Modern Love

Modern Love is an anthology that turns short, real-life essays into half-hour or hour-long episodes about the messier side of affection. Each installment follows different people at different points in life: an unlikely friendship, a past romance resurfacing, a marriage at a crossroads, a confusing first date, and a nontraditional family trying to fit in. The tone shifts from warm humor to gentle melancholy, and every episode stands alone so you can watch in any order. Actors change from chapter to chapter, but the linking idea is the human ways people give and receive care, sometimes awkwardly, sometimes triumphantly, without resolving every question. Episodes favor intimate, short-form storytelling that highlights everyday emotional shifts rather than big set-piece drama, with warmth.

Premiering in 2019 on Amazon Prime Video, the series was created by John Carney and adapts the New York Times 'Modern Love' column. Its anthology format uses a rotating roster of directors and guest actors to interpret each essay.

Modern Love didn't sweep major industry awards, but several episodes and performances were singled out in critics' coverage and year-end lists. The show's casting and episodic structure earned notice, even if it didn't become a frequent presence at the big awards ceremonies.

By translating a popular newspaper column to television, the show made short, real-life love stories more visible to streaming audiences. High-profile guest stars and emotionally direct episodes sparked social media conversations and essays about contemporary romance, encouraging viewers to rethink what love can look like across age, sexuality, and family arrangements.

Critical response was generally positive, reflected in a 7.331/10 average from 364 votes, with praise aimed at performances and the show's range. Episodes vary in tone and quality, but recurring themes are love's complexity, second chances, friendship, aging, and how family can be defined beyond blood, and inventive staging.