15 Best Romance Anime & Donghua TV Series ranked

Why 15 Best Romance Anime & Donghua?

The romance genre is often unfairly dismissed as a collection of tired tropes and heroines who are either hysterical or tirelessly forgiving and apologetic painted by scripts lacking nuance and thrown into the patient and redemptive arms of a male counterpart. For the discerning viewer, the frustration is real: too many series rely on caricatured reactions and exaggerated drama to signal “love,” rather than the natural, palpable evolution of feelings. At Fussy Tongue, we believe the best romance isn’t found in a whimsically yelled confession, but in the subtlety of certain gestures and the quality of a scriipt that understands that silence and behaviours are part of it and as evocative as words. From centuries-old devotions to the 2026 season, here is our definitive ranking of the romance series and movies that respect their characters—and their audience. BEWARE, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!

1. Heaven’s Official Blessing (Donghua, 2020)

The romance

This series sets the standard by proving that the most profound romance often is the quietest because it buds from within like the lava inside a volcano biding its time to erupt in a kiss. Unlike lower-tier counterparts, and in spite of the fictive nature of the series, the leads are grounded and dignified rather than caricatures. The evolution of feelings between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng is palpable; you can feel the weight of their connection through the reaction to an unassuming gesture, the heavy awkwardness in a lingering glance, and their constant reflex to protect the other. Even when they speak, the subtlety remains that rekindles the sleeping romantic heart.

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng

The exceptional quality of the drawing serves as a visual language for a devotion that avoids all typical genre pitfalls. You could not get more opposite than heaven-based Xie Lian and evil Hua Cheng and yet the series nuance the “opposites attracts” cliché as highlighted by Xie Lian often insisting and demonstrating that he is not perfect nor Hua Cheng purely evil. Even the settings are expertly interlinked with their love; for a ghost such as Hua Cheng, giving the location of his remains (ashes) to a loved one is a literal act of handing over the power to kill them—the ultimate proof of trust and vulnerability.

“To me, the one basking in infinite glory is you; the one fallen from grace is also you.” – heavenly god Xie Lian to evil ghost Hua Cheng

2. The Apothecary Diaries (Anime, 2023):

The romance

The romance in the Apothecary Diaries can be sumed up as forbidden love in a fictional Chinese palace from way back when. The unique relationship journey of protagonists Maomao and Jinshi starts as a “master-servant” dynamic. It quickly builds into intellectual curiosity, fleshes into both characters developing mutual respect and shared growth, and finally evolves into a deeply personal connection, finding grounding in each other amidst dealing with their respective issues and the treacherous politics of the imperial palace

Maomao and Jinshi

The romance is the extremely slow-burn of a mutual and subtle relationship. Jinshi initially views Maomao as an “ideal tool”, a perspective possibly influenced by the way that he himself  is viewed by others because of his great beauty: a tool in the emperor’s arsenal and an object in the eyes of others. Maomao’s initial idiosyncratic apathy and even slight disgust towards Jinshi and near-clinical indifference to beauty as she does not hesitate to make herself look “ugly” deeply intrigues him and draws him to her. Soon so do her intelligence, problem-solving abilities, sharp wit, her ability to see him beyond his appearances (beauty and behaviour), and unique and diverse knowledge of poisons and even of aphrodisiacs. Before long, his sentiments turn into deep, possessive affection if not obsession.

Breaking the ice

The relationship is the realistic and steady pace of breaking the ice created by their vastly different social status (a lowly servant and a high-ranking official and potentially future emperor) and temperaments (Maomao is cold and in her own world, while Jinshi is always smiling and meeting people to find solutions and fulfill his role) as each finds their place in their respective new duties (i.e., poison tester and problem solver for Maomao, and managing the palace for Master Jinshi). Jinshi’s love grows, often betrayed by his intense desire to protect Maomao, sometimes bordering on being overwhelming. Maomao seemingly remains oblivious to Jinshi’s feelings to avoid trouble. However, she slowly comes to discover and appreciate his true, less-polished self, developing feelings for him in return. Their affection is often forced to remain hidden, adding tension to their interactions. Their relationship also creates character growth, with Maomao becoming less isolated and more comfortable acknowledging her feelings for others, while Jinshi learns to show his true self.

