Cover Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe stars in ‘Too Much’, the comedy series that spotlights the realities of dating. (Photo: Ana Blumenkron / Netflix)
Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe stars in ‘Too Much’, the comedy series that spotlights the realities of dating. (Photo: Ana Blumenkron / Netflix)
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These TV shows get honest about dating—from awkward first moves to emotional fallout and everything in between
Love often unfolds in ways that feel nothing like what we see on screen. These TV shows—honest, awkward and sometimes deeply uncomfortable—understand that. They reject the myth of the perfect meet-cute in favour of something more familiar: bad timing, ghosting, codependency, the occasional existential spiral. Whether it’s a uni hook-up that derails your self-esteem or a long-term situationship you can’t quite define, these series capture how dating really works. If you’re tired of romance tropes, these are the TV shows that offer a closer reflection of the dating world we actually live in.
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1. ‘Too Much’
Created by Lena Dunham and Luis Felber, Too Much stars Megan Stalter as Jessica, an American commercial producer who relocates to London after a breakup and ends up with a loosely defined job. Her relationship with a fragile musician, played by Will Sharpe, leads to emotional derailment rather than clarity. The series explores what it means to date without structure, where past hurt continues to shape the present.
2. ‘Girls’
Again by Lena Dunham, Girls was divisive and at times hard to watch, but it was ahead of its time. Its depiction of a group of 20-something women in New York remains one of the most unflinching portraits of early adult relationships. It delves into selfish partners, ambiguous flings and emotional misfires with sharp, often uncomfortable candour.
3. ‘Sex Education’
Above Emma Mackey and Aimee Lou Wood in ‘Sex Education’ (Photo: Sam Taylor / Netflix)
Emma Mackey and Aimee Lou Wood in ‘Sex Education’ (Photo: Sam Taylor / Netflix)
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Though framed with stylised sets and comedic energy, Sex Education explores the emotional confusion of teenage relationships. From awkward first times to shifting sexual identities, the show captures the uncertainty and effort involved in figuring it all out.
4. ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’
Co-created by Mindy Kaling, this series follows four students at an American university as they navigate dating, sex and social expectations. It captures how young women test boundaries, confront contradictions and learn through friendship, failure and campus culture.
5. ‘Adults’
Set in Queens, New York, Adults follows a group of housemates in their 20s as they move through friendships, jobs and relationship stumbles. The show traces the overlap between dating, instability and the emotional backslide that often comes with early adulthood.
6. ‘Normal People’
Based on Sally Rooney’s novel, Normal People offers a restrained, emotionally layered study of a formative relationship. Through silences, missed signals and moments of deep vulnerability, it shows how miscommunication and emotional distance can shape intimacy.
7. ‘Modern Love’
Adapted from the New York Times column, this anthology series features a range of perspectives on relationships. Episodes like Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of dating with bipolar disorder offer clear, affecting glimpses into how people attempt connection while managing private challenges.
8. ‘Fleabag’
Fleabag explores female desire, grief and emotional avoidance through razor-sharp humour and devastating honesty. At its centre is a woman using her femininity, wit and misdirection to mask her pain, even as she longs for something more sustaining. The show offers a raw, unsentimental look at connection, guilt and the mess of trying to stay emotionally afloat.
9. ‘Derry Girls’
Above Season 2 of ‘Derry Girls’ on Netflix. (Photo: Derry Girls/Netflix)
Season 2 of ‘Derry Girls’ on Netflix. (Photo: Derry Girls/Netflix)
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Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Derry Girls follows a group of teenage girls (and one English boy) navigating crushes, rejections and everyday chaos in a politically volatile time. Despite the historical backdrop, the show keeps its focus on adolescent mishaps, showing how teenage feelings can be as intense as they are fleeting.
10. ‘Harlem’
Following four Black women in New York, Harlem portrays dating alongside career ambition, friendship and identity. The characters are impulsive, driven and complex, and the series allows room for emotional contradictions, humour and growth.
These shows explore relationships as they actually unfold: with mistakes, mixed signals and uneven progress. They offer stories that feel familiar, with moments of clarity, humour and recognition along the way.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
