On Hulu, there's a new comedy roller coaster ride, "Alice & Steve", that is full of loop-the-loops and unexpected twists. Even though it initially comes across as a show you might quickly hit the 'skip' button on, it’s a wild, funny, and sneakily insightful joyride that will have you coming back for more.

Enter Alice (played by Nicola Walker) and Steve (played by Jemaine Clement), long-time buddies in their fifties. Alice is a married mom of two, while Steve is fresh off a divorce. Oh, and they aren’t exactly model citizens – a wild adventure involving dog-induced cocaine emergencies serves as an hilarious introduction in the first episode.

The sitcom kicks off with an explosion of laughter, filled with physical humor, off-color jokes, and the lead actors’ electric chemistry. Plot twist alert – Steve ends up in bed with Alice's grown-up daughter, Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith), a situation that Izzy unapologetic assures Alice is not just a fling, but a genuine romance.

The rom-com's setup is tricky to navigate - an older man sleeping with someone he's known since she was in diapers? That adds a bit of a 'gross-out' factor. It's like cringing at the infamous Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn affair, but "Alice & Steve" skillfully takes the leap, unafraid to ask tough questions and push the boundaries.

The episodes that follow offer an engaging mixture of introspection and high comedy. Steve faces his demons while Izzy and Alice maintain their agency and anger, respectively. Alice, our heroine, is flawlessly imperfect. She doesn’t let anyone off the hook, delightful in her constant quest for drama, always stirring the pot for the thrill of it. Her husband, portrayed by a thoughtful Joel Fry, seems to bear the brunt of her sharp wit.

Steve, on the other hand, is as oddly appealing as one would expect from the captivating Clement. Izzy refers to him as "weirdly hot" and the label sticks. Alice drums up a generational dispute that even throws Woody Allen into the mix. But thanks to a tight script by the talented Sophie Goodhart of "Sex Education" fame, the show effortlessly walks the tightrope between cliché and genius.

This constant back-and-forth dance of judgment about Steve's actions and the beauty of their unlikely relationship could have carried the entire season and then some. However, in a surprise twist in episode four, the series supercharges the plot. This midpoint episode can flirt with clichéd territory, but only if you allow your mind to wander down those predictable paths.

"Alice & Steve" is a zany exploration of human nature that speaks volumes about love and family, and the personal growth that springs from chaos. Alice, though emphatically not a saint, evolves beautifully onscreen, and we get to see why everyone puts up with her eccentricities. Steve, equally complex, takes a good look in the mirror and starts making his own decisions, instead of depending on Alice and other dominant women in his orbit. Izzy, despite being somewhat of an enigma, is smoothly brought to life with depth by Margalith.

The show, at its core, is Walker's playground, and she fills her chaotic character with passion and vulnerability in equal measure. There are times you'd want to reach in and comfort her, other times shake her awake. The camera, with its dance of light and shadows, showcases a spirited woman in her fifties, a force of nature trying to shield her adult daughter from an unconventional relationship she actually desires.

"Alice & Steve" is hilarious, thought-provoking, and more intelligent than you might envision. It’s not for the faint-hearted, so strap yourself in, brace for laughs, and enjoy the ride. Full season now available for streaming on Hulu.