Cleo is a twenty-four-year-old British artist residing in New York City. She faces an expiring student visa and possesses little money, leaving her anxious about returning to England and her estranged family. She carries deep grief stemming from her mother's death. Her sudden marriage to an older advertising executive provides her with immediate financial stability and legal residency.

Frank is a forty-five-year-old man who runs a successful advertising agency. He abandoned his own artistic dreams years ago to build a secure career. He functions as the primary financial provider for his younger half-sister. He relies heavily on alcohol and late-night socializing to cope with high stress and a difficult childhood.

Eleanor is a thirty-eight-year-old former television writer. She recently relocated from Los Angeles to her mother's house in New Jersey to help care for her ailing father. She commutes to the city for work and maintains a practical outlook on life. She is intelligent and highly observant.

Anders is Frank's wealthy best friend. He enjoys a bachelor lifestyle filled with parties and casual romances. He struggles to nurture serious commitments, preferring the excitement of fleeting encounters over deep vulnerability.

Zoe is Frank's young half-sister and an aspiring actress. She relies on her brother for money to fund her expensive New York City lifestyle and acting classes. She feels highly insecure about her epilepsy and struggles to form genuine connections with other women.

Quentin is Cleo's wealthy gay best friend. His family emotionally disowned him due to his sexuality, leaving him heavily dependent on his friendship with Cleo for emotional safety. He uses his family's money to fund a life of parties and casual encounters.

Santiago is a successful restaurateur and an immigrant to the United States. He carries the grief of losing his wife, Lila, to a drug overdose. He approaches his friends with deep compassion and frequently acts as a voice of reason within their chaotic social group.

Peter is Cleo's father. He lives in England and maintains a distant, strained dynamic with his daughter. He failed to invite Cleo to his own recent wedding, a fact that causes significant friction.

Miriam is Cleo's stepmother. She conducts inner child psychology workshops globally. She dominates conversations and openly analyzes Cleo's emotional state without invitation.

Johnny is Quentin's ex-boyfriend. Their romantic relationship ends bitterly when he accuses Quentin of being overly obsessed with Cleo and makes derogatory comments about his gender expression.

Alex is a mysterious Russian man who begins spending time with Quentin. He introduces Quentin to new experiences and harder substances within the city's nightlife scene.

Audrey is a friend of Cleo's who lives in New York City. She intervenes when a doorman acts aggressively toward Zoe, pulling the younger woman into her social group for the night.

Tali is Zoe's roommate. She accompanies Zoe to free Friday night events when they cannot afford other entertainment.

Portia is a woman Zoe meets at a free meditative exercise class. She earns a lucrative living and speaks openly about her financial success.

Kamal is a local hot dog vendor in New York City. Frank and Cleo ask him to step in as the legal witness for their impromptu wedding ceremony.

Jonah is the son of one of Anders's former girlfriends. He maintains a close, consistent bond with Anders even after the romantic relationship with his mother ended.

Lila was a talented dancer and Santiago's beloved wife. She died of a drug overdose, an event that continues to shape Santiago's approach to life and friendship.

Jiro is a Japanese immigrant who grew up traveling the world. He finds himself in a loveless marriage and seeks out company strictly for conversation. He is generous and willing to engage in difficult discussions.

Danny is a successful artist and a former romantic interest of Cleo's from graduate school. He enjoys making radical artistic statements and creating spectacles.

Marshall is Audrey's new boyfriend. He accompanies her and Cleo to an art event in the city.

Jacky is a former colleague of Eleanor's from the advertising agency. She travels to New Jersey to visit Eleanor and share updates from the city.