10 Most Underappreciated TV Shows Of The Decade (So Far)
2. LOVE
Although he’s most widely known for his bombastic and drug-fuelled comedy blockbusters, Judd Apatow got his start in low-key dramedy TV. His late-90s and early 2000s shows Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared were criminally under watched and undervalued at the time, and his latest series, the Netflix exclusive LOVE, seems to be similarly overlooked by mainstream audiences.
Although LOVE was renewed for a recently released second season (something Apatow’s earlier shows were never afforded), it seems to have flown under the sit-com radar, overshadowed by more marketable shows like Master of None or Louis. It deserves a great deal of praise and admiration though, not just for being an incredibly funny show, but also for its tender-yet-realistic portrayal of modern romance.
There’s nothing really cynical about LOVE’s portrayal of, well, love. It accepts the way modern dating works, figurative warts and all, and runs with it, creating two fully fleshed out and endlessly relatable characters in its lead couple, Mickey and Gus.
The cast is very strong, from regulars to one-off cameos, and although Paul Rust’s Gus (Rust also serves as co-creator) often feels like the focal point of the show, it’s Gillian Jacobs who shines through in her most potent dramatic role to date. It’s the kind of performance that could easily propel Jacobs to stardom, if only more people were watching. The show is regularly out-rated by sister shows Fuller House, Master of None, F is for Family, and even The Ranch.
Like the concept it so expertly explores, not many people seem to be talking about LOVE.