The Chair Company (2025), on MAX, stars Tim Robinson as corporate schlub Ron, whose chair collapses during an important presentation. Looking for the company that sold the defective piece of office furniture, he finds an empty warehouse, a website with an invented board of directors, and...it gets weirder and werider, with conspiracies, hidden agendas, and threats. Or is it all a paranoid delusion?
He hires Mike (Joseph Tudisco) to help with the intel gathering. Eventually they become close, and Mike refuses payment: "We're family."
His young adult daughter and her girlfriend have substantial roles, and his teenage son Seth (Will Price) displays some queer codes. Especially in Episode 1.6, "Happy Birthday: A Friend"
Scene 1: The boss (Lou Diamond Philips, top photo) is weekending in Sedona, Arizona with his buds. He claims that his property management company is important, but they dismiss it as "making pretty boxes." The real life, the only thing that's important, is spending time with your friends. No women around; are these guys all gay?
Scene 2: The photos of the fake Board of Directors on the chair company website were taken by someone named Maggie S. during an acting exercise. Ron goes to the acting studio and asks around. No one remembers the exercise, and they all claim not to know a Maggie S. -- except for Headphone Guy (Brendan Jennings, left), who runs off in a panic. Ron catches up and starts punching and hitting him, yelling, "Who is Maggie S.?" Then he realizes that everyone is watching him assault a guy, and runs away.
Scene 3: During the chair collapse, Ron accidentally saw up his coworker's dress. Human Resources got upset, and brought in a consultant to watch their interactions and make sure he isn't stalking or harassing her. The Consultant is not sure.
Scene 4: The Boss brought back some photos of vibrant colors and textures from Sedona. He wants them to redo the design of the big Shopping Mall project, to make it "inspiring" and "cool." But he doesn't give them any detailed instructions, so the design team is confused. This is not connected to the central mystery. This show has a lot of bit pieces that are weird for their own sake.
Later, they show the Boss their plans for "bold, earthy colors," with textures like sandstone or "a harsher contrast with nickel plating." He doesn't like it; "dig deeper."
Scene 5: Ron walks into the house late at night and sees a long-haired chubby guy getting himself a bowl of popcorn. He says "Hi, Honey" and "Seth, your Dad's home!" before returning to the basement.
Mom explains that he's Richard (Tyler Bunch), working on a project with Seth.
Tyler Bunch is a member of the Jim Henson Company, appearing as a muppet on 103 episodes of Sesame Street (1998-2024). He also voiced several characters on 400 episodes of Pokemon (2012-22), and he sings Gilbert and Sullivan. He is gay in real life.
Ron is not happy with his not-quite-18 year old son being friends with a guy 40 years older, plus it's late: he needs to be in bed so he can play basketball tomorrow. Seth refuses: "Nope, this is important."
In other news, Son Seth invited Toby to his birthday party. "He's really excited to come," They haven't seen each other for years because they go to different schools, but when he was thirteen, they performed the Pee-Wee Herman Dance, and Ron joined in: one of the happiest memories Seth has of his dysfunctional Dad.
Dad Ron doesn't think Son Seth and Toby should be friends. This upsets Seth. No wonder: that's two friends you disapproved of in five minutes. Sounds like you're threatened by the thought of your son having someone special in his life.
Scene 6: Later, in his room, Son Seth drinks while looking at a photo of his junior-high basketball team, with Dad Ron hugging him.
So Dad should be threatened? "Hi, Honey" Richard is a Dad substitute?Left: Potential Will selfie. Don't worry, the actor is 25.
Later, Ron meets with "We're family" Mike. They discuss some more clues about the bogus chair company. In other news, would Seth like a decommissioned police car for his birthday?
"You're not invited to his party. It's just for his friends and their parents."
"But I'd really like to come. We're family, remember."
"No!" Why don't you want him there, buddy? Afraid that you might let down your defenses and actually care about someone?
Scene 7: More weird stuff at work, and then the Boss wants to discuss changing the Mall plans -- tomorrow.
"But it's my son's birthday party."
"Great, I'll be there!"
Later, Ron looks at the photos he took of the guy he assaulted at the acting class. A strange tattoo leads him to the chair company's parent website...but at that moment, someone calls to threaten him: "I'm thinking of finally doing something to you."
Gulp. More after the break.