The romance is built on little moment of quiet and subtle intimacy, and the slow change in relationship between the two rather than loud declarations of love. Most notably, it is often betrayed the way that Jinshi trusts Maomao implicitly and lowers his guard around her, the way Maomao toys with him when there is only the two of them, and some tastefully steamy and indubitably memorable moments.

3. Your Lie in April (Anime, 2014)

About your lie in April

I fell in love with Your Lie in April, a masterpiece of visual and sonic storytelling that uses classical music as a language for love, grief, and healing. The relationship between the two musicians is built on the way they push each other to face their deepest fears. While it is famously tragic, the romance is defined by the lasting inspiration they leave on each other’s lives long after the final note has been played.

The power of music

The power of music transpires at every corner of the series’ episodes. It is used as a liberator through through the free-spirited violonist Kaori Miyazonoto to rekindle the lost passion that Kousei Arima had for music. It is the missing link that reveals the bond of the two main protagonists, a bond particularly made obvious during their musical duets. It is the balm that appeases the trauma or mends the heartbreaking moments with which this tear-jeerker abounds. It is the reprieve in between each pain, the drama that highlights the grief and the melody that accompanies the final letter.

A heartwrenching but cathartic end

While the story ends with Kaori Miyazono’s death, her final letter reveals that she fell for Kousei at 5 when she heard the colours in his touch on the piano. And while this shows she’s been lying all along about not being interested, it goes further into revealing the closed cycle: he inspired her to play and she saved him from abandoning playing.

4. Cinderella Chef (Donghua, 2018)

About Cinderella Chef

Cinderella Chef (also known as Adorable Food Goddess or Meng Qi Shi Shen) is a Chinese donghua TV series featuring modern, talented, and resourceful chef Ye Jiayao reincarnated into a magistrate’s daughter in ancient China. Ye Jia Yao uses her exceptional culinary skills, creativity, wit and food history knowledge to survive intrigues, drama and even death, charm others, and win the seemingly cold heart of Xia Chun Yu, in a time period that restricts women.

But the most attractive part of this story is its realism (you know apart from the time travel bit). As it takes you through the streets and the tastes of China, you are immersed in a possibility that is palpable and even the romanticised parts are believable (you know, meeting Leonardo Da Vinci, marrying a prince and so on), in a way that the Cinderella story feels grounded, female empowering and life affirming.

Cinderella chef’s journey

The romance follows the mixed comedic and dramatic journey of Ye Jiayao and Xia Chunyu, from forced partners in a fake marriage to a loving and destined couple, overcoming their clashing values, bickering, mutual expectations, independent streak to find genuine love. It is a real pleasure to follow the heroine’s adventures from a modern and independent life, to waking up as someone else in an ancient world, to being forced more than once into marrying, to being kidnapped, to escaping death multiple times, and all throughout to exploring and proxy-tasting multiple Chinese culinary dishes and even once, Western dishes (can you really make pizza with eggs as a base?). Her adventures cooking in so many conditions, from her captive quarters, to the emperor’s palace via the middle of a famine or the middle of the forest, shows her resourcefulness and the place that great  food has as a basic necessity bot just in settling us physically but also mentally, allowing a place for depression to find hope, positive memories, happiness and love.

Feeding a great dish is sharing and rekindling Love

But there are so much more underlying themes to this TV series. There is a clear difference between modern day China where her food brings her to heights (she’s a contest winner) and make her renown within her specialism but to strangers. But in ancient China, there is a sense of family, as her food brings people together, from melting the hearts of lovers to admit their feelings, of family members to endure, and states to reconcile. The female protagonist even has a ritual to preparing herself for the task of cooking that resemble a heroin getting her hero costume on and a relevant saying to accompany it “Leave it all to me”. The TV series also shows the evocativeness of every taste in a meal, and the internal emotional and gustatory journey as the expression relaxes or even smiles or cries. A great dish cooked with flair and heart becomes her wand or her weapon to quench or destroy any survival instinct that stops her patrons from experiencing the love within themselves. A recurring theme in Ye Jiayao’s approach to winning over Xia Chunyu and how she does charm any person who gets to eat her food is:

“I will win your heart through your stomach.”

