‘Love’ is dead: The TV shows and movies to bingewatch next
As the third and final season of Love wrapped on Netflix, the void left by Gus and Mickey’s on-again-off-again mess is real. Here are ten movies and TV shows that deliver the same blend of flawed characters and tangled relationships, ready for your next bingewatch session.
Atlanta (2016-2022)
The precarious relationship between co-parents Earn and Van shares the same push-pull tension that defined Gus and Mickey. Donald Glover and Zazie Beetz made the pair simultaneously perfect and terrible for each other, and the sparks never faded. The series concluded after four seasons on FX, with its final episode airing in 2022.
Girls (2012-2017)
Lena Dunham’s divisive drama was also produced by Judd Apatow, and Love co-creator Lesley Arfin wrote several episodes. The show tracked overly privileged young women in New York navigating strange, complex relationships and painfully flawed characters. In recent interviews Dunham has floated ideas for revisiting the cast and stories.
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
James C. Strouse’s comedy stars Jessica Williams as an aspiring playwright and Chris O’Dowd as a heartbroken entrepreneur who use each other as post-breakup rebounds. The film trades in unconventional romance and sharp cynicism, ticking every Love withdrawal box.
Life Partners (2014)
If the friendship between Mickey and Bertie was your favorite part of Love, this comedy is the natural next stop. Gillian Jacobs stars opposite Leighton Meester, with Gabourey Sidibe and Adam Brody rounding out the cast in a story about a tight female friendship tested by new romance.
Insecure (2016-2021)
Issa Rae’s HBO comedy followed a twenty-something woman sorting through life, love, and career. The bristling, unstable romance at its center mirrors Love’s themes while delivering the same biting humor. The series wrapped after five seasons.
Trainwreck (2015)
Claudia O’Doherty, who played Bertie on Love, had a small role here, which is reason enough to queue it up. Amy Schumer’s film hits the usual rom-com beats but adds enough self-aware sneer to feel fresh.
The Big Sick (2017)
Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani wrote this film about the rocky start of their own relationship. It carries the same startling honesty and painfully relatable comedy that made Love addictive.
Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
Lee Toland Krieger’s indie romance stars Rashida Jones as a woman who breaks up with her husband, played by Andy Samberg, only to realize the mistake once his life improves without her. It’s pure Mickey-and-Gus territory.
Jessica Jones (2015-2019)
Beyond the superpowers and fight scenes, Jessica Jones centers on a young woman wrestling with trauma, addiction, and intimacy issues. Krysten Ritter’s character is basically Mickey Dobbs with superhuman strength. Netflix ended the series in 2019, and Ritter returned to the role in the 2026 season of Daredevil: Born Again.
Master of None (2015-2021)
Aziz Ansari’s first solo series explored modern romance with the same jaded heartache that powered Love. The show concluded after three seasons, and Ansari has said in recent interviews that he prefers new projects over a fourth season.
Fleabag (2016-2019)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s series delivers awkward, intimate relationships and personal flaws with the same sharp wit that defined Love. The show was critically praised for its honest look at messy romance and self-reflection, and it ended after two seasons while remaining essential viewing for anyone drawn to complicated characters.
Normal People (2020)
The Hulu and BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel captures the on-again-off-again push and pull of young love with emotional depth that matches Love. It has become popular rebound viewing for viewers seeking realistic relationship dynamics and honest portrayals of connection.
Beef (2023)
This Netflix dark comedy follows a road rage incident that spirals into obsession, examining toxic connections and flawed people in the same vein as Love. The series won multiple Emmys and fits the rebound theme of dysfunctional relationships played with dark humor.
The Bear (2022-)
While centered on a restaurant, the series features complex personal relationships and emotional vulnerability that echo Love’s character studies. Its ongoing run showcases strong ensemble dynamics and personal growth arcs that appeal to fans of character-driven comedy.
Whether you’re chasing the co-dependent chemistry of Atlanta, the raw honesty of Fleabag, or the slow-burn tension of Normal People, these titles keep the messy romance alive long after Love signed off.
