The Unicorn

The Unicorn is a heartfelt and humor-laden sitcom drama series broadcast by CBS from 2019 to 2021. The series revolves around the life of a widower named Wade Felton, who tries navigating the world of single parenthood while juggling other aspects such as work-life balance, dating, and the struggle of personal loss. The show engages audiences with a blend of humor, emotion, and light-hearted drama, attracting a wide audience demographic thanks to its feel-good premise and admirable performances.

Wade Felton, portrayed by Walton Goggins, is a caring and loving father who loses his wife to an undisclosed illness. Struggling with his new status as a widower, he finds himself in a unique situation: he's a unicorn, a rare and highly desired specimen amongst the dating pool. The concept of 'The Unicorn' refers to someone who is truly ready for love, a person with plenty of desirable qualities - caring, responsible, good with kids, stable job, and most vitally, possessing significant experience in committed relationships. In this case, Wade's "unicorn" status stems from his readiness to love again combined with his personal growth from his previous marriage.

As Wade navigates through the world of dating, he's aided by his friends: Forrest, played by Rob Corddry, and his wife, Delia, played by Michaela Watkins. Other noteworthy characters are Ben and Michelle, portrayed by Omar Benson Miller and Maya Lynne Robinson. These characters provide hilarious insights into marriage and dating and serve as soundboards for Wade as he finds his way through the maze that is modern dating.

Interlaced with Wade's narratives are wonderful, endearing moments with his two daughters, Grace and Natalie, remarkably portrayed by Ruby Jay and Makenzie Moss. The complexities of their characters extend beyond being typical teenage girls coming of age. They constantly wrestle with their own challenges, their life without their mother, and how they adjust to seeing their father dating. Their strength, however, in adapting to the new circumstances and their unwavering support for their father's venture back into the dating world is beautifully captured.

The Unicorn does an exceptional job of showing the various layers of grief and loss without it being devastatingly overpowering. It subtly shows the emptiness every member of the family feels with the loss of their matriarch and how they individually find their path to healing. In addition, it gives hope to viewers, showing life can go on after a great personal loss while still honoring the loss.

The middle-aged dating landscape is also one of the more subtly portrayed yet effective themes in The Unicorn. Wade's loyal friends, all married couples themselves, live vicariously through these dating escapades, and their well-meaning but often hilariously misguided advice provides a significant amount of the show's humor. This sit-com balances the humor provided by Wade's return to the dating scene with the meaningful moments as he grapples with his feelings about stepping back into these uncharted waters.

One of the show's main pulls is its raw and sincere performances, predominantly that of Walton Goggins. Known for his roles with substantial intensity, Goggins slips into Wade's character effortlessly, shining in a comedic role while allowing viewers to deeply empathize with his situation. The supporting characters have fascinating dynamics, yielding plenty of comedic fodder while providing hearty and humanly flawed relationships to augment the storytelling.

The Unicorn, while comedic, doesn't shy away from touching upon elements of grief, single parenting, and the journey of moving forward after an impactful loss. Though the show dips its toes into these heavier topics, it maintains a comedic and lighthearted tone throughout. Its central theme: that life continues despite the challenges thrown and that it's okay to seek help and embrace love again when you're ready, resonates with viewers, making this show a heartwarming depiction of life's realities.

Despite its short run, The Unicorn leaves a lasting message - the world is full of second chances and new beginnings, and it's never too late to embrace them. While the series talks about loss and starting over, it places a strong emphasis on family, friendship, love, and resilience, winning the hearts of its viewers. The Unicorn is a touching family comedy with depth, humor, and a strong emotional core. Throughout its run, the audience is part of a surprisingly profound journey of loss, love, and growth, posed with laughter and warmth at its finest.