Based on 2 seasons, 16 episodes · through August 12, 2021
Modern Love is an anthology series based on real personal essays from a famous newspaper column. Each episode tells a different story about love, romance, and friendship in New York City and other parts of the world. The show features several prominent storylines with LGBT characters, including a same-sex couple adopting a baby, a gay couple remembering their past hookup, and a teen girl trying to figure out her sexuality. These identity themes and diverse casting choices are highly visible across multiple episodes.
Why 71%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Modern Love.
Woke representation / casting
The show features highly visible diversity across its main cast. It features multiple episodes centered entirely on LGBT couples and characters. It also frequently portrays interracial relationships and unconventional family setups. The inclusion of these roles is a very prominent, deliberate choice. This representation is boosted by the explicit queer elements across both seasons.
65%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue does not contain aggressive political lectures or explicit activist slogans. The characters talk in a natural way about their feelings and lives. However, the dialogue frequently incorporates progressive ideas about modern identity. Characters discuss topics like same-sex adoption, coming out, and exploring sexual orientation. The queer elements increase this score's weight.
38%
Identity-driven story themes
Several episodes are completely structured around identity-focused themes. One episode focuses on the struggles of a gay couple attempting to adopt a baby from a homeless mother. Another episode focuses entirely on a middle school girl using internet quizzes to figure out her sexuality. A third episode focuses on two gay men reflecting on a past hookup. These themes place LGBT representation front and center.
72%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show consistently reframes relationships to challenge traditional family structures. It portrays alternative setups, such as same-sex parenting, co-parenting, and platonic bonds, as highly positive. It actively turns away from the traditional nuclear family and traditional Western relationship norms in favor of highly fluid, modern arrangements.
45%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. The show is adapted from real personal essays written by actual people for a newspaper column. There are no changes to established fictional universes, historical figures, or iconic characters.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There was no organized anti-woke backlash or major right-leaning public complaint campaigns against the show. While some viewers noted the show's progressive slant, it did not face any notable controversy from anti-woke audiences.
0%
Creator track record context
The creative team is a mix of traditional and progressive filmmakers. The lead creator has a neutral profile. However, several high-profile episode directors and writers have very strong track records of promoting LGBT representation and progressive social justice themes. This gives the overall production a clear progressive tilt.
42%
Production
