Amazon Studios made a series called “Modern Love,” a title which, for most of us, probably calls to mind a string of “U up?” texts and subsequent morning walks (or jogs) of shame home. But, that’s not the type of “modern love” this show is talking about, and here’s why you should watch it, even if you don’t really believe in that sh*t. Yes, that’s right, drop the grudge you’re still holding over Chad from Alpha Mu who hits you up exclusively after 2 a.m., get a pint of Halo Top (because #skinnylegend) and please watch these eight heartwarming episodes. I’m telling you, it will revive that corner of your heart (you know, the one that believed in true love and happiness) that sort of died during college.
It has a star-studded cast.
Before I even tell you what this show is about, I have two words: Dev and Patel. Okay, but even if you’re not into skinny Indian guys like me and those two words didn’t get you feeling all warm and tingly everywhere, then I have another couple of words. Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, oh and Ed Sheeran plays a homeless dude. Let’s just say there are some Emmy-worthy performances in this show, in my humble opinion. And although each star only appears in one episode, kind of like in a Black Mirror-esque way, it doesn’t matter, because you’ll be greeted by another couple of A-listers in the next one. Between Hathaway’s riveting performance as a single woman dealing with Bipolar disorder, Ed Sheeran’s cameo as a British bum, Dev Patel’s straight-up sexiness and not to mention a ton of other famous actors who your parents would probably recognize (anyone ever heard of John Slattery?), at least if you hate the concept of the show, you’ll know you’re watching some quality acting.
It’s based on real-a** stories.
And now for the actual premise of the show: it’s based off of a 15-year-old New York Times column called “Modern Love,” where people submit personal essays of their own complicated, messy or unique love stories weekly. In other words, you don’t get to sit there, roll your eyes and say, “it’s just a TV show,” because these situations did, in fact, happen. The founder of Hinge really did break up his first love’s marriage to get her back all because a nosy journalist told him to. And a gay couple really did adopt a homeless woman’s baby and still keep in touch with their nomadic baby mama today. Of course, some of the stories are embellished, but for the most part, if you compare them to the original NYT articles, they are pretty spot on, so props to Amazon for keeping it #real. And some of this stuff can get pretty sappy, so if you’ve got some of those hopeless-romantic-turned-stone-cold-bitch vibes going on from a nasty break up or a resume of failed hookups, at least this show will provide a shred of hope that cute things could still happen to you!
It all takes place in NYC, baby.
Even though some of the original columns take place in totally irrelevant cities, like Seattle, for some reason, which is pretty obvious to me, but maybe not to the three or four NYC-haters I’ve ever met, each episode takes place in New York City. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about seeing that Lower East Side ale house I always pass but would never actually touch with a ten-foot pole on my 32” TV screen that makes me feel like I’m a somebody. Oh, so Olivia Cooke (she plays the pregnant homeless teenager) has passed that ale house? I’ve passed that ale house. We’re obviously friends now. Regardless of my probably unhealthy relationship with fictional television characters, however, I have to say, this show covers some serious NYC ground. I’m talking Long Island City to Carl Shurz park (Upper East Side) far. Long story short, if you’re an NYC ride or die, you could honestly probably take a note from some of these episodes for your next date night—there’s some super cute parks, restaurants, but also a few sketchy street corners if the date goes badly and you need a bodega that sells ice cream.
It’s freaking free.
So, if you have Amazon Prime, which I’m pretty sure you do since Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. still aren’t sufficient for our television needs today, here’s yet another reason to watch “Modern Love.” It’s included with the subscription! It’s not one of those annoying rental movies or TV series where you literally have to pay $2.99 for every episode. (Does anyone actually ever pay for that?) What more need I say? It’s free. It’s realistic. It’s about everybody’s favorite topic. And, sorry for milking this one to death, but, it’s got Ed-freaking-Sheeran playing a goddamn HOBO, people! If you don’t love it, I don’t know what to say. You might actually be dead inside.
words_isabella vaccaro photo_debby hudson on Unsplash