Living with Yourself

Paul Rudd’s Doppelgänger Dilemma: The Wild Ride Behind Living with Yourself

Netflix’s Living with Yourself (2019) dropped like a surrealist grenade into the comedy-drama landscape, with Paul Rudd playing not one but two versions of the same man—a struggling ad exec and his eerily perfect clone. The premise alone was enough to hook audiences, but the behind-the-scenes chaos and Rudd’s own obsession with the project made it a standout. latestnetflix.com's view is that here’s what we know about the making of this mind-bending series.

Rudd’s Netflix Love Affair Goes Deeper

Paul Rudd wasn’t just the star of Living with Yourself—he was a driving force behind its creation. The series marked another notch in his expanding relationship with Netflix, following his 2015 film Ant-Man (yes, the Marvel connection is real) and the 2018 comedy special Paul Rudd: The Art of Doing Nothing. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rudd’s involvement was so hands-on that he helped shape the show’s tone, blending his signature wit with existential dread . The streaming giant clearly saw potential in the actor’s ability to balance humor and pathos, greenlighting the series as part of a broader push into high-concept comedies.

But why this project? Rumor has it Rudd was drawn to the script’s exploration of identity and self-worth—topics that resonated with him personally. While the evidence doesn’t confirm whether he had creative control, his enthusiasm was palpable in interviews, where he gushed about the show’s "weird, darkly comedic" vibe .

The Clone Conundrum: How Rudd Pulled Off Playing Two Pauls

Doubling as both the original and cloned versions of Miles Elliot wasn’t just a gimmick—it was a logistical nightmare. Rudd’s dual role required meticulous planning, from split-screen shots to body doubles and CGI touch-ups. In a behind-the-scenes chat, Rudd and co-star Aisling Bea joked about the challenges of filming scenes where both versions of Miles interact, calling it "a nightmare of continuity" . Bea, who played Rudd’s wife Kate, revealed that the crew often had to shoot the same scene multiple times to nail the timing, especially in moments where the two Miles were in the same frame.

The most technically demanding sequence? The infamous "mirror scene," where the original Miles confronts his clone in a bathroom. Sources suggest the crew used a combination of practical effects (like hidden cuts) and digital compositing to sell the illusion . Rudd later admitted that the process was exhausting but worth it for the payoff: "It’s the kind of thing you don’t get to do every day," he said .

Aisling Bea and the Show’s Darkly Comic Heart

While Rudd’s dual performance stole the spotlight, Aisling Bea’s portrayal of Kate Elliot added emotional depth to the series. Bea, a British comedian and writer, brought a grounded energy to the role of Miles’ wife, who’s left bewildered by her husband’s sudden "upgrade." In interviews, Bea hinted at the show’s tonal balancing act, describing it as "a comedy about existential crisis" . She also revealed that the cast leaned into the absurdity of the premise, often improvising to keep the mood light during long shoots.

One standout moment? The "Vardygate" scandal—a running joke in the series where Kate’s obsession with a fictional self-help guru (played by Desmin Borges) becomes a source of tension. Bea and Rudd’s chemistry made the subplot feel organic, even as it veered into surreal territory . Off-screen, the two shared a rapport that translated into their on-screen dynamic, with Bea calling Rudd "one of the funniest people I’ve ever worked with" .

The Ending That Left Fans Divided

Spoiler alert: The season one finale of Living with Yourself delivered a gut-punch twist, revealing that the "original" Miles might not be so original after all. The ambiguous ending left audiences debating whether the clone had replaced the real Miles—or if the real Miles was the clone all along. YouTube explainers (like one from Screen Rant) dissected the finale frame by frame, with some fans praising its boldness and others calling it "confusing for the sake of confusion" .

Rudd himself weighed in on the ending’s meaning, suggesting that the show’s central question—What does it mean to be "yourself"?—was intentionally left open. "It’s about the idea that we’re all kind of faking it," he said in an interview . Whether a second season would’ve explored this further remains a mystery, as Netflix canceled the series after one season. (Rumors of a revival have circulated, but nothing’s been confirmed.)

**Why Living with Yourself Still Stands Out**

In an era of bingeable content, Living with Yourself carved out a niche by blending sci-fi, comedy, and existential dread. Its tight eight-episode run (a rarity for Netflix at the time) kept the story focused, while Rudd’s performance ensured it never took itself too seriously. Critics praised the show’s originality, with Rotten Tomatoes calling it "a clever, darkly funny exploration of self-worth" .

Yet, despite its cult following, the series never quite achieved the mainstream buzz of Rudd’s other projects. Some blamed the cancellation on Netflix’s algorithm, which favors broader appeal over niche brilliance. Others pointed to the show’s tonal whiplash—part rom-com, part Black Mirror—as a turnoff for casual viewers.

One thing’s certain: Living with Yourself was a passion project for Rudd, and its legacy lives on in the conversations it sparked. Whether you loved the ending or hated it, the show proved that even in a sea of content, a little existential dread—and a lot of Paul Rudd—can go a long way.