All songs from the Youth soundtrack
The search for youthful exuberance doesn’t stop at twenty-five. It’s a quest that continues long after the milestones have been reached, and HBO Max’s new comedy series, Youth, dives headfirst into the hilarious, often messy reality of finding that freedom in the fifties.
Created and written by Sharon Horgan, the eight-part series centers on Alex, a 50-year-old literary agent navigating a complicated landscape. Alex is attempting to throw herself back into the dating world while simultaneously juggling the responsibilities of caring for her aging parents and watching her son, Ruari, embark on his uncertain journey into adulthood.
This is a comedic exploration of Horgan’s philosophy that the fifties aren’t a decline, but rather the youth of old age. Alex discovers that the freedom she anticipated as she entered this decade is tangled up with family duties, career demands, and a very persistent search for romance.
The ensemble cast brings significant chemistry to the story. Aran Murphy plays Alex’s son, Ruari, while Rupert Friend stars as Alex’s on-off love interest, Patrick. The supporting cast includes Sharlene Whyte, Robbie Gee, and Tim McInnerny, adding layers of relatable chaos to the narrative.
Adding a vibrant, soundtrack-filled layer to the comedy is the original score composed by Jeff Cardoni, a name already familiar from hits like Silicon Valley and The Kominsky Method. The music isn’t just background noise; it’s a character in the story, setting the mood for Alex’s quest.
The soundtrack pulls from a wonderfully eclectic mix of artists. The premiere episodes, Lockjaw and Wagon Burner, feature tracks from acts like Radiohead, Geese, and LCD Soundsystem.
For the first episode, Lockjaw, the soundtrack included tracks such as Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead, alongside selections from Geese and Tico Pierhagen.
The second episode, Wagon Burner, brought in more cinematic flair, featuring classical pieces like Antonio Vivaldi’s concerto, plus tracks from LCD Soundsystem and Fiona Apple.
Viewers can jump into Alex’s adventure now, with the first two episodes, Lockjaw and Wagon Burner, available immediately. New episodes of Youth will continue to arrive weekly on HBO Max until the series concludes on November 1st.
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