FX’s ensemble comedy ADULTS brings to life the chaotic, emotional, and comically relatable journey of five 20-something friends trying to figure out adulthood while living together under one roof in Queens, New York. Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, the series stars Malik Elassal as Samir Rahman, Lucy Freyer as Billie Schaeffer, Jack Innanen as Paul Baker, Amita Rao as Issa, and Owen Thiele as Anton Evans. Also joining the cast in recurring roles are Charlie Cox as Andrew (aka Mr. Teacher) and Rachel Marsh as Carly.
While the show is set in Queens, its visual atmosphere and cityscape aren’t captured in New York at all. So where was Adults filmed? Here’s a look at the real locations.
FILMING IN TORONTO, ONTARIO
ADULTS was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a city that has become a go-to destination for filmmakers looking to replicate American urban settings—especially New York City.
Principal photography for Season 1 of Adults kicked off on October 21, 2024, under the working title “Snowflakes.” The filming wrapped up by December 3, 2024, utilizing some of Toronto’s most cinematic locations. Although not the Big Apple, Toronto’s architecture and city design make it an ideal stand-in for New York. Thanks to its versatile neighborhoods, it easily mimics everything from upscale Manhattan to the charming residential areas of Queens.
One of the main settings in the series is Samir’s childhood home, where all five friends cohabitate. The production team found a fitting suburban home in Toronto to stand in for this central location. While the exact address hasn’t been publicly disclosed, the neighborhood used reflects the show’s aesthetic perfectly—intimate, a bit chaotic, but warm and full of personality.
Another standout location includes the Pearl Events Centre at 184 Pearl Street, a real-life venue that offers a New York-style look. It served as one of the backdrops for several scenes, offering that urban energy and authenticity the show thrives on. Similarly, the Carlaw Loft, another real Toronto location, was used to shoot interior scenes that required stylish, modern settings without sacrificing realism.
There are practical reasons behind this choice as well. Toronto is not just visually adaptable—it’s also cost-effective. American productions frequently choose Canadian cities like Toronto due to lower production costs, experienced local crews, and government incentives. The city’s film infrastructure is robust, with a wide range of both indoor and outdoor filming locations. From studio sound stages to busy downtown streets and quiet residential neighborhoods, Toronto offers it all.
The city is also home to numerous cultural landmarks like the CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Though these don’t explicitly appear in Adults, they contribute to Toronto’s visual palette, which helps the city pass for a bustling borough of New York.
WHAT HAPPENED IN ADULTS SEASON 1?
In ADULTS Season 1, a group of 20-somethings—Anton (X Mayo), Billie (Ayo Edebiri), Issa (Sabrina Wu), and Samir (Danny Pudi)—find themselves squatting in Samir’s childhood home in Queens while his parents are away. With the freedom of adulthood but none of its stability, they’re tangled in a web of identity crises, awkward hookups, failed careers, and self-made chaos.
Things kick off with Issa trying to convince Samir to let her new boyfriend Paul Baker (Caleb Hearon) move in. Meanwhile, the group gets swept into the viral fame of an old acquaintance, Kyle, who makes national headlines after being sexually harassed at work. While Kyle garners widespread sympathy, Anton and Issa eagerly join the social movement surrounding him—more for clout than conviction. Billie, envious of Kyle’s new fame, tries to manipulate the situation for a promotion but ends up fired. Samir, in the meantime, wonders if he overstepped boundaries with his ex, Carly, but her casual “we’re cool” text arrives while he’s fumbling through a cringe-worthy hookup.
The chaos escalates when Billie ends up in the ER, bleeding from stress and unemployment. Samir steps in as her medical proxy, sparking Issa’s jealousy. A rushed colonoscopy reveals that Billie never had health insurance, leaving her with a $15,000 hospital bill. Desperate, the group tries everything—from selling a shotgun to befriending a dangerous stranger on the train named Ethan (who turns out to be a wanted stabber). Ethan ends up at their house thanks to Anton’s social awkwardness, leading to a near-hit-and-run and his eventual arrest.
Later, Issa and Paul Baker try matchmaking Anton with a stranger via an AirTag, which ends up being carried away by a rat. Billie visits her high school, reflects on her wasted potential, and ends up repaying her debt with the help of a supportive teacher—whom she rewards in her own questionable way. Samir blows a job interview by mooning the hiring panel and resigns to becoming a delivery worker.
Tragedy strikes when Anton and Issa’s therapist dies. Convinced their emotional dysfunction caused his “suicide,” they throw a séance and disrupt his funeral—only to find it was just an accident. Billie struggles to fit in with her new boyfriend’s (a.k.a. “Mr. Teacher”) world and hosts a disastrous dinner party, where the roast chicken is raw and Mr. Teacher locks himself in the bathroom on a ketamine-fueled rant.
Issa later volunteers to host a teen, Annabelle, who’s seeking an abortion. Anton and Paul Baker are tasked with watching her, leading to chaos. Meanwhile, Issa leads her dance students in a strike against a rigid boss. Billie helps negotiate while Samir awkwardly bonds with Carly during a clogged toilet incident. After bonding outside the clinic, Paul and Anton share a subtle moment of attraction.
The season ends with Paul learning his visa is expiring. Issa proposes marriage to help him stay—but forgot she’s still married to someone else, Zack-Carlos. A wild scramble ensues involving priests, exes, and a courthouse wedding gone awry. Eventually, Anton volunteers to marry Paul instead. In the final scene, Paul and Anton kiss as the lights go out—leaving the group, once again, lost together in their beautifully messy version of adulthood.
FX’S ADULTS OFFICIAL TRAILER
TORONTO AS A CHARACTER
Even though Adults is thematically rooted in New York life, Toronto plays a vital, if silent, role in shaping the story’s atmosphere. From crowded sidewalks and cozy cafes to apartment interiors that reflect the personalities of the characters, the city helped give visual form to the writers’ experiences and ideas.
As Rebecca Shaw explained, the house itself is more than a setting—it’s a symbol of transition. It’s where adulthood’s trials play out: love, friendship, confusion, ambition, and anxiety. Toronto, with its flexibility and charm, becomes the hidden sixth character of the series.
Though viewers may believe they’re watching life unfold in Queens, they’re actually seeing Toronto dressed in New York’s clothes—and wearing them well.
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