Ye Jiayao and Xia Chunyu

Ye Jiayao and Xia Chunyu’s relationship evolves from clashing values and bickering into genuine love as they are eventually both forced to acknowledge to themselves and to each other the way that they feel about the other. While Xia Chunyu’s defense are primarily weakened by Ye Jiayao’s meals, it is when she choses to save him rather than escape her kidnapping that he falls for her.On the other hand, Ye Jiayao notices Chunyu’s good looks first but does not let them influence her. She learnt to know him and respect him through his behaviour towards her, including him protecting her and never touching her even though he had the strength and the position and in the whole time she is kidnapped, the space that he provides feels more like a family than a prison. If it is not the pursuit that you fall in love with, it is the simple and genuine get together that showcase the solid foundations of an enduring marriage.

5. The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent (Anime, 202)

About the Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent

What I enjoy the most about this TV series is that the romance and the whole series is drama free (minus the first prince but even his drama gets an adult outcome not just a superficial karmic turn), the series has a lot more flesh than just the romance and takes the time to give each of its characters a personality. That being said, the leading female has a lot of the cliche too-good-too-be-tru that might make her more likeable but just to unlikely, which is why this slides a little lower on the list. To a certain extent, this has a whiff of Cinderella, with a more equal and natural partnership between the protagonist and an understanding of their growing romance beyond appearances.

The romance

The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent essentially provides a slow-burn, mature romance, often the best at taking the time to flesh out characters and the feelings that they develop. The romance is between the Japanese Sei Takanashi, summoned to another world and Albert Hawke, Commander of the Third Order of Knights in the kingdom of Salutania in the new world.

While both romantic protagonist are attracted to each other at first sight (Sei says he is definitely his type and Albert confesses that he could not get her out of his mind from the moment she saved him), they both have to contend with a number of natural obstacles. For Sei, her “humility” stops her from conceiving such a handsome man could be interested in her, but also, she takes the time to understand what her feelings truly are since she is, as she says, surrounded by handsome men. She also is content with her life, being able to practice her passions (helping others and researching plants). Albert is mindful of her feelings and does not want to push her before she is ready, and he is at first willing to just be by her side whatever her choice.

Coming together

The interesting aspects of their coming together is not just about their initial interest in each other. It is about them gradually learning about each other, in peaceful situations like them roaming the countryside, eating at a buffet or riding a horse and more strenuous situations such as fighting monsters, dealing with injuries and pain. The interest that rises around marrying her does not even constitute a real rivalry because she is not interested in nobility’s politics and certainly does not begin to consider anyone who is merely interested in her because of her position as “The Holy Saint” whether it is for the royal status or for the curiosity towards or the profit from her magical capacities. Another mature choice is that the series does not shy away from presenting some truly good candidates showing that Sei’s final choice is not by default the only person who is handsome, helpful, caring and friends with her, but the only one she had romantic feelings with.

It is the mutual respect and affection of who they are to one another beyond their status and the steady commitment of Albert towards Sei beyond the miasma clearing missions that lay solid romantic foundations and brings them together and it is satifying and even tear-inducing after holding one’s breath for so long. Even at the apex of their fight against the miama, the series manages to subtly incorporate the romance in the struggle mix, with Sei’s abilities decuplating her abilities to attain the Saint’s highest blessing because of her feelings for Albert. And while it takes them all that time to acknowledge and overtly share their feelings to each other, the audience is taken in from the start, recognising the feelings each time they blush, hold hands, think of each other, seek to see the other and every subtle way that the TV series manages to take the viewer alongside Sei’s and Albert’s romantic journey.

6. Ascendance of a Bookworm (Anime, 2019)

An individual and their world first

Romantic love is not the primary theme of this TV series and maybe that is what makes the eventual love more satisfactory. It does not require love to provide instant gratification without cause for the effect. It takes the time to build a character, to build the world around her, to place her character in it and just have her primarily build who she is meant to be before even thinking of love. And while that is happening, love is building, without being sought, without being forced, without being the goal. On her path, the main character encounters other types of love that often are mistaken with eventual romantic love but also some like familial and friendly loven that slowly build what she eventually recognises as romantic love: from her obsessive love of books to the unconditional love of her family, the intricate journey of Rosemyme nee Myne nee Urano is a reflection of the slow and steady development of a love whose foundation is stronger by nature and by time.

