Over the years, there has been talk of cloning and how this technology is a very possible invention in the future. Mixed opinions lie on this subject, as some think cloning can lead to violence while others think it could be used for good. Netflix’s new show Living With Yourself gives viewers a look into what could happen in a cloning situation.

Miles Elliot (Paul Rudd) had lost all direction in life. He has given up in his job, ignores his wife and makes no effort to turn it all around. His work friend Dan (Desmin Borges) takes notice of this and refers him to a certain treatment to make his life better. Miles takes this opportunity, seeing that his work and marriage are hanging by a thread. 

The treatment brings him to a sketchy spa in a strip mall. The workers of this spa have this long, scientific explanation of what they do, but the audience comes to find out that it’s actually cloning. The clone that is made is the best version of the patient and picks up where he or she left off in life, while the real version of the person is disposed of. In Miles’s case, the treatment goes wrong. His clone is alive, but the spa workers’ equipment fails to kill the real him. Two Miles’s exist now, Original Miles and New Miles. The two of them have to figure out how to go through life with a double of themselves.

The first aspect of this show I have to applaud is Rudd’s acting. The whole premise is two versions of the same person trying to exist at the same time. Rudd had to play two variations of the same character. 

I thought he did a spectacular job of this, as I could tell which Miles was on screen at all times. He changed how he spoke and carried himself to accentuate the personality of each version. In scenes where both Original Miles and New Miles were interacting, Rudd had to separately play each part, which says a lot about his patience and talent. Overall, he did a fabulous job bringing each version of the same person to life, and he deserves recognition for it.

The plot of Living With Yourself was intriguing. There are likely so many Sci-Fi shows out there about cloning, but this show is labelled as a comedy. Comedic elements were added to override the dark undertones of the storyline. It was amusing to see Original Miles meeting his clone for the first time and both of them coming to terms with the other version existing. 

Together they figure out how to coexist. Being the better version, New Miles goes to work and brings a new project that is a step in the right direction for his career. Original Miles begins to slum it at home. The two of them have a strange dynamic that is humorous to watch.

In the final episodes, the comedic effect fades, as the darker undertones become clearer. I love comedy shows, but I also appreciate when comedy shows mix with other genres. In my opinion, this show is more of a dramedy. It had its moments of humor, but there were also many dramatic events that took place. These events came mostly in the last few episodes of the season. The drama that ensued brought me in and made me want to see what was to come. 

The issues mostly came about because of Miles’s wife, Kate (Aisling Bea). Both versions think that they are her husband, which leads to frustration and arguments stemming from love for this one girl. At some points, I felt that the comedy wasn’t strong, so it was nice to see some drama added to emphasize the issues that could come from cloning.

Based on my interpretation, the overall theme of this show was to not give up, no matter how low it gets. Miles was going nowhere in life. It may have taken seeing a better version of him taking over his life to do it, but he was a changed man by the end of the series. This shows that anyone is capable of redemption, despite it seeming so out of reach. Every person has a best version of themselves on the inside, it’s just a matter of finding and being that person. This was inspiring and made me want to live life in the best way possible.

Overall, Living With Yourself gives the viewers a look into exactly what the title reads. Rudd was fantastic and gave great performances as both Miles’s. Comedic moments were executed very well, and they were balanced out with the instances of drama that came towards the end. The run time of episodes was about 20-30 minutes, which made it a quick and easy series to finish. It wasn’t time consuming and was interesting throughout. The plot only became more complex as the show went on as additional problems came their way. This show proves that it’s possible to find good inside oneself no matter how bad life can get. I definitely recommend Living With Yourself. It is quick and has a great mixture of genres that could spark interest in anyone.

4 / 5