If there is one thing that drives us as human beings, it is love. It is part of our daily lives and in every one of our relationships, whether it is with a partner, family and friends, and even pets. And perhaps that is why romance is a theme that runs through virtually every film and television story, regardless of their genre. Every person who makes up an audience has felt love, and most have had their hearts broken at one time or another, which is why it is so easy to identify with different romantic characters in film and television and what they go through in terms of relationships. That is, to a great extent, what made the romantic genre so popular. Over the years, many elements of romantic movies and shows have become emblematic, from quotes and grand gestures of love, all the way to entire scenes.
Hundreds of romantic movies have managed to win the audience’s hearts and rank among the genre’s classics, such as Titanic, The Notebook, and Notting Hill, to name just a few. And while romantic movies are great entertainment, romance TV series allow us to stay with the characters for much longer, delving more deeply into their relationships over different periods. So much so, the audience gets hooked on certain romantic couples, flooding social media with pictures and discussions about them. Here are some of the best romance TV shows.
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8 How I Met Your Mother
20th Television
Who hasn’t heard the story of how their parents met over a million times? Drawing from that idea, and their own experiences in life, Craig Thomas and Carter Bays created How I Met Your Mother, a series that ran from 2005 to 2014. Starring Josh Radnor alongside Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alyson Hannigan, this show follows Ted Mosby as he recounts to his children the story of how he first got to know their mother, centering on the adventures he had growing up with his best friends and navigating his way through dozens of failed dates and heartbreaks.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Sweet Magnolias
Netflix
JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley star in Sweet Magnolias, Sheryl J. Anderson’s romantic TV series based on Sherryl Woods’ book of the same name. In this series, the actresses play Maddie, Dana, and Helen, three friends living in South Carolina who have been together all their lives. Now, they must face the complexities of love and family, as well as the different struggles in their professional lives, demonstrating that it is never too late to start over. This show premiered in 2020 on Netflix, and last May, it was renewed for a third season.
6 Bridgerton
In December 2020, Bridgerton emerged as one of Netflix’s most popular series, garnering fans worldwide. This Chris Van Dusen production based on Julia Quinn’s novels is set in London during the Regency Era and follows the lives, conflicts, and varying love dilemmas of British high society, focusing on the Bridgerton family. Bridgerton, which already boasts two seasons and was renewed for another two, features an ensemble cast of talented actors such as Julie Andrews, Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Jonathan Bailey, Nicola Coughlan, and Claudia Jessie.
5 This Is Us
This Is Us is a show that triggers all kinds of emotions in the audience, as people quickly empathize with one or several characters. Created by Dan Fogelman and starring Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Justin Hartley, alongside a great ensemble cast, This Is Us follows a couple and their three children at different points in their lives as they navigate different conflicts. The series’ success lies in its combination of comedic and dramatic elements, as well as common situations that arise in the lives of people and families. This Is Us premiered in September 2016 and ran for six seasons, wrapping up in January 2022.
4 Grey’s Anatomy
ABC
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama TV series that follows the lives of interns, doctors, and nurses at Seattle Grace Hospital (now Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital), focusing mainly on Meredith Grey’s life and career. But apart from that, this show grew so popular, thanks to its numerous storylines involving love and heartbreak between characters. The show premiered in 2005 and is still on the air in its 19th season, making it the longest-running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC. While the cast has morphed over the seasons, some of its most popular actors are Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T. R. Knight, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens Jr.
3 Love, Victor
Hulu
Due to the overwhelming success of the 2018 film Love, Simon, Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger created Love, Victor, a Hulu series that ran for three seasons. This show follows Victor, a student at Creekwood High School who has just moved to the city and struggles to fit in among the rest of the students, while he undergoes a confusing stage in regards to his own identity and sexuality. Michael Cimino stars in this series alongside George Sear, Rachel Hilson, Bebe Wood, Anthony Turpel, and Isabella Ferreira, among others. In addition, Nick Robinson, who starred in Love, Simon, was involved in the project as producer and narrator.
2 Normal People
Element Pictures / Screen Ireland
Normal People is a 2020 Irish miniseries that needed just 12 episodes to achieve critical acclaim. It is based on Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name, and she also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Alice Birch and Mark O’Rowe. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, Normal People follows the complex relationship between Marianne and Connell, two polar opposite people, from the time they finish high school through their years at Trinity College and their transition to adulthood. The series was praised for its performances, direction and script, among many other aspects.
1 Heartstopper
At the top of this ranking stands another series making waves on Netflix: Heartstopper. Released in April 2022, and now confirmed for another two seasons, this series is inspired by Alice Oseman’s graphic novel of the same name, who was involved in the project as a writer. Heartstopper follows Charlie, a young gay student who falls in love with Nick, the school’s star rugby player, who happens to be his new bench mate. As the two strike up an innocent friendship that evolves from this crush, Charlie navigates this new and confusing relationship, while Nick struggles to find himself. Heartstopper is a show that proves to audiences that love can work in unexpected and surprising ways. Joe Locke and Kit Connor star in this Netflix hit, alongside William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, and Kizzy Edgell.
