If you’re looking for a new tv show that’s hilariously chaotic, yet romantic and deep, I highly recommend Love.

I stumbled across the show over the summer after an unexpected breakup, and it was everything I needed. I was able to laugh, cry, empathize with characters, and ultimately gain a better understanding of what love- real love- might look like.

There are some spoilers ahead, so stop reading, go watch, and come back if you need to!

About the Show

The Plot

Love is an American romantic comedy-drama created by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, and Paul Rust. All three seasons are on Netflix.

In an interview, Apatow describes it as a “Comedy of the complications of trying to get to know somebody”.

The show takes place in modern-day Los Angeles. It follows the story of Mickey, a sex, drug, and love addict with a reputation for inciting chaos. When she meets Gus, a nerdy, sweet guy, the last thing she wants to do is let her self-destructive nature get in the way. She’s torched every love affair she’s ever had, but has hope that this time she’ll do things right.

This isn’t the story of an addict who is ‘fixed’ by a healthy person. Gus has his own problems. He’s a pretentious, wannabe screenwriter with anger and entitlement issues. In many ways, he is just as selfish and unhealthy as Mickey. While better at hiding his flaws, we quickly learn that he is just as capable of self-sabotage.

Paul Rust explains basing the character off of his own wife and feels that he is the embodiment of Gus. While based on his own relationship, he explains that “much of it is fictionalized.”

Together, Mickey and Gus call each other out. They bring out the best and the worst of each other and navigate a meaningful, albeit messy, relationship.

Why I love the show

It’s honest…brutally honest.

It’s REAL and raw. The way it portrays modern relationships is spot on. Everything from the awkward moment of initiating the first text conversations, to the “what are we” phase, to a committed relationship is accurate.

There’s one scene where Gus texts Mickey for the first time and is anxiously waiting for her response. He hears his phone buzz, only to realize it’s just a text from his best friend about spotting Snoop Dogg at Chipotle. I laughed out loud. It’s a comical and very relatable situation.

The show captures the whole milieu of feelings when entering a new relationship: frustration, confusion, excitement and disappointment. It does it all without making it too heavy. The show also uses humor to break the tension and remind you that you’re still watching a rom com series.

It defies rom-com stereotypes.

Love defies the typical rules of a romantic comedy. It’s not cheesy, and it takes a more realistic approach to relationships.

The show gives us a reminder that everything doesn’t have to be love at first sight.

Mickey is not initially attracted to Gus (or doesn’t know herself to be). When they meet, there’s no slow motion scene with harp music playing and doves flying.

Instead, they meet at a convenience store and Gus pays for Mickey’s coffee after she loses her wallet. Mickey tells her friends that he’s just a friend. She even sets her roommate Bertie up on a date with him.

I really like that the characters meet in person. If they met on an app it’d look more like Tinder propaganda than a rom com.

You don't have to like everything about your partner to fall in love.

Mickey cringes at how dorky Gus can be and Gus isn’t in love with the fact that Mickey is addicted to drugs.

Finding and keeping love starts with loving ourselves.

The series reminds us that love isn’t a cure-all. If we’re not working on ourselves simultaneously, it can all fall apart.

It also reminds us that we’re always a work in progress. There’s no such thing as doing all of the work before entering a romantic partnership.

Relationships, love, and attraction aren’t clear cut.

There’s no clear pathway. The feelings ebb and flow. They transform, evolve, disappear, and return. It’s a strange, yet magical phenomena that I think we’ll all experience at some point in our lives.

The characters are memorable.

The characters are believable and multidimensional. Each one has passions and goals while simultaneously grappling with vices, insecurities, and delusions about themselves.

As soon as you label them one way, they’ll reveal a new dimension of themselves. Flaws and all, they’re each lovable in their own way.

The characters teach us things.

All the characters provide insight into modern relationships. While watching the show, we are exposed to different types of relationships: married couples with kids, new relationships, situationships, etc.

I like how different characters share their own definitions of love. It adds more depth to the story of Mickey and Gus and it demonstrates how the people we surround ourselves with influence our beliefs.

The secondary characters can see the flaws in Mickey and Gus. They provide an outsider’s perspective to the main characters that they sometimes lack by being up close with one another.

The dialogue is funny yet heartfelt.

If you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss out on the jokes that Apatow, Rust, and Arfin incorporate into the script to soften the emotionally intense moments. A raging argument might end with a hilarious one-liner.

There’s lots of poking fun at LA culture and awkward relationship conversations we’ve all experienced.

The storyline is exciting.

Just when you think you know how a character is going to handle a situation, you’re surprised.

The series keeps it interesting with character arcs. We see Mickey and Gus experience career growth and relationship growth over the course of all three seasons.

We meet new characters and watch relationships between secondary characters shift and intensify.

Through all three seasons, we are given more reasons to root for our favorite people in the story.

Go on, Check it Out

Whether you’re in a relationship, recently dumped, or you’re enjoying single life, I guarantee you’ll love Love. It’s sexy, chaotic, and outrageously funny.

It’s going to make you laugh, maybe even cry. But most importantly it’ll make you think.

Watch Love on Netflix.

Do you love it? Hate it? Feel free to share in the comments!