With the release of Season 4, Single Out enters its final stretch, consisting of 8 episodes that clock in at roughly 20 minutes each to conclude the narrative for Adam and his circle. Although I was nearly prepared to move on following season three, the creators clearly felt the need for one final chapter to wrap up the story correctly. The central focus of this season is Adam’s attempt to navigate his future in the wake of Single Out magazine shutting down, with the resulting ripple effect on him and those around him serving as the season’s primary throughline.
It is still somewhat disorienting to see every familiar face from the first three seasons return, largely because so many of these characters visually blend together. While Adam and Gabe are now engaged, the prospect of a wedding and finding a new home feels impossible given their tight finances and current job situations. However, their support system steps in to bridge the gap. Gabe organizes a small, intimate surprise wedding that is perfectly suited to Adam’s personality, and they are left stunned when their former roommate, having struck it rich with crypto, simply gives them a house. Meanwhile, Adam’s older brother Colin has found stability in a relationship and is preparing for fatherhood. The narrative also navigates the death of Adam’s uncle, the man responsible for Adam’s initial interest in photography, alongside a subplot involving Adam playing matchmaker to help his cousin finally admit their feelings to a straight best friend. Adam’s professional life sees a significant shift when a surprise underwear modeling gig alleviates his financial stress and raises his profile. This momentum continues when an old flame introduces him to a famous singer; her request for him to shoot her album cover further elevates his fame and leads to an award nomination. Although he does not win the award, Adam is floored by the way his friends and family have consistently shown up for him through every high and low.
The storytelling feels scattered and occasionally like filler, mirroring the issues of the last two seasons. I fail to understand the writers’ decision to keep introducing new characters when the cast was already stretched thin. Confusion reaches its peak during Adam’s bachelor party; you are surrounded by hot white guys with nearly identical builds, making it nearly impossible to distinguish a coworker or a cousin from an old hookup. While Cousin Colin and half brother Ethan from season three technically return, they receive almost no screen time. This final season succeeds in bringing Adam’s arc to a real conclusion and checking back in on nearly everyone who has appeared throughout the series. Adam remains his usual chaotic self, always one step from wrecking everything, yet his heart is clearly in the right place. Although Gabe and Adam do end up married, I am just not buying them as a couple because their relationship still feels off; they are rarely actually present for each other, as they are both too busy doing their own thing at every social event. Somehow, it works for them. This season leans into wrapping up the story while celebrating the family ties and friendships that built the whole series, and they pull that off reasonably well—definitely better than the last two seasons, even if it still falls short of everything that first season promised. I never found Adam’s goofiness convincing, as it always felt forced. Even after four seasons to build the character, something about the actor playing Adam still feels like it’s missing something to me; the goofiness is there, but it doesn’t feel natural. The pansexual, non-binary, and other characters from across the spectrum get way less focus this time, which didn’t bother me. There are a few laughs and some sexy moments scattered in, but it is mostly more of the same. I’m glad this show is finally wrapping up, and here’s hoping whatever comes next is stronger. Maybe it’s time someone brought back Please Like Me instead? Anyone out there listening? (5.5/10)
