Mickey and Gus (Jacobs and Rust)

TV Review – Love: Season 2

So…. last Friday saw the return of Love to our Netflix accounts.

I’m a sucker for an OG Netflix series, I’ve been hooked since Making a Murderer but we don’t have time to get into that. Out of them all though, Love has been my favourite.

Written by Judd Apatow, it’s got to be one of the best shows I’ve seen and season two did not disappoint. I mean, other than Stranger Things, it’s the only series I’ve watched all in the same day. If you know Apatow (I Love You, ManBruce Almighty, Anchorman, Bridesmaids) you’d know he’s not a fan of gooey Notebook style romance stories, despite what the title may suggest. Although, after watching the first season, perhaps it’s more ironic. I get super creeped out by cringey love stories and I’m not massively into rom-coms but Love doesn’t particularly fit into these categories.

Trailer below:

The second season of the US web show picks up where the first season left us, at the petrol station with Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust) having a pretty serious convo. If you haven’t seen the first season, of course I’d recommend you do but it’s not essential to enjoy the second. But the real beauty of this show is the characters and therefore to get to know them properly, it is crucial to see the journey from episode one.

Jacobs, for me, made a name for herself in Community, a US sitcom created by Dan Harmon. In Love, she perfectly demonstrates what it’s like to be a woman of this generation, dealing with the struggles we all face. Granted there’s a lot more to her story than perhaps most but with the honesty Jacobs approaches it with, makes for a truly funny experience.

Rust too. I obviously don’t have a clue about the inner workings of what makes the opposite sex tick but from what Rust portrays in Love, I can imagine it ain’t too different from us ladies. Rust plays a very sensitive character but its the sensitivity of it all that’s so hilarious. I’ve never watched anything so true to life and so relatable and that is what makes Love so successful.

I’ve got to say though Bertie (Claudia O'Doherty) is my favourite character. She’s the crazy housemate and creates the well needed light relief from the sometimes intense plot line.  

Love is set in Los Angeles. Of course, what tv show isn’t these days? However, it shows us non-Hollywood inhabitants the behind the scenes beauty of the famous city. Mickey is a bit of a “cool gal” and Gus, well Gus is Gus (see the episode where they go to the Magic Castle to see what I’m talking about) so you get the sense that the locations are where real-life you and me people frequent. It all adds to the authenticity of it all. I’d for sure go and visit.

If you like real life comedy and beautiful scenery and colours and you’re a sucker for a unconventional romance and you like good music (the soundtracks incredible FYI) then give it a go. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.