The Trying Season 5 trailer suggests the Apple TV+ comedy is entering unfamiliar territory. For years, the emotional core of the series revolved around Nikki and Jason’s struggle to become parents. That journey eventually led them to Princess and Tyler, giving the show one of the most satisfying family arcs on television. Now the challenge appears to be something completely new and tend to push the series in the family drama territory.
Season 5 premieres on July 23 and once again stars Esther Smith and Rafe Spall as Nikki and Jason. But the biggest change comes with the arrival of Kat, played by Charlotte Riley, the biological mother of Princess and Tyler.
Trying Season 5 trailer wastes no time establishing the new family dynamic. Jason introduces the situation in a way that feels perfectly in line with the show’s humor and honesty. The legal parents, the biological mother, and two children are all trying to figure out what their version of family actually looks like. Nobody seems to have a clear answer. And that uncertainty appears to drive much of the season.
One of the more revealing moments comes when Kat admits she feels “a little bit on the outside of all of this.” It is a brief line, but it says a lot about where the story may be heading. The trailer does not present her as a villain or a disruptive force. Instead, she looks like someone trying to find her place within an already established family.
We have seen many shows treat adoption as the ending of the story. Trying on the other hand has consistently treated it as the beginning of a new chapter. Season 5 looks ready to explore the emotional complications that naturally follow. Kat’s arrival creates questions that no one seems fully prepared to answer, including Nikki and Jason.
Trying Season 5 trailer also hints that Nikki may be struggling more than she wants to admit. Several comedic moments suggest she has entered full problem-solving mode. Whether it is organizing family gatherings or attempting to manage situations before they become messy. But with a new family member involved, control may not be as easy as it once was.
Jason, meanwhile, appears to be doing what he often does best. He tries to keep things grounded. The series has frequently balanced Nikki’s anxiety with Jason’s calmer perspective, and the glimpse we got suggests that dynamic remains intact.
Outside the central family storyline, there are plenty of signs that the show’s supporting cast will continue providing the awkward humor and warmth that fans expect. Karen’s dating commentary is exactly the kind of unfiltered comedy viewers have come to love. There are also glimpses of new jobs, college studies, social work training, and everyday life challenges that keep Trying feeling relatable even when its emotional themes become heavier.
Another notable moment from Trying Season 5 trailer comes when a character questions whether they are a “normal family.” It feels like the thematic center of the season. The response that follows is equally important. Maybe they are more normal than they think.
The series has never been interested in presenting a traditional family blueprint. Instead, it focuses on people doing their best, making mistakes, adjusting, and learning as they go. In that sense, Nikki and Jason’s situation is probably more relatable than many supposedly normal television families.
Fans of shows like Parenthood, Catastrophe, and Breeders will likely recognize some familiar emotional territory here. But Trying remains softer and more optimistic than those series. Even when characters disagree, the show usually approaches conflict with empathy rather than cynicism.
Trying Season 5 Trailer Quick Take
The biggest takeaway from the Trying Season 5 trailer is that the series is not repeating itself. The adoption story is no longer the destination. The writers appear interested in examining what happens when the family grows in unexpected ways and when everyone involved has to redefine their place within it.
If the Apple TV+ Trying Season 5 trailer is any indication, viewers should expect plenty of laughs. But they should also expect some difficult conversations, emotional growth, and a deeper exploration of what family means when biology, adoption, and everyday life all collide.
What to Watch Before Trying Season 5
Parenthood (2010–2015)
A large extended family navigates parenting, relationships, and life’s constant complications while trying to stay connected.
Catastrophe (2015–2019)
A sharp comedy about a couple building a family after an unexpected pregnancy changes their lives.
Breeders (2020–Present)
Martin Freeman stars in a brutally honest and often hilarious look at the realities of raising children.
This Is Us (2016–2022)
A family drama that explores parenthood, adoption, identity, and generational relationships.
Life & Beth (2022–2024)
Amy Schumer’s comedy-drama balances humor and emotional growth through evolving adult relationships.
Somebody Somewhere (2022–Present)
A warm character-driven series about finding connection, acceptance, and community in unexpected places.