Grounded romance

This series offers a romance built on a foundation of years of shared goals and intellectual compatibility. It avoids loud caricatures entirely, focusing instead on a quiet, steadfast support and a bond that feels mechanically necessary to both characters’ survival. The love interest does not feel like a secondary character: he is built from scratch, with his own unique traits. More than that, their relationship is shown from the outset as an exchange: Rosemyme learns to belong, to care and to behave for the sake of hers and her family’s life, Ferdinand learns to hug, love and be loved. Finally, their difference takes the time needed to be managed, then tolerated,  then accepted then viewed as strengths. The romance is a masterclass in subtlety; it is found in the way the lead couple manages the economics and politics of their world together. What they brought to each other suddenly allows them not just to live in that world but to see each other as intricate partners, lifelong accomplices to surviving the emotional, routine and political landscape.

View Ascendance of A Bookworm on Amazon Prime Video/CrunchyRoll

7. In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki, Anime, 2026)

Yoi Takiguchi

In the clear moonlit dusk is a light romance with a subtle but profound exploration of identity via the central romance plot. The female lead Yoi Takiguchi is nicknamed “prince” due to her androgynous appearance and princely demeanor (particularly polite and protective tendencies). But her gentlemanly behaviour seem to be a natural response to helping someone in need rather than meeting any tomboyish expectations or trying to be manly; she seemingly was simply raised as a “human” rather than a “girl,” possessing a natural and learnt (as a martial artist, she practices karate) competence and helpfulness that society—conditioned to see women as limited and helpless—can only brand as “prince-like.” As such, she has also grown accustomed to being approached as a “prince” although internally, she struggles with being seen as “handsome” rather than “feminine” or “beautiful”.

Meeting Kohaku Ichimura

That identlty is shaken when she meets another Prince, the handsome, straightforward upperclassman Kohaku Ichimura, referred to as prince for his good looks and his wealth. He is the first man who sees her as beautiful and therefore as female. Kohaku is very direct with his feelings, allowing the story to jump into romantic, heart-fluttering moments quickly. These are new grounds for her and she struggles with coming to terms with this new perspective, between doubt towards Kohaku (why would he see something that no one else sees, and why her when so many are after him), self-doubts (discovering her own vulnerabilities that her prince character distracted her from).

Love and identity

To explore their potential connection, they engage in a “trial” relationship, making the early, nervous stages of dating both awkward and deeply personal.Kohaku’s persistence helps Yoi move past her insecurities. Her introspective journey is sparked by the only man who truly sees beyond the “Prince” label to the complex person beneath, creating a romance rooted in the relief of being truly seen. She faces her emotions, her reactions about her, usely a prince, being seen and treated as a princess, sometimes accepting help rather than being the one who helps.

8. Kaguya-sama: Love is War (Anime, 2019)

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a brilliant subversion that treats courtship as a high-stakes psychological thriller. While it is hilarious and stylish, the series earns its place by showing how two geniuses use their intellect to hide their terrifying vulnerability. The moments where their pride finally crumbles are among the most moving in the genre: the greatest “war”, after all, is the one we fight against our own fear of being rejected.

The romance anime is set in the senior high school division of Shuchiin Academy. While they clearly like each other, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane also believe that revealing their feelings equates to lowering their guards, showing their vulnerabilities and therefore “losing”. The interesting things is that once that war is eventually won, that obstacle overcome, they realise that there are more obstacles waiting ahead of them to be overcome.

9. Nana (Anime, 2006)

Nana & Nana

A gritty, stylish, and heartbreaking look at adult relationships that refuses to sugarcoat the reality of love, impeccably matched by the drawing style, emotional poignancy, the fashion and the music. It is the perfect choice for viewers who find traditional shojo too idealistic. The TV series followed two women named Nana as they leave home and navigate the Tokyo music scene and each of their own messy romantic entanglements. It explores themes of dependency, escapism, ambition, the complexity of relationships, and the toxic beauty of certain bonds with a level of maturity rarely seen in the medium.

