Hilary Duff: Why Younger starring Hilary Duff and Sutton Foster is the perfect watch for the new year

Why Younger starring Hilary Duff and Sutton Foster is the perfect watch for the new year

Modified Jan 13, 2025 08:45 GMT

Molly Bernard, Sutton Foster, and Hilary Duff as seen in the comedy series Younger (Image via Facebook/@Younger)

Darren Star's Younger is added to Netflix's roster for 2025, nearly 10 years after it debuted on television. All 84 episodes of the comedy drama series are available on the streaming platform. Starring Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, and Miriam Shor, the series focuses on the glamorous lives of its characters living in New York City.

Younger is based on the eponymous 2005 novel by Pamela Redmond Satran. It ran for seven seasons from March 31, 2015, to June 10, 2021. The show's first six seasons aired on the TV Land network, while the seventh season premiered on Paramount+ / Hulu before airing on the television network. Moreover, it was the longest-running series in TV Land's history.

Younger holds an impressive 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was routinely praised by critics for its sharp writing, interesting characters, and strong performances. Despite this, the series failed to gain a substantial fan following, in part, due to the network's limited outreach.

The show's official synopsis, as per Rotten Tomatoes, reads:

"Trying to start a new career gets more difficult as you age, which suddenly single-mom Liza realizes when she tries to re-enter the working world at 40. After a young tattoo artist convinces her she looks younger, Liza decides to do something about it. Her solution revolves around trying to pass herself off as 26, courtesy of a makeover by her best friend, Maggie."

It continues:

"The newfound confidence helps get her a job assisting temperamental Diana. Teaming with 20-something co-worker Kelsey, Liza hopes to make it a dream career -- while no one discovers her secret. She later has to deal with the fallout of the truth after revealing her secret to Kelsey."

Younger is one of the most underrated shows of the last decade

With Younger's arrival on Netflix, the series stands to reach a global audience that can enjoy its brilliant writing and top-notch acting. Its creator Darren Star is also behind popular shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, S*x and the City, and Emily in Paris. Like his other shows, this Sutton Foster-led series also has a lot of heart and does not take itself too seriously.

The show's protagonist, Liza Miller, is a flawed character who goes through a redemptive arc, making her journey feel very satisfying to watch. Liza's struggles to fit into a fast-paced world is something many viewers can relate to. Also, the series does a great job of balancing its humor and romance with heartfelt, emotional moments, making it an easy show to binge-watch.

The series centers around the topic of ageism, a relevant topic in our current society, but offers a lighthearted take on the subject. With pop culture references, droolworthy fashion, and engaging storylines, Younger is one of the best undiscovered comfort shows to help start the new year on a good note.

What is Younger about?

A still from the comedy drama series Younger (Image via Facebook/@Younger)

The Netflix series follows the exploits of the 40-year-old Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), who is forced to start over in life following a messy divorce. With her teenage daughter out of the house, Liza decides to re-enter the workforce. However, she is turned down in job interviews due to her age and long career gap.

In desperation, Liza decides to pose as a young woman in her 20s and lands an entry-level job at the Empirical Press publishing house. She becomes close friends with her co-worker, the 26-year-old Kelsey Peters (Hilary Duff), while dealing with the tantrums of their temperamental boss, Diana Trout (Miriam Shor).

Liza also gets into a romantic love triangle with the charming Charles Brooks (Peter Hermann) and Josh (Nico Tortorella), a much-younger tattoo artist. But her exciting new life comes crashing down after her secret comes out, forcing her to rebuild herself and her relationships affected by the lies.