Finding a date is hard. Finding out all your exes are dying in freak accidents is significantly worse. That is the exact nightmare Ruby, played by the endlessly charming Stephanie Hsu, faces in the upcoming Peacock series Laid. If you’ve been scouring the internet for the Laid TV show Peacock cast, you’ve probably noticed that while the premise is high-concept, the talent attached is grounded in some of the best comedy and drama of the last five years. It’s a weird show. It’s a dark show. Honestly, it’s exactly the kind of chaotic energy Peacock needs right now to compete with the heavy hitters.
The series is based on the Australian creator Marieke Hardy’s original work, but this American reimagining brings in a heavy-duty production team, including Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna. But let’s be real—the success of a show like this, where the humor hinges on "death by dating," lives or dies on the chemistry of its leads.
The Lead: Stephanie Hsu as Ruby
Everything changed for Stephanie Hsu after Everything Everywhere All At Once. Before she was jumping through the multiverse, she was a standout on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but Laid feels like her first true opportunity to anchor a series that is purely her own vibe.
Ruby is a woman who realizes her past lovers are kicking the bucket in increasingly bizarre ways. To stop the body count, she has to revisit her romantic history. Hsu has this specific ability to look absolutely terrified and hilarious at the same time. You’ve seen her play Joy/Jobu Tupaki, so you know she can handle the "unhinged" requirement. In Laid, she isn't just a victim of circumstance; she’s a woman forced into a very literal "life or death" walk down memory lane.
The Supporting Powerhouse: Zosia Mamet
If you loved Girls or The Flight Attendant, you know Zosia Mamet is the queen of the fast-talking, slightly neurotic best friend. In the Laid TV show Peacock cast, Mamet plays AJ, Ruby’s best friend.
The dynamic between Hsu and Mamet is basically the engine of the show. While Ruby is spiraling because her exes are dropping like flies, AJ is the one helping her navigate the investigation. It’s a classic comedic duo setup but with a morbid, modern twist. Mamet brings a certain "Brooklyn energy" that balances Hsu’s more frantic performance. They aren't just friends; they’re co-conspirators in a mystery that is as much about female friendship as it is about dating.
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The Romantic Interest? Michael Angarano and Tommy Martinez
You can’t have a show about ex-boyfriends without, well, the boyfriends.
Michael Angarano is a name you might remember from Sky High or This Is Us. He has this naturally "nice guy" face that makes the prospect of him dying horribly even more tragic. Then there’s Tommy Martinez, who people usually recognize from Good Trouble. The casting here is clever because it spans different "types." You have the indie-darling vibe of Angarano and the more traditional leading-man energy of Martinez.
The show also features Finneas O'Connell. Yes, that Finneas. Billie Eilish’s brother and legendary producer is stepping further into the acting world here. It’s an interesting pivot for him. He isn’t just a cameo; he’s part of the fabric of Ruby’s complicated past. Seeing how his character fits into the "dead ex" tally is one of the more anticipated parts of the debut season.
Why this cast works for Peacock's brand
Peacock has been trying to find its "identity." They have Poker Face, they have The Traitors, and now they’re leaning into "Genre-Bending Dramedy."
The Laid TV show Peacock cast reflects a shift toward prestige-adjacent comedy. They aren't just hiring sitcom actors; they’re hiring Oscar nominees and cult-favorite stars. This matters. When a show has a premise this ridiculous—people dying because they slept with a specific woman—you need actors who can play it straight. If the acting is too "joking," the stakes vanish. If it’s too serious, it’s just depressing.
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Hsu, Mamet, and Angarano are all veterans of the "dramedy" middle ground. They know how to make a funeral funny and a breakup feel like a disaster.
The creative team behind the camera
Cast isn't just the people on screen. The people steering the ship matter just as much. Nahnatchka Khan is a massive get for this. She directed Always Be My Maybe and created Fresh Off the Boat. She understands how to pace a comedy.
Sally Bradford McKenna, who worked on Will & Grace, brings that sharp, punchy dialogue. The scripts are reportedly biting. They don't shy away from the awkwardness of sexual history.
What to expect from the first season
The show is essentially a procedural, but instead of solving a murder, Ruby is trying to prevent them. Each episode likely focuses on a different relationship from her past.
- The "Why" factor: Why is this happening? Is it a curse? Is it biological?
- The "Who" factor: Which ex is next?
- The "How" factor: The deaths are rumored to be "Final Destination" levels of weird.
Expect a lot of cringe-inducing flashbacks. We’ve all had that one ex we’d rather forget; Ruby literally can’t, or they might explode. It’s a metaphor for the way our past baggage stays with us, just turned up to eleven.
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Comparing the US version to the Australian original
The original Australian Laid came out in 2011. It was short, dark, and very "Aussie" in its dry humor. The Peacock version is expanding the world.
While the original was a bit of a hidden gem, the Laid TV show Peacock cast gives this version a much higher profile. The 2011 version starred Alison Bell, who was fantastic, but Hsu brings a different, more kinetic energy to the lead role. The American adaptation seems to be leaning harder into the "horror" elements of the dark comedy, utilizing a bigger budget for the various "accidents" that befall the supporting cast.
Is it worth the watch?
If you like Dead to Me or The Good Place, this is probably going to be your new obsession. It’s for people who find the traditional rom-com boring.
The chemistry between Stephanie Hsu and Zosia Mamet alone is worth the subscription. They feel like real friends who talk over each other and make bad decisions together. In a TV landscape filled with "perfect" characters, the messiness of Ruby and AJ is refreshing.
Don't go into this expecting a lighthearted romp. It’s dark. It’s sweaty. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also incredibly smart about how it handles the concept of romantic regret.
Actionable steps for viewers
If you're looking to dive into Laid, here is how to get the most out of it:
- Check your Peacock subscription: The show is an "Original," meaning it usually stays behind the Premium paywall.
- Watch the Australian original first: If you can find it on streaming or digital rental, it’s only 12 episodes total. It provides a great baseline for how the story might evolve.
- Follow the cast on socials: Stephanie Hsu and Zosia Mamet have been sharing bits of behind-the-scenes content that hint at the tone of the show—lots of blood packs and laughter.
- Clear your schedule for a binge: This is the kind of show that relies on "What happens next?" hooks. You probably won't want to watch just one episode at a time.
The Laid TV show Peacock cast is one of the most balanced ensembles on streaming right now. It takes a "high-concept" premise and populates it with actors who feel like people you actually know. Whether it becomes a massive hit or a cult classic remains to be seen, but with this much talent involved, it's definitely not going to be boring.