Modern Love, season 2, all kinds of love

Tobias Menzies and Sophie Okonedo in Modern Love

Modern Love is an anthology series based on personal essays about love that appeared in The New York Times “Modern Love” column. Season 2 brings 8 new and varied stories about all kinds of love. This series is on Prime Video.

Modern Love does an outstanding job with inclusive storylines and casts. It brings in love of all kinds. It falls down on women directors. Season 2 had only Celine Held directing one episode.

Since each episode is different, I’m going to give you a very quick summary of the situation in each one. Some were better than others.

Let’s start off by watching the trailer.

A reminder, I reviewed season 1 of Modern Love here.

On a Serpentine Road, With the Top Down

Minnie Driver in Modern Love

Stephanie (Minnie Driver), a doctor, clings to a 30 year old car that was purchased by her first husband and first love Michael (Tom Burke). When she drives the car she holds imaginary conversations with Michael’s ghost.

Her current husband, Niall (Don Wycherley), doesn’t understand her attachment to this heap of rusting junk and insists they sell it. He’s willing to sell his boat, too. They need the money for college for their kid.

There’s a bit of an O. Henry feel to this one.

The Night Girl Finds a Day Boy

Gbenga Akinnagbe and Zoe Chao in Modern Love

Zoe (Zoe Chao) has a medical condition that makes her stay up at night and sleep during the day. She crosses paths with Jordan (Gbenga Akinnagbe) late one night. He’s a teacher and definitely needs to be awake during the day.

They are very attracted to each other, but their lives make it really difficult to connect.

Strangers on a (Dublin) Train

Lucy Boynton and Kit Harington in Modern Love

It’s March 2020. Things are just shutting down “for two weeks.” Paula (Lucy Boynton) and Michael (Kit Harington) are both on the train headed to Dublin where they intend to pass the 2 weeks with family. They connect immediately and hard.

They don’t exchange any contact information, but agree to meet at the train station in two weeks when they are heading back to “normal life.”

As we all know, normal life comes to a screeching halt in March of 2020. How will these two find each other again?

A Life Plan for Two, Followed by One

Lil (Dominique Fishback) falls for Vince (Isaac Powell) in elementary school. They become best friends. After college Lil embarks on a career as a stand up comic. She and Vince haven’t seen each other for a long time, but she still has the hots for him.

Vince comes to a performance at her comedy club. They have sex, which ruins everything. Can their broken friendship be fixed?

Am I…? Maybe This Quiz Will Tell Me

Grace Edwards and Lulu Wilson in Modern Love

Katie (Lulu Wilson) takes online quizzes to see if she’s a lesbian. She’s in middle school and has feelings. She meets Alexa (Grace Edwards) and they become friends.

At a school lock in night, they kiss while hiding in the bathroom. This could turn out to be a disastrous moment or a life-affirming answer to a very important question for them both.

In the Waiting Room of Estranged Spouses

This story is a bit more complex. It involves two couples, infidelity, the responsibilities of parenthood and PTSD.

Isabelle (Anna Paquin) befriends Spence (Garrett Hedlund) in the therapist’s waiting room. Isabella’s husband Nick (Ben Rappaport) has been fooling around with Spence’s wife, Jeannie (Jeannie Yi).

The marriages break up, but the friendship between Isabelle and Spence grows. Can these four people get through this and grow into something better?

How Do You Remember Me?

Zane Pais, Marquis Rodriguez, and James Scully in Modern Love

Ben (Marquis Rodriguez) and Robbie (Zane Pais) had one date. It was interrupted when Ben had to fly home because his father fell ill. Ben and Robbie don’t see each other again until one day they pass each other on the street.

The meeting triggers memories of their one night together in them both. But they remember it in different ways.

A Second Embrace, with Hearts and Eyes Open

This episode was my favorite of season 2. It was tender and beautiful.

Elizabeth (Sophie Okonedo) and Van (Tobias Menzies) were divorced. They had two daughters and shared the parenting gracefully. A medical problem brought them closer together and closer to their children.

You can’t do everything with 8 episodes. I appreciated the inclusive cast but would like to see someone Muslim or Arabic – or maybe native American – or maybe someone with a disability. I know they have to go with what is submitted to the newspaper column, just putting it out there.

4 thoughts on “Modern Love, season 2, all kinds of love”

  1. My favorite was “A Second Embrace, with Hearts and Eyes Open” as well. Loved the performances by Menzies and Okonedo. I was really looking forward to this season but we ended up saying we need to just rewatch season one, most notably the doorman story. I was happy to see more gay story lines but the editing and playing with time got old fast for me. I don’t mind non-linear timelines except when it feels like it’s the only drama since the story itself lacks.

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