Romantic realities

And as you watch the fictive TV series, you meet real people with depth beyond the fashion and other appearances, real emotions with realistic complexity, and fall in love with the stylistic beauty of the linguistic form, a thread of beauty in a harsh look at romantic realities. The coupling choices might not always follow the heart as Nana Komatsu choses a husband with her head, and sometimes also, life happens, as Nana Osaki is parted from her partner when death do them part. That being said, there is a lingering feeling that the real enduring love, the seemingly purest and unconditional one, deprived of the  expectations of romantic partnerships, was the one between the protagonists, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu (aka Hachi).

10. Clannad: After Story (Anime, 2008)

While many romances end at the wedding, this series is famous for exploring what comes next. It follows the lead couple into the grounded, often painful realities of adulthood, marriage, and the struggle to maintain a family. It is a heavy, emotional watch that earns its tears by grounding its drama in the universal fears of losing the people who make life worth living.

11. The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (Anime, 2025)

A standout for its modern maturity and focus on healthy communication. It dismantles the “delinquent boy meets polite girl” stereotype by showing two families and two individuals who are willing to talk through their prejudices. The romance is refreshingly low-drama but high-impact, focusing on how mutual respect can bridge the gap between two very different social worlds.

12. Fruits Basket 2019 (Anime, 2019)

About Fruits Basket

I am not going to bother with which version 2019-2021 or 2001 is the best. It is the spirit of the manga that matters to me and I have only watched Fruits Basket 2019 (blame Amazon). To be honest, it was not my thing safe for the pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout and how it made the female protagonist and her eventual romance more interesting. Though it leans on some anime clichés and a “by the numbers” structure with its good girl who has suffered being loved by all the men in the viscinity (in this case the same family, numbers that could be considered as bad as the 13 brothers in Brothers conflicts) and with its 12 zodiac animals, it remains a powerful exploration of empathy. It uses its supernatural curse as a metaphor for generational trauma and the ways in which families can stifle or save one another. It is a classic for a reason, even if it feels more traditional in its execution than the entries at the top of this list.

Kyo Sohma and Tohru Honda

It is hard to fall in love with the final couple Kyo Sohma and Tohru because of the former’s toxicity in the better part of the movie. However, at the same time, as you fall in love with the way that the series uses Tohra’s ability for empathy as an enduring balm for the tortured souls in the Sohma’s family, specifically and equally saving Yuki Sohma whose great (prince-like) manners are a cover for his own trauma shown in his own righteous toxicity principally towards Kyo, and Kyo whose trauma is far more audible and visual. Because of that, neither of them are contenders based on redemption or manners alone as they both needed as much savings, the quieter trauma being as vicious as the audibly toxic one. The series had told us from the outset that Kyo was going to be a favourite with Tohru’s lifelong incline towards the cat and Kyo’s trauma more deeply anchored and interlinked with the zodiac cat myth. That is without speaking about the anchored memory she carries with her and the story behind the hat. It is the empathy, and this belief in others that make it possible for Tohru to be available when Kyo lays his trauma to rest, faces his feelings and is finally ready to open up and share these.

Kindness is our heart growing inside of us – Favourite quote comes from Tohru’s mum via Tohru:

“My mother once told me to believe instead of doubt. Human beings aren’t born  with kindness. All we have when we’re born are desires, for things like for food or shelter, basically just survival instincts. She said kindness is our heart growing inside us, growing like people, at different rates, different ways that’s why one’s person kindness might look different from another’s. It’s easy to understand desire because it is something everyone has from birth. But each person’s kindness is pretty much handmade by them, so it’s easy for others to misunderstand it, or assume that it’s phony… Doubting is easy, anybody can do that. Be the kind of person who can believe in others” (S1 E3 about 16 minutes in)

13. My Happy Marriage (Anime, 2023)

My Happy Marriage is a stunning (fictional) historical fantasy about healing from emotional neglect and abuse and rising from those ashes to trust and love again. The romance is quiet and protective, focusing on a woman who has been told she is worthless all her life, learning to find her value through the eyes of a man who respects her strength, his environment and slowly her owns. The art style and atmospheric setting elevate the story into something truly poetic. The fantasy adds a dimension and the role she plays in it contributes to strengthen her. Watching her grow in self-assurance through both love and the use of her powers as they reveal themselves and grow is highly cathartic.

