If you appreciate Paul Simon’s “The Obvious Child,” then Netflix’s *Long Story Short* is essential viewing. In its inaugural episode, Avi Schwooper, portrayed by Ben Feldman, introduces the song to his girlfriend Jen, voiced by Angelique Cabral. Avi is drawn to a particular line where Simon mentions a son named Sonny who grows up and leaves home, emphasizing the rapid flow of time.

Avi’s interpretation of the song reflects the motifs of *Long Story Short*, which delves into aging and the passage of time. Each episode shifts between the Schwooper siblings’ younger years and their later lives, akin to the line break in “The Obvious Child.” Both the song and the series compress years into moments, showcasing Sonny maturing and the Schwoopers growing from children into adults with families.

Simon and *Long Story Short* facilitate audiences in inferring the happenings between these moments. Simon doesn’t elaborate on Sonny’s existence, and the series doesn’t explicitly narrate the Schwoopers’ experiences, yet viewers understand the narrative through pivotal dialogues, alluding to important life transitions such as divorces and deaths.

Avi doesn’t explore the lyrics further, but the remainder of “The Obvious Child” resonates with *Long Story Short*. An older Sonny reflects on his past, paralleling how Avi, Shira, and Yoshi think back to their youth.

The show’s emotional peak corresponds with “The Obvious Child” at the conclusion of the first episode. In 2004, Avi and Jen display affection on a plane following Yoshi’s bar mitzvah. The scene transitions to 2022, where Avi is alone in his car, contemplating the past. This shift suggests Avi and Jen’s parting, providing a poignant glimpse into the evolving storyline.

That’s time, isn’t it?

*Long Story Short* is currently available for streaming on Netflix.