Netflix Hidden Gem Comedy Series With Community Star Is A Secret Success

Love is one of the few Netflix originals that I’ve watched twice all the way through (and a third re-watch might be on the horizon). It’s a no-holds-barred look at dating filtered through two very imperfect people. The show offers a quasi-realistic look at modern relationships, warts and all.

When the series begins, Gus and Mickey are in various states of relationship breakdown. Gus has just broken up with his longtime girlfriend after she cheated on him and accused him of being “fake nice.”

Meanwhile, Mickey is in a toxic, again-off-again relationship with a drug addict. A chance encounter leads to these polar opposites—he’s neat, she’s messy, etc.—dating. What follows is three seasons of ups, downs, heartache, and joy.

As previously mentioned, Love was created for Netflix by Judd Apatow. This alone will be enough reason for some people to check it out. For the rest of you who might be turned off by the Apatow of it all, don’t be.

Yes, Love is profane, hilarious, and touching like most Apatow films, but that’s about it. You won’t find any excessive riffing—Seth Rogen is nowhere to be found.

The most Apatow thing about Love is Iris Apatow, who plays a teen actress that Gus is tutoring. I have to say, my problems with nepotism aside, she does a great job.

In fact, everyone does. Love, like most Netflix originals, boasts a strong cast of talented actors. Say what you will about Netflix, but their casting is always top-notch. Claudia O’Doherty, Bobby Lee, and Bret Gelman all help to make the show as good as it is. However, the show’s leads are the main draw.

Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust have a real chemistry. Gillian, a teetotaler in real life, plays the alcoholic, sex-addicted Mickey with dignity not always afforded addicts on screen.

Meanwhile, Paul Rust portrays Gus as a flawed good guy-type who, as his ex put it, is more “fake nice,” than anything. Beneath Gus’s artificial “Aww shucks!” virtuous nerd persona, there is a vulnerable man struggling to do right by his partner.

Love‘s dual protagonists are some of Netflix’s biggest screwups, which makes their triumphs that much sweeter. The show’s whole point is that relationships aren’t easy, but they’re worth fighting for.

I know I haven’t done the best job of highlighting the “com” half of rom-com, but let me assure you, the show is hilarious.

One of Love‘s best bits is that Gus is in a band that makes up theme songs for movies that don’t have one. Their Carlito’s Way song is my favorite.

The series is more about conversational humor than actual “jokes.” However, there is one gag in Love season 3 that I would put up against any other joke on Netflix.

Gus, thinking he’s alone, opens up some “adult” entertainment on his phone. What he doesn’t realize, though, is that he’s connected to a Bluetooth speaker. It’s something that could happen to anyone, which makes the joke that much more potent.

GFR SCORE

Love is one of Netflix’s best-reviewed shows, with a 94 percent critics score and an 87 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, everyone’s favorite review aggregate. Despite that, it feels like a forgotten show that nobody talks about. Hopefully, this article could change that.

If you like any of the actors I mentioned above, Judd Apatow or rom-coms, do me a favor and go stream Love on Netflix. That way, I can finally have someone to talk to about it.