High Maintenance

High Maintenance is a unique, compelling, and quirky comedy-drama series that originally began as an independent web series on Vimeo in 2012, before being acquired by HBO in 2016. The creation of married couple Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, the show makes an attempt to portray the intricacies of modern life in New York City, which invariably involves the often chaotic, always fascinating lives of the city's inhabitants.

The series centers on an unnamed marijuana delivery man, referred to only as "The Guy," deftly played by co-creator Ben Sinclair. As an unusually convivial and level-headed weed dealer, "The Guy" bicycles all over Brooklyn, delivering high quality marijuana to a colorful array of characters, each with their distinct set of neuroses.

High Maintenance cleverly uses "The Guy's" occupation as a narrative strategy. Each episode is set up as a stand-alone story that delves into the lives of his customers, offering a window into their personal dramas, eccentricities, relationships, and inner lives. This approach gives the show a unique flavor, transforming it from a potentially clichéd "stoner" show into a poignant examination of human nature. The series effectively reframes the context of marijuana usage from taboo to normal, merely a routine part of the lives of various city-dwellers of different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

The show excels at showcasing New York City in all its multifarious glory, serving as a love letter to the melting pot of cultures, attitudes, and lifestyles that characterize the metropolis. From bohemian artists to agoraphobic code writers, from hipster millennials to aging neurotics, the clients’ demographic is as wide-ranging as the city itself. As the series progresses, the narrative threads sometimes interweave in surprising ways, creating a complex interconnected web of experiences and stories.

Each character sketch is detailed, nuanced, and strikingly authentic, thanks in large part to the show's exemplary writing and the stellar performances of the varied cast. High Maintenance effortlessly blends humor with pathos, effectively balancing the absurdity and profundity of life, diving headfirst into the pool of human connectivity and everyday absurdity. The show isn't so much plot-driven as it is a collection of character studies that celebrate the humanity of its characters, even when they're at their weirdest.

The series boasts an indie, almost experimental vibe with its offbeat structure and episodic nature. Despite short episode running times (usually around 10-15 minutes on Vimeo, expanded to half-hour increments on HBO), each story is densely packed, delivering intense emotional impact and keen social commentary. While the show is largely composed of comedic elements, it isn't afraid to tackle serious, sometimes dark themes, infusing both the comedy and drama with a subtle satire of modern life.

In terms of its visual style, High Maintenance is also exemplary. It employs a cinematic, sweeping gaze on the city it portrays, capturing the peculiar beauty and grime of New York's streets, homes, and countless apartment buildings. An eclectic and thoughtfully-curated soundtrack adds another layer of texture to each episode, enhancing the mood and tone of the series.

While Sinclair's "The Guy" is the central figure connecting all these narratives, he himself remains somewhat of a mystery, his own persona and backstory gradually and fragmentally revealed in bits and pieces across the series. This unusual dynamic adds an intriguing layer to his character, further endearing him to the audience.

High Maintenance is a series that rewards repeated viewings with its delicate observations, rich characterizations, and keen insight into the human condition. It plays out less as a conventional TV series and more like a collection of short stories or an anthology sequentially connected through Sinclair's ever-present 'Guy'. In the landscape of television, High Maintenance not only beautifully captures the zeitgeist but also pushes the boundaries for what television can achieve. Overall, it is a genuinely compassionate, thought-provoking and insightful series that will leave an impact long after the credits roll.