Honestly, it’s hard to find a show that hates Hollywood as much as it loves it.
The Other Two is that show. It’s a biting, chaotic, and oddly sweet look at what happens when you’re 30, failing, and your 13-year-old brother becomes the next Justin Bieber overnight. If you haven't seen it, the premise sounds like a standard sitcom setup. But it isn't. Not even close.
It’s about Brooke and Cary Dubek. They are the "other two" children of Pat Dubek (played by the legendary Molly Shannon). While their little brother, ChaseDreams, is busy dyeing his tongue pink for a music video or dating a fellow teen star for the "optics," Brooke and Cary are just trying to get a foot in the door. Brooke is a former professional dancer who is essentially homeless in the first episode. Cary is an aspiring actor whose biggest credit is "Man at Party Who Smells Fart."
The show is a miracle of specific, localized roasting. It doesn't just mock "fame." It mocks the exact way a publicist at a major label talks to you when they’re trying to pivot a teen heartthrob into a "Hollywood Christian."
What Most People Get Wrong About The Other Two
Most people think this is just a parody of Justin Bieber. I get why. In the very first episode of The Other Two, the inspiration is leaning right against the wall. There’s a joke about Chase's manager, Streeter (Ken Marino), making him eat raw eggs to get his "body tight." That’s a real thing that happened with Scooter Braun and Bieber back in the day.
But the show is much smarter than just being a 30-minute SNL sketch.
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It’s really about the desperation of the "almost." It captures that specific New York anxiety where you’re one connection away from greatness, but that connection is a snot-bubble named Globby. Yes, in season three, Cary literally voices a sentient piece of mucus for a Disney movie because the studio wants "meaningful queer representation." It is the most savage takedown of corporate pride you will ever see.
The Weird Reality of the Dubek Family
The Dubeks are a mess, but they aren't villains. That’s the secret sauce. You’d think a show about two siblings riding the coattails of their famous brother would make them unlikable. It doesn't.
- Brooke (Heléne Yorke): She is a whirlwind of manic energy. She wants to be a "good person," but she also wants to be the kind of person who gets invited to a party where "non-industry" people are literally invisible.
- Cary (Drew Tarver): His descent into madness is slower. He starts as the grounded one and ends the series obsessed with his "status" as an actor, eventually ignoring his best friend just to climb the ladder.
- Pat (Molly Shannon): The heart of the show. She becomes a daytime talk show host who is so famous she can't even go to a grocery store without a tactical team.
The show manages to make you feel bad for them even when they're being objectively terrible. It’s a hard tightrope to walk.
Why The Other Two Was Canceled (The Real Story)
The ending of The Other Two was... weird. It happened fast. In June 2023, right before the Season 3 finale aired on Max, the news broke that the show was done.
It wasn't just a "creative decision," although creators Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider released a statement saying they always saw it as a three-season arc. Shortly after the cancellation news, reports surfaced about HR complaints and a "toxic" environment in the writers' room.
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The Hollywood Reporter and other outlets detailed allegations of verbal abuse, specifically aimed at Chris Kelly. There were stories about writers being overworked and a culture that felt "destructive." It’s a bizarre irony for a show that spent three years skewering the toxic power dynamics of the entertainment industry to end because of its own alleged behind-the-scenes drama.
Tina Fey even made a joke about it at an awards show months before the news broke. She called Lorne Michaels (who executive produced the show) a creator of "monsters" and specifically mentioned the crew of The Other Two. Everyone laughed at the time, but in hindsight, it was a massive red flag.
The showrunners were eventually cleared of wrongdoing after a formal investigation, but the damage was done. Max pulled the plug.
Does the Finale Work?
Even with the controversy, the final episode is a masterpiece. It brings the siblings back to earth. They realize that the pursuit of fame has made them miserable, lonely, and frankly, kind of gross.
Cary ends up by the ocean, alone, realizing he's pushed everyone away. Brooke realizes that "doing good" shouldn't just be a PR stunt. It’s a quiet ending for a show that was usually screamingly loud. It feels final. There are no loose ends, which is rare for a "canceled" show.
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Why You Should Still Watch It
If you haven't seen it, go watch it on Max. Seriously. It’s one of the few shows that actually understands the internet. It understands how a TikTok dance can change a life and how a "Notes app apology" works.
It features incredible supporting turns from Wanda Sykes as a ruthless record exec and Ken Marino as the world's most pathetic but well-meaning manager. Marino's performance as Streeter is a masterclass in being a "sad sack."
Actionable Insights for New Viewers:
- Start from Season 1: The growth of the "ChaseDreams" brand is essential for the payoff in Season 3.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: The show is packed with real-world references, from Justin Theroux’s apartment (which the family actually stays in) to specific Broadway jokes.
- Pay Attention to the Music: The parody songs like "I Wanna Marry U At Recess" and "My Brother's Gay and That's Okay!" are actually well-produced and catchy, which makes them even funnier.
The show is a time capsule of the 2020s streaming era. It’s cynical, fast-paced, and deeply human underneath all the glitter and snot-bubbles. It might be gone, but it remains the definitive satire of our fame-obsessed culture.