More than chocolate to binge on
Check out our Valentine’s Day streaming picks.
Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? The romantic holiday is here Wednesday, and whether you’re scrambling to get a gift or trying to avoid the idea of romance altogether, we have some binge-watching recommendations for you. If you like quiet, and devastating romance: Carol
Carol tells the story of an older, married woman who falls in love with a young shopgirl in the 1950s. Romantic, emotional and sometimes tragic, the film is a wonder to watch. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara earned Oscar nominations for their work in the drama, and it’s easy to see why. Stream it on Netflix.
If you love love-triangles and intrigue: Jane the Virgin
In addition to telenovela-style drama and family comedy, Jane does romance pretty well, too. The CW series has gone through various romantic stages, including several love triangles, heartbreak, grief and joy. You can pick an era to watch, but if you’ve never seen it before, you should start at the beginning. If you’re in the mood for a mature coupling, you can start with “Chapter Thirty-Five,” in which Jane (Gina Rodriguez) and Michael (Brett Dier) get back together. The rest of the second season chronicles their renewed love and wedding planning (but be warned —nothing on this show is happy forever). Stream it on Netflix.
If you want something Shakespearean: Much Ado About Nothing
After helming the huge superhero film The Avengers, director Joss Whedon needed a break and decided to film a low-key, black-and-white Shakespeare adaptation at his home with a bunch of his friends from such TV shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and
Firefly. The result is a sweet, fun romcom, with a great star performance from
Angel actress Amy Acker (who is now acting on The Gifted). Stream it on Hulu.
If you want a classic-style rom-com with Oscars buzz: The Big Sick
There’s no better day of the year to watch a romantic comedy than Valentine’s Day. And while there are many, many classics to choose from, Silicon
Valley actor Kumail Nanjiani put a modern twist on the genre with this autobiographical work that’s worth watching. In a rare rom-com told from the man’s perspective, Kumail plays a version of himself dating Emily (Zoe Kazan), who falls gravely ill after they break up. While she’s in an induced coma, Kumail bonds with her parents (the delightful Ray Romano and Holly Hunter). Stream it on Amazon.