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Like many people at the beginning of COVID quarantine, I turned to Netflix for solace. While mindlessly scrolling, I came across a show I’d watched a few years ago but never finished— much to my shame— because oh my, what a masterpiece it is. If you haven’t heard of Lovesick, it may be because of its glorious previous title, Scrotal Recall. The plot is about a guy tracking down his past sexual encounters after finding out he has chlamydia. If I didn’t love a good pun so much, I would have passed on it too.
What sounds like a typical raunch-com is much more tender. Lovesick isn’t really about sex; it’s about finding a connection during a very liminal space in life between college graduation and the “real world.” As our leading man says, “Finding love is all heartbreak, disappointment, and misery… until it isn’t.” Here are a few reasons why Lovesick should be next in your queue.
Lovesick is more Than A “Will They/Won’t They”
The show begins with Dylan’s positive results and the creation of a list of names that cleverly serves as the framework for each episode. The show jumps between the present day and flashbacks of Dylan’s relationship with each woman, showing why they failed. Although the show is charmingly funny, the core of the story is the anxiety surrounding the question of everyone dating in their 20-30s: “what do I really want?” This embarrassing, awkward showcase of trial and error to find happiness and connection grounds the show and makes it compelling.
Everyone has been or knows someone who has been one of Lovesick‘s characters at one point or another. Dylan fiercely believes in true love and is on the constant search for “the one.” Luke’s terrified of being hurt and compensates by being “the fun, detached guy.” Angus finds justification for every fault in his partner, and Evie’s sick of wasting time on people who don’t treat her the way she should be. Therefore, we root for them. We recognize their pitfalls and want something more for them because we’d want the same for ourselves and loved ones. Lovesick works because it both reflects and predicts human behavior. There are a lot of moments where you will think, “Oh no, I do that” or “Wow, that used to be me.”
Unsurprisingly, Evie and Dylan are the two that merry-go-round each other throughout the series. While they do fall into most sitcom tropes regarding their “will they/won’t they,” the pay-off is worth it. Due to the nature of the show’s format, we see the characters’ growth in a nonlinear fashion, filling in the gaps of why they act as they do. As we understand them more, their coming together feels more earned. It’s an exciting way to tell a coming-of-age narrative because it so perfectly articulates the messy nature of the age it’s depicting.
A Spotlight On Vulnerability
Healthy relationships, romantic or otherwise, are complex. We see a lack of vulnerability due to fear of discomfort time and time again in narratives surrounding people in their 20s. Lovesick‘s no different. Most of the conflict that arises is from masochistic dishonesty or distrust. In a show about connection, the biggest frustration for a viewer is a self-destructive character.
As the series progresses, we witness more and more hard conversations. Not just between partners but friends as well. The third season, perhaps the show’s best, focuses much more on friendships and exploring the safe space adult friendships can provide. This is especially present between Luke and Dylan and is a representation of an openly emotional friendship between men that needs to be more present on television.
Falling For Lovesick
Lovesick isn’t a show full of grand gestures. It’s the quiet story of falling in love when you have no idea who you are or what you’re doing. It attempts to answer the question: What do we do when we’ve grown complacent in our relationships? How do we stop comparing ourselves? Does it matter how right the person is if the timing is wrong? Even when all is said and done, questions remain, but as anyone in a long term relationship knows, there is no tidy way to explain love. There are just good days and the bad.
All three seasons of Lovesick can be found on Netflix.
