A Review of ‘In the Know’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

IN THE KNOW -- Episode 105 -- Pictured: Zach Woods as Voice of Lauren -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

If there is one consistent complaint that people have about storytelling in this day and age, it would have to be… that there isn’t enough original content. That all we get is sequels, reboots and remakes and franchises and universes that never end. To which there is some merit. Since there are indeed a bevy of those stories out there. But the fact of that matter is, that complaint isn’t entirely warranted. For there are indeed some original goodies being released as well, they just require a little bit of work and a little bit of patience in order to find them. Or a helping hand, one that can recommend a true gem, such as the one we recently discovered.
 
Because it just so happens that a supremely original new series on Peacock makes its debut today and In the Know deserves its day in the sun. For it really is an original and refreshing series, one that we are going to talk about in a spoiler-free manner today. So, you can settle in and enjoy it a bit before we start breaking it down in great detail. Because this is a series that deserves to be poured over and examined deeply because of the amazingly magnificent plot that it happens to harbor. One that provides us with a protagonist unlike any other on the airwaves right now.
 
For Lauren Caspian is in fact, a radio host. Who works for NPR and is an ace interviewer and he thoroughly loves his job, and this is a story that allows for us to see the inner workings of his job and meet his co-workers and well, that’s where this story goes next level. Because that simple plot is nothing more than the foundation for a grandiose comedy. One that informs us that Lauren’s NPR office is filled to the brim with co-workers that beat to the march of their own drum and have their own wild agendas some days. Giving rise to a workplace where it is amazing that anything gets done, simply because the shenanigans that ensue in between those interviews are off the wall, and outright amazing and well… it doesn’t get more original than that.
 
Because this writer is hard pressed to think of any other show out there that offers this kind of setting and this kind of zany day-in-the-life plot. But that is what you find here, and it is outright delightful. Mainly because all of this works so well because of the dynamic characters that we meet in Lauren’s office. For Lauren’s co-workers are simply amazing in their own right and quirky and fun, and silly in all the right ways. All of which draws you in, because you simply don’t know what to expect from them on any given day and it also doesn’t hurt, that the acting outright allows for the jokes to be delivered with an incredibly ferocity and honesty that you don’t always find in comedy. 
 
In fact, it would be foolish to not point out that the acting and the writing are outright stellar here. To the point where you sometimes forget you’re watching an animated comedy. Because the performances feel so real and you believe these characters exist in our world, and the scripts are just flawless and the stories draw you in and well, that is what makes this such a wonderful and hilarious show. One that is everything you want from a comedy and more, and the best news of all is that you no longer have to wait to watch it. For the entire first season of In the Know is available to watch on Peacock right now, and you absolutely need to see this series. For this really is one of the most unique stories to hit the airwaves in years, and it absolutely deserves to be celebrated.
 
To learn more about the creation of ‘In the Know’, check out our interviews with Series Co-Creator/Co-Writer/Executive Producer Brandon Gardner, and Cast Members: Carl Tart and J. Smith-Cameron, Caitlin Reilly and Charlie Bushman.
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