Mark Ruffalo and Lili Reinhart Star in the Most Heartwarming Family Series Ever!

When Hal climbs through his sister Harper’s window at 3 AM to take her to McDonald’s, it’s immediately clear that this brother-sister relationship is anything but normal or ordinary. They have no boundaries, talk incessantly, and are essentially the focal points of each other’s lives. It’s endearing, humorous, and undeniably unhealthy. Welcome to Hal & Harper, Cooper Raiff’s new series now streaming on Mubi.

A Young Director Switches Gears

If Cooper Raiff’s name doesn’t ring a bell, you should know this American in his thirties first made waves in the indie film scene with two poignant movies: Shithouse and Cha Cha Real Smooth (featuring Dakota Johnson). His trademarks? Naturalistic dialogue, tender love stories, and nuanced acting. Typically working with modest means, his direction cuts to the core but always with a hint of poetry. With Hal & Harper, he moves away from romantic themes to tackle something even more intricate: family and its traumas.

Siblings Stuck in Time

Harper (played by Lili Reinhart of Riverdale fame and winner of the Best Actress award at SériesMania) is 24, stuck in a dreary office job, and dragging along a love relationship without much conviction. Her younger brother Hal (played by Cooper Raiff himself) is a college student who prefers hanging out at his sister’s place over attending classes.

Their father, portrayed by the ever-compelling Mark Ruffalo, loves them deeply but tends to withdraw emotionally when things get tough. In short, this family functions… but not really.

The Brilliant Twist That Changes Everything

A few episodes in, the series reveals its trump card: to explore the childhood trauma that has frozen their development, which we won’t spoil here, Raiff makes a bold choice. In flashbacks, the adult actors play their 7 and 9-year-old selves. Lili Reinhart towers over a tiny elementary school desk. Cooper Raiff plays basketball against actual children. The effect swings between comedic and heart-wrenching.

This visual gimmick is not just for show: it perfectly embodies the idea that these two had to grow up too fast while still being trapped in their childhood. At 9, Harper was secretly smoking and reading heavy literature. At 7, Hal was already an anxious pleaser. When you can’t be a child, you never really stop being one.

A Series That Dares to Dig Deep

Despite its light humor and indie soundtrack, Hal & Harper does not shy away from difficult moments. When Harper finally sets a boundary and asks her brother to leave, her face crumbles. The series captures these moments with stark accuracy. Unflinchingly.

Lili Reinhart delivers a staggering performance. Her character appears to have everything under control, but two decades of bottled-up emotions simmer just below the surface. When it erupts, it’s catastrophic. Mark Ruffalo, as the loving but flawed father, strikes a perfect balance between affection and selfishness. And Betty Gilpin, in a small role as the father’s new partner, displays what healthy, non-toxic love looks like.

Hal & Harper is available on Mubi, with a new episode released weekly starting October 19th.