Love - Season 1 Review
Love is when two people see each other for the first time and right then, they inherently know that they are going to spend the rest of their lives together. There are sparks or in some cases, flames, of spiritual connection spiralling around them which only gets stronger with each revolution. This is what most movies and TV shows pander their audiences with - an unrealistic definition of love. But the new Netflix dramedy Love, does completely the opposite of it. It is not revolutionary but it presents an utterly believable portrait of how two people get attracted to each other and the steps that eventually lead towards them falling in love.
Created by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin and Paul Rust - who also plays the geeky, on-set tutor and wannabe writer, Gus opposite to the fantastically beautiful Gillian Jacobs of Community who plays Mickey, a Program Manager for a Radio show. The show follows their individual lives leading up to the moment they meet and the various ups and downs their relationship goes through.
Love is not just another romantic comedy/drama, it is far out from several similar shows in the way it handles people and relationship between them and this is where it shines. The chemistry between the two actors is flawless. But their characters? Not so much. They are two completely different people with only one common factor - their attraction for each other. This causes a natural tension in their relationship and it is extremely fun to watch their relationship evolve.
Just like Netflix's previous outing Master of None; Love explores relationships in a totally unusual way. It perfectly represents the way people date each other today. Mickey is a deeper and richer character than Gus, brilliantly played by Gillian Jacobs. She is a recovering drug addict and because of her troubled love life she finds it hard to maintain her sobriety. Mickey is an extremely well realized character. Gus has problems of his own but his end of the story is less engrossing than that of Mickey's.
The show drags a bit half way through the season. It is completely subjective if this drag represents the state of their relationship in that particular phase of time or if it is just a writing mishap. Either way, it doesn't last long enough to ruin the story and one can smoothly slip right back into proceedings.
Love is a wonderfully performed show with some amazing insights into today's relationship paradigm featuring some very well written and genuinely hilarious situations. One can easily binge the entire season in a single sitting, and will still want more of Mickey and Gus.
