Modern Love - season 2 is here. It is kind of weird for me to find out today that I did not write about season 1. Because it was and is kind of the most favorite romantic series.
I am going to write a little about the season 2 along which we were watching for the past month or so. Although there were only 8 episodes, there were travels, parties and other unpleasant things that interrupted us to finish it in one go. But then thats the price one pay, I guess.
Anyway, let me start with a little background. I started reading the column 'Modern Love' in the NY Times back in 2014-15, when NYT used to be largely free to read and stopped reading around 2018-19 when most of NYT went behind the paywall. The column is little episodes of romantic escapes of men and women from primarily NewYork but also from other parts of the world. It was interesting because it captures a lot of emotions and in a lot of scenarios, these were stories that are happening in real life and so, there is no conclusion to them in a real sense.
So when the season 1 was made, it was a great to see some of the best of those columns made into little romantically wrapped candies and with some great music as well. So it was with a lot of expectation that we went in the season 2.
It didn't disappoint either. However as always with little episodes, there are some great episodes and some that are a dud. Overall, it delivers an experience which I think is best captured, when you snuggle with your love and watch all episodes. However, time is a luxury and hence all you end up doing is rationing the episodes during the dinnertime, which may not be a great experience but probably a theme for another 'Modern Love' episode in season 3, I guess.
The opening episode probably ranks the highest in the season 2. Here a woman tries to sell a old sports car, which used to be owned by her late husband. She feels his presence in the car. Her second husband buys it back for her to keep as a token of remembrance and understands that it is difficult to get rid of memories. Fabulous scenery, the story told with little episodes of flashbacks, the last act of love by giving her the car back - the love that does not dramatize its presence but by just understanding the partner and share what cannot become full. It is probably the best reason why the best love stories need not be tragic or even melodramatic but can just ride on the emotions and understanding.
Unfortunately, none of the other stories come closer to this rock-star episode, though there are a lot of interesting stories, if you care to watch. I loved the 'Strangers on a train' episode which had an 'Affair to remember' kind of drama with it and while it sounded a little far-fetching (I mean, no social media presence for both the leads?), the premise is set for a great story and it did deliver (though the conclusion was not the perfect one). The final episode of the series 'Second Embrace' is another little romantic soap in half an hour with so much going on. What I liked is those 30 second shots, of the estranged husband peeling of the bandage from his ex-wife's removed breast scars or the way he prompts the place of their daughter's recital to remind her - those are the reasons you watch 'Modern Love' anyway.
The other episodes are okish and sometimes, a bit not sure why they belong in the series. However, while there may be partial disappointments, mostly it is worth watching.
The excellent thing about the series is the excellent soundtrack that comes with every episode. From Van Morrison to Neil Young, there is a lot of songs that absolutely fits the episodes well and is worth searching for and finding that Amazon has released it as an album. (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWz2DO39R-NWzye-BRND4Pk3GfuT2xjEb)
Overall, if you are a romantic sap like me, must watch.
