Tim Robinson has carved out an impressive niche in the comedy world. His brand of awkward comedy combines grounded scenarios with absurd quirks that have created a loyal fanbase. The Chair Company (HBO Max) combines that comedic style with a slow-burn mystery, and the result is surprisingly successful.
Robinson plays Ron, a project manager who is leading the opening of a new mall. He sits on a chair that collapses during a big company meeting, and the embarrassment puts him on a crusade for justice. It starts out like one of those nightmare customer-service experiences you read about. Ron is unable to get the compensation he seeks, and this leads to him trying to track the manufacturer of the chairs, Tecca.
The whole show has Robinson’s brand of cringe comedy sprinkled in. One of my favorite early bits is when a coworker tells Ron about his “mistakes party,” where guests are encouraged to make mistakes outside of the pressure-filled environment of work. The show does a great job of lampooning corporate work culture while keeping the characters grounded to an almost mundane level – which actually elevates the comedy.
The conspiracy behind the chairs kicks with Ron doing way too much research into the company – more than anyone reasonably would. He’s driven by a petty desire to get some form of compensation for his humiliation. It’s very much in line with Robinson’s shows: a situation that starts with something relatable, then spirals into absurdity.
As the show goes on, Ron’s investigation takes more and more time away from his family and professional life. He recruits a security guard (played by Mike Santini) to his cause and they have great chemistry. Robinson also shows some decent acting chops when interacting with his family, which helps establish a baseline of realism so that the overall storyline doesn’t seem too wacky.
The tension builds with each episode as it seems like the entity behind the chairs is more sinister than just a corrupt corporation. The deeper Ron goes, the more the other facets of his life deteriorate, leading the viewer to think that it will end in disaster for the sake of drama or a fakeout for the sake of comedy.
It’s easy to get an idea of what Robinson’s brand of humor is like if you’ve seen his other shows, particularly the sketch show I Think You Should Leave. If you’re a fan of that style of comedy, Chair Company adds a dramatic twist that makes it feel fresh.
However, if you don’t like that show or the movie Friendship, it’s unlikely that Chair Company will win you over. I can say, though, that it’s one of the best shows of 2025, and it shows how flexible comedy can be when written by a sharp mind.
Author Bio:
Ulises Duenas is a senior writer and film critic at Highbrow Magazine.
For Highbrow Magazine