14. Shojo Sports Anime romance and the likes

Shojo sports anime

A grounded blend of sports and romance that captures the quiet, fluttering anxiety of a first crush. While Shojo Sports anime targeting teen girls seems to equate with adding an inevitable romance subplot, it avoids over-the-top dramatics, focusing instead on the intensity of the sport, the discipline of the talented and determined athletes and the way their shared dedication to their crafts parallels their growing affection. This highlights the intensity of the sportive environment with the main female character often striving to be the best and aiming for national, if not international competitions, as well as the melodramatic, emotional aspects of teenage life, including romance that serve as a backdrop to intense sports drama. It is a slow-burn that feels incredibly earnest, highlighting the small moments of support that happen in the hallways and gymnasiums of high school life.

Notable examples include:

• The arguably first shoujo sports anime Attack No. 1 (1969) features volleyball player Kozue Ayuhara, and her boyfriend Tsutomu Ichinose, a tragic love story defined by the pressures of sport, duty, and tragic timing. Attacker You! came about years later and seemed to take the tragic out of the equation, to give a similar type of volleyball
• Aim for the Ace! (Ace wo Nerae!) (1973): A classic shoujo series focusing on Hiromi Oka’s journey from a beginner to a pro tennis player. The melodrama of her thwarted romance with Takayuki Todo is a key element of that journey with her coach a central antagonist to the love, as he believes that love hinder athletic performance and dedication to tennis, and firmly challenges Hiromi to hold back her feelings and make corresponding sacrifices.
• Hikari no Densetsu (1986) centers on energetic, clumsy but talented rhythmic gymnast Hikari Kamijou, her quest for excellence and the elusive gold medal, and a romantic square involving her admirer and childhood friend, musician Mao Natsukawa, her love interest Ooishi Takaaki who is also loved by her star rival and senior, Hazuki Shiina. Whether you prefer the anime ending that couples Hikari and Ooishi or the manga one that prefers Hikari with Mao, her feelings and her yearning to impress Ooishi beyond her own aspirations are an extra boost to her success.
• Blue Box (2024) and so many more!

15. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You (Anime, 2009)

The gold standard for wholesome, slow-burn romance. It focuses on Sawako, a misunderstood girl often compared to the ghost from The Ring (Sadako for reference, not Sawako 😂), and her journey to find her voice and her true self. Her relationship with the popular Kazehaya is built on small, incremental steps of bravery and kindness, making it one of the most comforting and life-affirming watches in the genre.

Other Romance Anime & Donghua to consider

• You and I Are Polar Opposites (Anime, 2026): A refreshing 2026 favourite that highlights a relationship where the chemistry simply works. It bypasses the need for manufactured drama or endless misunderstandings, instead focusing on the charm of two people with different social energies figuring out how to be together. It is a grounded, funny, and incredibly relatable take on modern dating.
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  Spice and Wolf (Anime, 2008): A dialogue-heavy romance where the chemistry is built on intellectual respect and the slow growth of trust. Following a merchant and a wolf deity, the series spends as much time on economics as it does on affection, making their bond feel incredibly lived-in. Their banter is top-tier, showcasing a relationship of equals navigating a dangerous medieval world.

• Ouran High School Host Club (Anime, 2006): A brilliant satire that remains progressive decades later. It deconstructs gender roles and class dynamics while delivering a very sweet central bond between Haruhi and Tamaki. Haruhi’s blunt, non-caricatured personality makes her one of the best leads in romance, as she remains unimpressed by the usual tropes surrounding her.
• Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Anime, 2018): Sharp and witty, this series uses supernatural “Puberty Syndrome” as a metaphor for real-world emotional struggles like bullying and social anxiety. The lead couple’s relationship is anchored by high-level banter and a level of mutual trust that is rare in high school settings, making them one of the most mature pairings in anime.
• The Dangers in My Heart (Anime, 2023): What begins as an eccentric story about a boy with dark fantasies evolves into an incredibly earnest and sweet depiction of middle-school infatuation. It captures the awkwardness of growing up with surprising sensitivity, showing how a first love can completely reshape a person’s worldview for the better.
• Horimiya (Anime, 2021): While the latter half feels unnecessarily lengthened as it wanders into the lives of side characters, its initial portrayal of the mundane beauty of a real relationship is highly effective. It focuses on the relief of finding someone you can be your true, unpolished self around, making the early episodes some of the most relatable romance content available.