We all like TV and most of us like being able to watch whatever we want whenever we want. That’s why Netflix is such a great service. The streaming site has been smart enough to cash in on this fact and it has provided us with gobs of great shows to watch. What some people don’t know, however, is that Netflix originals are actually pretty good. Personally, I just finished "Love" in five days and, as an expert on such things, I can say that this show is great for all of the screwed up losers out there who want a healthy dose of good entertainment.
"Love" is a classic boy-meets-girl story, but with so many modern twists and turns that one could use it as a modern guide to relationships. Except for the “adventure” that happens at the beginning of the season, the show reflects the ups and downs of interpersonal relationships on a level that is both intimate and amusing. The characters, Gus, an onset tutor for a bad television show, and Mickey, a radio program director, struggle through their own emotional dysfunctions as they explore what it means to be in their 30's and single.
Although network television has produced gems like "How I Met Your Mother" and "Scrubs," these shows have regulations that they must follow that Netflix conveniently doesn’t have to. The company has been liberated creatively. They can have their characters smoke, drink, do drugs, and have sex right on the screen without the hassle of euphemisms or cutaways. This might seem arbitrary or vulgar, but, for me, it adds depth to the characters. The viewer gets to experience the characters hot box their cars or go on a drug-fueled subway ride through Los Angeles. This doesn’t mean that their actions are being condoned. Instead, it gives insight into the struggles that the characters face and how they deal with them. This also reflects their inner struggles and the lives of people with real struggles and problems.
"Love, like "Scrubs," does an excellent job of integrating their soundtrack into the mood and feel of each episode. When things get crazy, they use a Fidlar song. When things get destructive, they use a Black Lips song. The series uses Alternative music as a way to complement the rough and edgy lifestyles that both of these characters are living. They are not normal, mainstream people and neither is the music that accompanies them.
Overall, the first season was great. As a guy who doesn’t like awkward humor, this show did a good job of getting me over that problem and I could relate to the characters. The writing is excellent, the acting is solid, and the trajectory of the relationship that Gus and Mickey have is nowhere near clear to us, even at the end of the last episode. This is definitely a show that I will enjoy for seasons to come.
