It’s natural to exaggerate when talking television. “That was the best episode ever! Lost is my favorite series of all time! I wish Craig T. Nelson was my grandfather!” Passion breeds hyperbole. Don’t hate the player; hate the greatest game in the history of the world. But when the intoxication of embellishment scatters and I finally have my druthers, I can confidently say with a calm, cool, and collected disposition that You’re The Worst is the smartest sitcom on television.

In the midst of its third season, Stephen Falk’s acerbic rebuke against traditional television has once again ascended to the top of the TV food chain. For the uninitiated, the series revolves around two self-destructive people (Jimmy and Gretchen, portrayed with sterling aplomb by Chris Geere and Aya Cash) who attempt a romantic relationship. But while most comedies spend time in the emotional kiddie pool, You’re the Worst dives right into the shark-filled depths of emotional complexity. Topics typically anathema to sitcoms — depression, PTSD, death, light stabbings — are deftly handled with comedic care. These aren’t empty ciphers to lob jokes at so much as they are fertile emotional ground adeptly used to explore the perpetual incertitude of life. While depression and PTSD don’t traditionally lend themselves to humor, the comedy is heightened by the depth and real life stakes these issues allow the characters to investigate.

The series evokes another brilliant sitcom, Community, in that you never quite know what you’re going to see from episode to episode. Season Two’s “There Is Not Currently a Problem” was a hilarious, heart-breaking bottle episode that revolved around Gretchen telling Jimmy about her clinical depression. Earlier this season, we discovered the true scope of Edgar’s (Desmin Borges) PTSD as the brilliant episode “Twenty-Two” dealt with the character’s plight with a delicate balance of humanity and sensitivity. While the acting on the show as a whole is exceptional, Aya Cash and Desmin Borges deserve a boatful of accolades for their respective performances.

You’re the Worst pulls back the Band-Aid to expose the gory scabs we attempt to conceal through the facade of normalcy… but with humor!

The genius of the series is its uncanny ability to go an extra five percent above and beyond most shows. Every single character, no matter how minor, is incredibly well-developed. Allan McLeod’s Paul Jillian doesn’t simply exist to create romantic conflict for Lindsay (Kether Donohue). He’s an affable bird-watching enthusiast who has shown an affinity for astronomy and recumbent bicycling! We know Paul; we love Paul; and the attention to detail extends to every Worstie. Sam (Brandon Mychal Smith) loves architecture. Dorothy (Collette Wolfe) is a theater girl. Vernon (Todd Robert Anderson) loves to get heckled and was freakin’ born dead for 15 minutes! Not only does Falk and company imbue their immensely talented supporting staff with life, but they also employ that creative TLC with each and every subplot.

Last week, Ben Folds made a guest appearance as himself. Not content to settle for your typical celebrity cameo, You’re the Worst provided a fully fleshed out story for Folds in which he hilariously attempted to raise a Moby-level amount of interest in his recent move to Los Angeles. Much like another terrific series obsessed with the details, You’re the Worst doesn’t do half-measures. That depth is indicative of a series that routinely saturates itself in the nuts and bolts of entertainment, and for television nerds, that extra five percent makes all the difference.

The lack of eyeballs on this series is maddening. I feel as though I should go door to door and campaign for the show like it was running for office. People should be talking about the brilliance of this series during their morning subway commute! I mean, yes, angrily staring off into the abyss while occasionally shooting death glances at your fellow riders is cool too, but don’t be afraid to mix it up!

I understand that You’re the Worst isn’t for everyone. It can be dark and comedically ruthless, but despite its edge, it’s aggressively devoted to its particular brand of honesty. I’m much more interested in following realistically flawed characters who fight, scratch, and claw against their destructive nature in search of something resembling happiness than watching stock character one and stock character two argue about in-laws, siblings, or toothpaste. Once you strip away all the bravado and acerbic deflection, you catch a glimpse of the show’s squishy heart. It’s optimism masquerading as pessimism; a love story concealed in the television equivalent of a Magic Eyes book, but most importantly You’re the Worst is the smartest, most entertaining sitcom on television.

You can watch new episodes of You’re the Worst on FXX or on the FX NOW app Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

[Where to stream You’re the Worst]