Nathaniel Nelson / Winonan

Will Arnett’s new series “Flaked” is a bit of a conundrum. It’s a dark comedy, following in the footsteps of other recent shows like “Bojack Horseman” and “You’re The Worst.” The show tells an intricate tale of deception, twisting comedy with dark themes and complex characters. However, much like its contemporaries, the first season doesn’t stick the landing.

“Flaked” tells the story of Chip (Will Arnett), a recovering alcoholic and life counselor. In Venice, Cali., he is regarded as the go-to person for someone with problems. The only catch is that Chip doesn’t follow his own advice, and his personal life is bogged down with lies and deception. As the show moves along, viewers will slowly discover all the secrets he’s hiding, and grow to both love and hate him.

Arnett is spectacular as Chip, complete with his familiar dry humor from “Arrested Development.” Chip is the perfect example of how to build a character. By hiding his mistakes in the background and slowly tipping viewers off, it allows them to relate to Chip before they start to hate his mistakes. The show also plays with expectations, allowing Chip freedom to interact with other characters without the audience knowing if those interactions will have an effect.

As far as the other characters go, there’s not much to pick apart. David Sullivan’s Dennis is a great foil to Chip. In fact, he ends up being one of the most complex characters in the show, and is by far the most relatable. Much of the supporting cast is stellar too, including a great guest performance by “Superbad’“ star Christopher Mintz-Plasse, but sometimes their humor doesn’t really land like it should.

The problem with the show lies solely in its story. There really isn’t an end goal — for the characters or the show. The show introduces characters at a rapid pace, builds their personalities and then lets them loose without any real structure. Even at the end of the season, it’s still completely unclear where they’re trying to take it. While many darker comedies have that problem, and don’t really click until season two, “Flaked” is special. The finale gives no resolution and only really conveys the theme, “Chip is an asshole.” If this is supposed to be a redemption story, they have a long way to go

When it comes to these kinds of dramatic comedies, the tone is absolutely the most important part. The tone in “Flaked” can be a little lopsided at times. Its balance of comedy and drama never fully clicks, getting particularly messy near the end. In fact, the show sinks to almost full melodrama with occasional humor in the final act. By never finding that sweet spot, “Flaked” stumbles around in the dark, unsure of what it wants to be. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s a problem, and the biggest hurdle the show will face in following seasons.

Netflix has been at the top of their game lately when it comes to TV shows. From the superheroics of Marvel’s “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones,” to the drama of “Peaky Blinders” and “House of Cards,” to the straight comedy of “Master of None,” Netflix has really been pushing the envelope of what TV can be. “Flaked” is a decent show, and worth an afternoon binge, albeit with some caveats. It’s nowhere near Netflix’s top works, and it won’t take over the dark comedy genre dominated by “Bojack Horseman” and “You’re the Worst.” Yet, the first season lays some intricate groundwork that will hopefully continue to develop, with the correct tone, in season two and beyond.