John Carney's collection of standalone love stories returned for a second season in August, offering eight emotive anecdotes of unconventional love. One of Modern Love's strengths is the diversity of its characters and stories—viewers will find at least one relatable character or quote from each episode.
Adapted from the New York Times column, the Amazon series follows lovers from all different walks of life, from a mature separated couple who rediscover their love for one another to an eighth-grader coming to with her sexuality. Some of the quotes from the second season are profound and offer new perspectives on relationships, others are simply funny, and others are heartwrenching.
"If You Wanted To, Then That's Okay."
At the climax of one of the sweetest Modern Love episodes, eighth-grader Katie goes over to Alexa's house to come clean about her feelings and apologize for getting her in trouble during the school lock-in. Katie explains that an online quiz confirmed her to be heterosexual, but when Alexa questions why she kissed her, Katie reveals that it was because she wanted to.
"If you wanted to, then that's okay," replies Alexa, who understands the absurdity of letting a BuzzFeed quiz determine your sexuality. However, she doesn't judge. Her gentle ission of "that's okay" puts Katie at ease with herself, and eases viewers, too. That's why this quote is so relatable. Amidst confusion and uncertainty, the simple yet reassuring idea that if you feel a certain way then that's okay is exactly what someone might need to hear.
"I Haven't Spent A Minute Not Thinking About Everything She Said."
One of the best rom-com meet-cutes in recent television takes place during "Strangers on a Dublin Train." After arranging to meet on the first train back to Galway following Ireland's two-week lockdown, Michael and Paula's plan is interrupted when restrictions are extended. Michael reveals to his brother, during an argument about flouting lockdown to see Paula, "I haven't spent a minute not thinking about everything she said."
This is a relatable quote for those in nascent relationships—ruminating over everything a prospective partner has said, analyzing ing comments, and attaching to them more depth than is perhaps deserved. The quote shows how deeply Michael feels this connection with Paula, and after the argument, he's prompted to try his luck against the city's police and roadblocks.
"We're Not Them—At Least We Have That."
Anyone who has ever had their heart broken or been hurt by someone can, if nothing else, take solace in the fact that they aren't the person who did the hurting. That's the case for Spence and Isabelle, one of Modern Love's best couples. They have both been cheated on, and after meeting in a therapist's waiting room, they hit it off, soon realizing that their lives are improved when spent together.
Just when Spence is feeling the most disillusioned with his life, Isabelle reminding him of this one salient truth seems to lift a layer of gloom, marking a turning point. Spence soon says farewell to his depression, and this could be attributed to Isabelle's perspective on things, summarized aptly with this quote. The music even switches gears, here, to a more light-hearted mood, signaling the change.
"We Can Only Be As Happy As We Allow Ourselves To Be."
As two young men walk towards one another on a New York street as flashbacks from their once-upon-a-time ago date gradually reveal their story. Each re the night differently, thinking they come across as better or at least different than the other re—conversation ebbs and flows; there are awkward pauses. But when they start to click and discuss making changes in life, Ben tells Robbie, "We can only be as happy as we allow ourselves to be."
The quote is interesting in the context of the episode, as Robbie re Ben to be critical of his work, his family, where he lives. Yet Ben seems to offering Robbie this advice. The quote is therefore especially thought-provoking because it holds within it a relatable contradiction, the gap between how someone sees themself and how others perceive them.
"Your Heart Was The Biggest Place I Had Ever Been In The World...And If I Got One Little Part Of That, Well, That Was Way More Than I Ever Expected In Life."
In the best episode of Modern Love season 2, a widowed pediatrician confesses to her current partner that she doesn't want to sell her beloved vintage sports car because she still feels able to talk to her late husband while driving it. Expecting him to break up with her, he instead reaffirms his love, stating that even if he "got one little part" of her heart then that was more than he expected.
This is one of the most poignant quotes from the series and bucks the one-true-love theory, offering a more nuanced and, arguably, grown-up perspective. Naill doesn't expect to be Stephanie's one love. Instead, his outlook suggests that it's possible to have more than one true love. Getting one little piece of her heart is enough for him, a concept that may ring true for anyone who's loved and lost and come to love again.
"I Just Want To Be Near You, Zoe. Asleep, Awake—It Doesn't Matter."
Anyone who's ever been truly, deeply, sickeningly in love with someone can surely relate to this quote. In "The Night Girl Finds A Day Boy," a woman with delayed sleep syndrome who sleeps all day and is awake all night starts dating a man who doesn't keep her unique schedule. It's new love bliss, to begin with, but he soon grows frustrated with sleepless nights and Zoe's inability to make it to daytime brunches.
In the end, the "Day Boy" reaches an epiphany, which he shares with the "Night Girl" at the episode's resolution. He tells her that he just wants to be near her: "Asleep, awake—it doesn't matter." It's a feeling that's encapsulated well with this phrase. When love is right, it ostensibly doesn't matter if someone is even awake—being with the person is enough.
"Not All Of Us Is Giving It Away To Just Anyone."
"A Life Plan For Two Followed By One" is built around the "best friends to lovers" rom-com trope, which has been explored in groundbreaking movies like When Harry Met Sally. Modern Love's take on the premise follows stand-up comedian Lil as she has her heart broken by her childhood best friend Vince; he ghosts her after taking her virginity.
The power behind this quote comes from the fact that Lil plans to save her first sexual encounter for someone special; the someone special is her best friend Vince, with whom she has been in love for many years. The dreaded first time is a point of contention for many teenagers and young adults. For some, like Lil, it's a sacred experience, but in Vince's case, it's an unconsidered event. Anyone who's felt frustrated by a close friend or lover's nonchalant attitude towards sex is likely able to relate to Lil in this episode, especially as Vince mistreats her after their spontaneous night together.
"I Loved The Idea Of Being Grown Ups But I Didn't Really Have Any Of The Tools."
In "A Second Embrace...," the relationship between divorced couple Van and Elizabeth starts to reblossom, a warm and engaging depiction of later-in-life love that eschews convention. The episode gradually reveals that they separated because Van wasn't yet mature enough to be a family man, as exemplified in this quote.
The rush to grow up, young love, incremental discontent, and contemplation of something more—these are highly relatable themes that the episode and this quote, specifically, bring up. It's easy to empathize with Van, here, especially as viewers see how good he is with his daughters, how ive he is of his ex-wife. However, his immaturity and different priorities meant he had to pay the price of spending years apart from his family unit. Even if viewers haven't been in this exact situation, the idea of running before you can walk, and of challenging yourself, of growing to meet a partner's needs, is relatable.