Entertainment Movies Drama Movies Rob Lowe and His Son John Owen Are Back for More Zany Fun in Unstable Season 2: First Look The first teaser for the Netflix series sees the real-life father and son duo up to their usual antics as Ellis and Jackson Dragon By Julia Moore Julia Moore Julia Moore is a TV writer-reporter at PEOPLE. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 6, 2024 12:00PM EDT Rob Lowe and his real-life son, John Owen Lowe, are coming back for more onscreen tomfoolery. The pair return as father-son duo Ellis and Jackson Dragon in season 2 of Netflix's Unstable, which sees John Owen, 29, star as the son of a narcissistic tech genius (Rob) that only he can get through to. In a teaser for the upcoming season, which will premiere August 1, Ellis is up to his usual theatrics as he and Leslie (Fred Armisen) get in some practice for his upcoming jail stint — and Ellis makes it a shocking 19 minutes in the faux prison cell he's built inside his house. "You creamed your old record!" Leslie tells Ellis, who says, "Oh! That's sick." Jackson then comes downstairs with a towel around his waist and asks his dad, "Did you guys turn off the hot water again?" "We're preparing your father for prison, not the comfortable shower championships," Leslie replies. Jackson tells them, "Oh, you're both idiots," and a series of scenes from the upcoming season play, which teases the usual antics between Ellis and Jackson, as Ellis remains unstable following the death of his wife prior to season 1 — and his chief financial officer, Anna (Sian Clifford), remains responsible for basically everything. Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe in 'Unstable' season 2. John P. Fleenor/Netflix Rob Lowe's Son John Owen Is Aware — and 'Grateful' — He Got His 'Foot in the Door That Most People Don't' In season 2, Ellis "lays out a series of challenges and mind games for Jackson to see if he has what it takes to succeed him as the heir to the Dragon empire," according to the official logline, but Jackson's right to the tech giant may be threatened by a "newcomer" with "other ideas." In the series' first season, which premiered in March 2023, Jackson, who is "introverted" and "socially-challenged," returned to his "very successful, wildly eccentric" father's "cutting-edge biotech research company" to "save him from disaster." Fred Armisen and Rob Lowe in 'Unstable' season 2. John P. Fleenor/Netflix The dynamic between the characters was largely inspired — comedically — by Rob, 60, and his son's real-life dynamic, as they co-created and executive produce the show. "I spent a good deal of my youth keeping him humble, it was a significantly large task," John Owen teased of their onscreen relationship prior to the show's premiere. "I feel like your ego unchecked is honestly dangerous. I want the people to know what he's like at home." Rob said that working with his younger son was "painful," and they joked that there wasn't a "whole lot of acting" — besides them telling each other "I love you" while in character. "That's acting," Rob said. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Season 2 of Unstable premieres August 1 on Netflix. Close