different kinds of porn one can indulge in – especially when no one is home.

Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, author of "The Leftovers" which was also turned into a critically acclaimed HBO series, "Mrs. Fletcher" is a rare warm comedy that is thoughtful and delicate when it comes to handling its themes of sexuality, gender, what it means to be a mother, and what it means to get older. Eve's new interest in porn is not played for titillation (though, thanks to Hahn's performance, is extremely funny at times) but it serves as the backbone to Eve's self-discovery; her new version of herself. She becomes more confident and adventurous, turning her empty nest syndrome into an exciting new chapter in her otherwise safe life. She also enrolls in a small creative writing class at a community college that helps her process her new feelings. The class is taught by Margo (a lovely performance by Jen Richards), a trans writer and caring teacher who gets her own surprising and sweet subplot which adds another layer to "Mrs. Fletcher." The class also includes Julian (Owen Teague), Brandon's high school classmate who was often the target of his bullying.

While Eve grows into her new self, Brandon is having a tough time adjusting to his new college, something he's keeping from his mom and his father, Eve's ex-husband Ted (Josh Hamilton). Fellow students aren't taking his dumb jock bullshit and he quickly learns being a hot white cis straight dude with a great bod doesn't mean he's automatically going to fit in. In one fabulous scene, Brandon sees an acquaintance at the dining hall sitting with a bunch of bros. But they're not talking about getting wasted or girls – they're debating climate change. Brandon offers a lame and insensitive joke and it bombs, shutting him out from joining the group. He's also struggling to connect with his roommate Zach (the late Cameron Boyce), after hitting it off after moving in at the start of the semester. "Mrs. Fletcher" does a wonderful job subtly exploring their deteriorating relationship, which later has a surprising payoff. Brandon does manage to find a common ground with Chloe (Jasmine Cephas Jones), who gives him the benefit of the doubt and takes an interest in him, inviting him to a group she hosts for people who have family members with autism. Brandon's much younger half-brother is autistic, taking most of his father's attention and time.

"Mrs. Fletch" works because it is a showcase for Hahn, who doesn't get to be a leading lady often enough. The comedy also feels authentic and lived-in, thanks to a stellar crew of directors (all women!), including Nicole Holofcener ("Enough Said"), Carrie Brownstein ("Portlandia"), Gillian Robespierre ("Obvious Child"), and stage director Liesl Tommy. Some intense scenes are played for laughs but we're never laughing at the characters here. The show is honest and raw and features a number of queer plotlines that won't be spoiled here.

"Mrs. Fletcher" is the kind of TV show that networks seem to be steering away from. With the "Streaming Wars" looming, companies are looking for big and broad series with mass appeal with programs like "Difficult People," "Transparent," "One Mississippi," "One Day at a Time" being nixed over the last few years for shows with built-in fanbases, like "The Umbrella Academy," "Watchmen," "Lord of the Rings," and the Stephen King-inspired "Castle Rock." This comedy might be small, but it says a lot about the state of the world in 2019. "Mrs. Fletcher" won't change the way we talk about TV or become the next zeitgeist series but it doesn't need to do that. It's a well-made comedy that will find its own audience, proving that caring and nuanced stories still need to be told in a crowded TV landscape.

This story is part of our special report: "Pop Culturing". Want to read more? Here's the full list.