Netflix has no shortage of programming built around love, spanning steamy thrillers, wholesome romantic comedies, originals and licensed titles. A new roundup highlights ten series that put romance at the center of the story rather than treating it as a subplot, each built on the chemistry between its central couple.
"Outlander" tops the list as its most intense entry, adapting Diana Gabaldon's romantic fantasy novels. The story begins with 1940s nurse Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) being transported to 18th-century Scotland, where she falls for highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) despite being married in her own time. The show does not shy away from the brutality of its era, including sexual violence and bloody betrayal, across its eight-season run, but the couple's devotion holds firm.
"Virgin River," based on Robyn Carr's novels, has delivered comfort romance since 2019. Nurse Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) moves to the Northern California town of the title and finds solace with local bartender Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), who carries his own traumatic history. The pair help each other heal while the series leans on its rustic setting and close-knit community.
South Korean television supplies two entries. "Crash Landing on You" (2019) opens with corporate heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) accidentally landing in North Korea after a paragliding accident and being found by soldier Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin). The series mixes corporate intrigue and military thriller elements with a forbidden romance built on yearning. "Business Proposal" takes a screwball approach: Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) goes on a blind date with her CEO, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop), who does not know they work together, and then asks her to pose as his fiancée to appease his grandfather. The leads genuinely fall for each other, and the show runs a tight 12 episodes.
"Emily in Paris" offers wish fulfillment through Lily Collins's American marketing specialist, who relocates to Paris and navigates the local dating scene, with neighbor Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) recurring in her life. The series makes the most of picturesque European settings including Rome and Monaco, and is set to conclude with its sixth season.
"Bridgerton," based on Julia Quinn's novels, is set in early 19th-century Regency Britain and follows a different Bridgerton family coupling each season. The roundup notes that the show pairs high-society intrigue with modern storytelling and plenty of sexual tension, with Jonathan Bailey and Nicola Coughlan among the standouts in an ensemble that keeps the saga fresh.
"Heartstopper" (2022), adapted from Alice Oseman's comics, centers on classmates Nick Nelson (Joe Locke) and Charlie Spring (Kit Connor) as Nick comes to terms with his identity and his feelings for Charlie. The British series favors emotional honesty and empowerment over melodrama, and the story continues in the Netflix film "Heartstopper Forever."
"Sullivan's Crossing" shares a source with "Virgin River" — both draw on Robyn Carr novels — but moves the setting to Nova Scotia. The 2023 series follows Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) as she returns home after trouble with her medical career in Boston, reconnects with her estranged father Sully (Scott Patterson) and grows close to handyman Cal Jones (Chad Michael Murray). It has run four seasons so far.
"One Day," a 2024 limited series adapting David Nicholls's 2009 novel, traces the relationship of Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) and Emma Morley (Ambika Mod), who meet in 1988 as they finish college in Scotland, across 14 years. Each episode captures a single year, and the roundup describes it as the biggest tearjerker on the list.
Finally, "Nobody Wants This" (2024) pairs Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as love-advice podcaster Joanne Elizabeth Williams and rabbi Noah Roklov, who fall for each other quickly, to the consternation of their respective friend groups. The romantic comedy deliberately avoids a will-they/won't-they structure and uses an interfaith culture clash as the backdrop for its love story.
Sources: TVLine.