--- title: "Modern Love: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/modern-love/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/modern-love" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Modern Love (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics find the anthology charming and hopeful, a revival of the romantic comedy told in short, self-contained stories. The praise clusters on the acting, and on one episode above all: Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of a woman living with bipolar disorder is singled out by reviews at both ends of the scale as sensitive, raw and the strongest thing in the series. John Carney’s restrained direction and the natural performances it draws out also earn credit. The reservations gather around schmaltz and privilege. Several reviews find the New York on show narrow and affluent, its romantic problems too comfortable to grip, and the cast short on everyday variety. The spread is wide. Three critics come down against it: Vulture calls it emotionally empty and retrograde, faulting shallow characterisation and a refusal to engage with the social forces shaping love; The Telegraph and Collider find it too polished or too contrived, while still admiring the acting. Digital Spy, reviewing later, is warmer about a single second-season story. ## The i Paper — Sarah Carson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2019. Carson finds the anthology a charming, refreshing revival of the romantic comedy, despite its heavy schmaltz and lack of bite. She praises its thoughtful, diverse love stories for moving beyond familiar romcom formulas. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/amazon-prime-modern-love-review-romcom-anne-hathaway-andrew-scott-351933) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 8 October 2019. Goodman finds the anthology simple, endearing, and compelling, with most stories working well. He especially praises John Carney’s restrained direction and the natural performances it brings out. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/modern-love-review-1245870/) ## The AV Club — Gwen Ihnat Rating B. 18 October 2019. The review finds the anthology charming and ultimately hopeful, despite uneven episodes and a narrow, affluent portrayal of New York. It praises the series’ concise stories about unexpected human connection. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/modern-love-offers-charming-tales-about-the-search-for-1839035083) ## The Telegraph — Helen Brown Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2019. Brown finds the series too polished and privileged to make its romantic problems compelling, despite its moments of emotional warmth. She praises the acting throughout, especially Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of a woman living with bipolar disorder. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/modern-love-review-hard-care-problems-beautiful-unrealistically/) ## Vulture — Angelica Jade Bastién Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2019. The critic finds the series emotionally empty and retrograde. She particularly faults its shallow characterization and its avoidance of the social dynamics shaping love and relationships. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/modern-love-amazon-anthology-review.html) ## Paste — Amy Amatangelo Rating 8.9/10. 18 October 2019. Amatangelo praises the series as delightful, poignant, and consistently stronger than much of television. She singles out its concise storytelling and Anne Hathaway’s intense portrayal of bipolar disorder. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/modern-love/modern-love-review-amazon) ## Digital Spy — Abby Robinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2021. The review finds the season’s featured story a charming, lovely addition to the anthology, though its conclusion may feel abrupt. It praises the leads’ complementary performances and the story’s whimsical score and vintage-film touches. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a37228971/kit-harington-modern-love-season-2-amazon/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the series uplifting and warmly entertaining, though its schmaltz may not suit everyone. They single out Anne Hathaway’s episode for its sensitive, realistic portrayal of bipolar disorder, while criticizing the cast’s lack of everyday variety. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/modern-love-review-amazon-prime-2558711) ## Collider — Adam Chitwood Rating ★★. 18 October 2019. The critic finds the anthology uneven and often contrived, though likely appealing to viewers seeking comfort-food romance. The Anne Hathaway episode earns particular praise for its emotionally raw depiction of bipolar disorder and her dynamic performance. [Read the review](https://collider.com/modern-love-review-amazon-anne-hathaway/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/modern-love.md