B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, and Paul Rust’s Love into the ol’ VCR. 

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know why I love this show so much. I don’t know if it’s because I see a lot of myself in Gillian Jacobs’s Mickey (or, unfortunately and occasionally, Paul Rust’s Gus). I don’t know if it’s because I love just about everything Mickey wears. I don’t even know if it’s because of the incredible monologue Mickey spews out in the first episode. All I know is that I’ve rewatched this show a million times. 

Now, friends, I must warn you. In the grand tradition of all Judd Apatow content, there’s an extreme lack of diversity throughout this series. It’s v white and v straight. Just keep that in mind. 

If you aren’t familiar with Love (which, same), it follows Gus and Mickey, two polar opposites, as they navigate their budding romance while working through personal issues. I know I say this a lot, but this cast, including several members of The Birthday Boys, is absolute perfection. 

There are two wolves inside me. 

There are times throughout Love that you’ll find yourself hating Mickey and/or Gus. And honestly, it’s relatable. We often put characters on a pedestal and then get upset when they don’t act how we think they should. However, that’s not what happens in reality, so I appreciate the realism. 

While the story, at its core, is about Mickey and Gus, I think the supporting characters really make the show. Love is messy and complicated and aggravating, and scenes within this show illustrate the highs and lows equally. 

As someone who’s been sober for two years, I also really appreciate Mickey’s storyline. I wasn’t sober when the show was released, but watching it while sober adds an entirely different level for me. 

Please give Claudia O’Doherty her own sitcom, I beg of you. 

Love, hate, and an improvised theme song for Carlito’s Way await you within three seasons.