About a Boy (Seasons 1–2)

About a Boy (2014) is an American comedy series adapted from Nick Hornby's novel — watch online on iFILM with David Walton and Minnie Driver, pilot directed by Jon Favreau, aired on NBC.

Will Freeman wrote one song that paid for the rest of his life. No job, no strings, no neighbours he ever thinks about. Then Fiona, a fiercely earnest single mom, moves in next door with her eleven-year-old son Marcus. Marcus is odd — badly dressed, socially adrift, and utterly unbothered by the fact that he keeps showing up at Will's door. Will tolerates it. Then leverages it. Then, somewhere in the second season, realises he's been looking out for this kid without meaning to.

The show ran two seasons on NBC and never found the audience it deserved. It's warmer than Hornby's source material, less sharp-edged — but the friendship between a committed slacker and an awkward boy works because neither of them is trying to be a good person. That makes it more convincing than most. Stream About a Boy online on iFILM.