TV series
2021 · 3 seasons · 30 ep · Comedy · Drama
TMDB 6.5/10 (156 votes)
Sheila Rubin is a quietly tormented housewife in ’80s San Diego. Behind closed doors, she battles extreme personal demons and a vicious inner voice. But things change when she discovers aerobics, sparking a journey toward empowerment and success.
Created by Annie Weisman
Not who you're looking for? Others named Physical: 2020 single by Dua Lipa · song written and compsoed by Steve Kipner and Terry Shaddick · 2004 single by Alcazar · 1981 studio album by Olivia Newton-John
Family reviews:Plugged In ↗Common Sense Media ↗Dove ↗Movieguide ↗
.jpg?width=400){kind=small}
Rose Byrneas Sheila Rubin
Rory Scovelas Danny Rubin
Dierdre Frielas Greta
Paul Sparksas John BreemCast & crew political lean — 1 of 5 researched: 0 left · 0 center · 0 right · 1 no public record. Based only on cited public statements, endorsements, and documented donations.
“At present, physicists are enamoured of symmetry and search only for continuous pictures of fundamental physics. Maybe, one day, they will be motivated to look at possible structures of a fundamentally discrete world.”
“Physics is not just a set of true facts and s and things like that. In many ways it's kind of an attitude. It's a way of thinking about different things.”
“The "paradox" is only a conflict between reality and your feeling of what reality "ought to be."”
“It is impossible, and it has always been impossible, to grasp the meaning of what we nowadays call physics independently of its mathematical form.”
“It has seemed to me for some years that among physicists there is almost a cult, although certainly not an organized one, which I please to call a cult of obscurity. The creed of the cult is that a member disgraces the profession if he ever writes, lectures or teaches intelligibly to anyone but his immediate colleagues in the profession.”
“... it's one thing in physics to write down the equations, but then you have to solve them — and that is sometimes easier said than done.”
Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.
Physical is an American comedy-drama television series created by Annie Weisman. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on June 18, 2021. In August 2021, the series was renewed for a second season ahead of its first season finale, which premiered in June 2022. In August 2022, the series was renewed for a third season. The third and final season premiered in August 2023.
Set in 1980s San Diego, Physical is a dark comedy following Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) through her journey of self-discovery via aerobics.
Rose Byrne as Sheila D. Rubin, a housewife struggling between her straining marriage, lifelong battle with bulimia, and newfound obsession with aerobics
Rory Scovel as Danny Rubin, Sheila's eco-conscious and liberal husband
Paul Sparks as John Breem, a conservative Mormon mall owner who begins an affair with Sheila
Della Saba as Bunny Kazam, an aerobics instructor and Tyler's girlfriend (seasons 1-2; guest season 3)
Lou Taylor Pucci as Tyler, a surfer and Bunny's boyfriend (seasons 1-2; guest season 3)
Dierdre Friel as Greta Hauser, a housewife who becomes Sheila's best friend and business partner
Geoffrey Arend as Jerry Goldman, an old friend of Sheila and Danny who becomes Danny's campaign manager (season 1; guest seasons 2 & 3)
Ashley Liao as Simone (season 1)
Zooey Deschanel as Kelly Kilmartin, a sitcom star and aerobics instructor who also acts as a manifestation of Sheila's mental illness (season 3)
Ian Gomez as Ernie Hauser, a tech pioneer and Greta's husband
Erin Pineda as Maria Breem, John's wife
Grace Kelly Quigley as Maya Rubin, Sheila and Danny's daughter
Al Madrigal as Jack Logan, a friend of Danny and Sheila's and Tanya's husband (season 1)
Mary Holland as Tanya Logan, a friend of Danny and Sheila's and Jack's wife (season 1; guest season 2)
Wallace Langham as Auggie Cartwright (season 2; guest season 1)
Murray Bartlett as Vinnie Green, an aerobics instructor (season 2)
Anna Gunn as Marika Green, Vinnie’s wife (season 2; guest season 3)
Tawny Newsome as Wanda (season 2)
Donny Divanian as Kevin Cartwright, Auggie’s son (season 2)
Emjay Anthony as Zeke Breem, John and Maria's son (season 2-3; portrayed by Ian Ousley in season 1)
Jillian Armenante as Harriet, an ally Sheila meets in rehab (season 3; guest season 2)
Paloma Esparza Rabinov as Fidelia, Sheila’s assistant (season 3; guest season 2)
Casey Wilson as Deb, Danny's sister (season 3)
José Zúñiga as Carlos, a restaurateur who grows close to Sheila (season 3)
In January 2020, it was reported that Apple was nearing a series order for Physical, created and written by Annie Weisman, with Tomorrow Studios set to produce. In December 2020, Craig Gillespie, Liza Johnson, and Stephanie Laing were announced as directors for the series, with Gillespie set to direct the pilot episode. The series is a half-hour long and consists of ten episodes.
On August 4, 2021, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a second season. On August 11, 2022, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a third season.
In January 2020, Rose Byrne was reported as headlining Physical. In December 2020, it was announced that Byrne was playing the role of Sheila Rubin, with Paul Sparks, Rory Scovel, Lou Taylor Pucci, Della Saba, Dierdre Friel, and Ashley Liao joining the cast. Geoffrey Arend joined the cast in January 2021, with Ian Gomez joining in April 2021. In October 2022, Zooey Deschanel joined the cast for the third season.
Filming for the first season began in November 2020 and ended in March 2021. The second season began filming in November 2021 and ended in March 2022. Jennifer Hamilton choreographed the series' dance and fitness routines, drawing on 1980s aerobics styles and training Rose Byrne for the role.
The series premiered on June 18, 2021, on Apple TV + globally with the first three episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis, every Friday. The second season premiered on June 3, 2022. The third and final season was released on August 2, 2023.
On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 65% based on 51 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.40/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Not even a magnetic performance from Rose Byrne can save Physical from its exhausting parade of unpleasant characters and plot choices."
However German magazine Spiegel praised the show for maintaining its satirical take on shallow consumerism beyond the initial episodes, noting that it "thankfully doesn't develop into the edifying but mendacious self-empowerment drama that convention would demand, and some critics apparently expected," and suggested that this may have been the reason for the poor ratings from American reviewers.
The second season has an approval rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Rose Byrne's blood, sweat, and tears are finally given a worthy bedrock as Physical finds its gyrating groove in this much-improved sophomore season."
The third and final season has an approval rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads: "Physical packs it in with a final season that, much like a good workout, is bracing but pays off with a satisfying endorphin rush."
Open questions
Apple TV
Apple TV Amazon ChannelAvailability in the US via JustWatch. All regions & options ↗
