BWW Column: How I Feel About LOVE, the Netflix Series, Not the Emotion

Netflix has begun releasing original comedies that have had a more realistic and dramatic tone. MODERN ROMANCE, LOVE, and the just-released FLAKED, follow a younger male protagonist as he navigates life and all that that entails: from heartbreak to self-questioning. These comedies are far different from shows like PARKS AND RECREATION or MODERN FAMILY that have outlandish and borderline unrealistic storylines. There are many positives about this new type of comedy television show, but they can also present a very singular view on life and love.

Judd Apatow, Paul Rust, and Lesley Afrin created LOVE, which stars Rust as Gus and Gillian Jacobs as Mickey. LOVE captures the millennial experience of falling in love, but in a way that at times feels forced. I watched all 10 episodes in the span of a week, and during my viewing of the show, I couldn't decide whether or not I loved or hated the show.

LOVE keeps your attention, that I do know. Gus is your typical "nice guy" who finds himself wronged by the women in his life. To me, Gus' character is less a nice guy and more an average guy who expects to be wanted just because he isn't a bad person. He never does anything to deem himself as important or special, but expects to be seen that way. From bringing Mickey on a date and expecting a certain reaction, to blowing up in a writer's meeting he was lucky to be included in, Gus does about the opposite of what a "nice guy" should do. I found his character more and more frustrating as the season progressed.

I found myself feeling the opposite of Mickey's character, however. In the beginning she seems like a cold, careless girl making bad decisions and not giving a s, but the more we learn about her, the more you see how human she is and how hard she's trying. A girl who suffers from addiction, Mickey tries to stay clean and make good decisions, but is constantly battling with her dependence. She isn't just dependent on drugs and alcohol, however, we see that she's also dependent on love. Mickey's character became more and more relatable as time went on. Her freak out after not hearing from Gus felt so honest and was something I personally understood, and her anxiety felt real and relatable. Mickey is one of the first characters I've seen that have accurately depicted what it's like to be functioning and living day to day with addiction.

My problem with Gus' character, and a lot of the show in general, is that we never get a moment to empathize with him. His problems feel shallow and self-inflicted, and it's hard to root for him when his niceness feels almost like a façade. Mickey seems like the character you'd hate, but in reality it's Gus. I especially didn't like the final scene, where Mickey does her best to apologize and tell Gus she needs to work on herself, and in response Gus kisses Mickey. That moment summed up my feelings for the entire series: Mickey explaining her addiction struggles and her need to get better and Gus ignoring her and doing what he wants.

I don't think this show is bad by any means, just a frustrating look on life and love and how characters can be depicted as deserving of love and happiness but doing nothing to earn it. However, maybe that's the point. Maybe the creators wanted us to see how unfair and frustrating life and finding love can be, and in coming seasons (if it's renewed) we will see the repercussions of Gus' actions. I believe this new form of comedy is an exciting one, because we can explore a part of comedy that most network shows don't get to, and that's the comedy that comes out of real pain. Everyday life may not be as exciting, but a good show can take relatable experiences, even sad or frustrating ones, and bring out the humor to make the experience better. I applaud Netflix for creating shows like LOVE, because it shows a new side of comedy we don't get to see on network television.

Photo Credit: Netflix