Little Disasters is a decently executed series that hardly requires undivided attention. Its narrative is packed with enough explanatory details to cater to viewers who might be browsing on their phones as they watch. Similar in vibe to Big Little Lies, this series from Paramount+ really fits better as background noise while you’re doing chores like folding laundry or vacuuming without missing out on key plot points.

Produced by Roughcut Television, known for comedies such as Stath Lets Flats and People Just Do Nothing, the company now broadens its scope with this drama series, which is an adaptation of Sarah Vaughan’s novel by the same name. The show offers an easily digestible binge experience where the stakes are somewhat high, but not overwhelmingly so. It’s designed not to overly disturb its audience, garnering mild concern without fostering deep connections with its characters or plot.

The characters in Little Disasters are rather stereotypical. There’s Liz (Jo Joyner), a compassionate doctor with a drinking issue; Charlotte (Shelley Conn), the affluent one prone to causing drama; Mel (Emily Taaffe), an artistic Irish woman with a struggling partner trying to start a record label; and Jess (Diane Kruger), the quintessential mom whose life spirals when she’s accused of harming her baby. Jess, the only American in the group, faces particular scrutiny, even being criticized by detectives for her views on healthcare. Despite their differences, a prenatal class brought these women together, and they’ve remained friends for over a decade.

The central mystery revolves around Jess. Did she harm her daughter, or was she simply too negligent to notice her child’s distress? Her husband discovers the baby’s condition upon returning home, prompting a rushed visit to the hospital where their former prenatal classmate Liz, now a pediatrician, treats the baby. Given the suspicious circumstances, Liz is compelled to report Jess to social services, triggering a cascade of investigations into Jess by child protective services and the police.

Unfortunately, Kruger’s portrayal of Jess is rather subdued, making her character hard to read and somewhat uninteresting. Her performance doesn’t invite much empathy, which may lead viewers to form their own negative opinions. Liz, portrayed by Joyner, has a more relatable storyline as she juggles her professional responsibilities and personal guilt. Mel, played by Taafe, appears to have the most complex life, stuck in a troubled marriage and assigned as Jess’s supervisor during supervised visits with her children.

However, the show suffers from some unrealistic elements. The idea that a prenatal class could form such a lasting and exclusive social circle, especially among such diverse personalities, is a bit far-fetched. Also, it seems implausible that Liz would only encounter post-partum anxiety now, given her years in medicine and the shared experiences of motherhood that supposedly bind these women together.

Despite these issues, Little Disasters does offer some moments that validate the challenges of motherhood. Phrases like “No one judges you more than you judge yourself” resonate with viewers, especially parents. Coupled with some mild suspense and romantic intrigue, the series manages to be just engaging enough for casual viewing while multitasking, which makes it perfect for watching with a second screen but stops short of being compelling television.

Meredith Hobbs Coons is a contributor to The A.V. Club. Little Disasters is set to debut December 11 on Paramount+.

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