How Lovesick showcased the slow-burn romance
With Dylan and Evie, this underrated Netflix show proved that a love story that takes its time can definitely be worth the wait
As a self-confessed hopeless romantic, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a slow-burn. I’m talking seasons of build up, missed connections and stolen moments. Pairings that start life as friends - or even better enemies - and end as soulmates. Yes, there’s angst. And yes, it can be painful. But great things are always worth waiting for, right?
There have been some great slow-burn depictions in drama - Pacey and Joey from Dawson’s Creek and The Good Wife’s Will and Alicia are both prime examples - but no genre does it better than comedy. Maybe it’s the concise run-time or the fact that romance is rarely the A storyline, but there’s something about the half-hour sitcom that allows for the brief glimpses and stolen moments that fuel a great slow-burn. Think Frasier’s Niles and Daphne, Nick and Jess from New Girl, and That 70’s Show’s Jackie and Hyde. All three extremely shippable couples that took multiple seasons to get together (seven in the case of Daphne and Niles!)
Lovesick manages to stand out in this competitive crowd. Haven’t heard of this Netflix gem? You’re not alone. This criminally underrated series started life as Scrotal Recall on Channel 4 - a terrible title that failed to convey the sweet soul of the show and led to an early cancellation. Thankfully, Netflix stepped in, changed the title and delivered three seasons of slow-burn romance.
The series kicks off with lead character Dylan finding out he has chlamydia and setting out to reconnect with everyone he’s ever slept with to pass on the news. It might not sound like the most promising premise at first but this journey into Dylan’s romantic past - supported by friends Luke, Evie and Angus - leads to an unexpected realisation: Dylan and Evie are made for each other.
Of course, just because it’s obvious to us, that doesn’t mean it is for the characters. Across 22 episodes, we have to endure the pain of misread moments, alternative love interests, confused communication and bad timing. That doesn’t mean it’s a tough watch. The frustration when Evie fails to confess that she did end her engagement because of her feelings for Dylan and the pain of him dismissing their kiss as something that ‘we don’t do’ can be hard to endure, but all that heartache makes the moments when they do connect all the sweeter.
It’s tough to explain to a non-shipper how it feels when the couple you’re rooting for shares a stolen glance or casts a jealous look that betrays their true feelings. And Dylan and Evie’s journey from friends to lovers - or more accurately, from one night stand to friends to lovers - is littered with these moments. And the show’s format amplifies the angst with its irregular time line and flashbacks allowing the viewer to see the moments that other characters miss and reinforce the idea that this isn’t a linear love story.
But what really helps this slow-burn stand out is that the obstacles standing in way of Dylan and Evie getting together don’t feel falsely manufactured. Each has a love interest that makes sense. Mal and Abigail are fully fleshed out characters who truly love Evie and Dylan and have healthy relationships with them. There’s no bad guy (or girl) in this situation and either of these alternative couplings could flourish if it wasn’t for their partners’ nagging feelings for each other.
And even when the other love interests aren’t in the picture and you’re shouting at the screen begging them to just TALK TO EACH OTHER, Dylan and Evie’s reticence to take the next step feels real too. Dylan is a hopeless romantic who loves the idea the love more than a real relationship. He’s an idealist who pulls the plug as soon as the honeymoon period ends. It’s not surprising that he would be anxious about pursuing something serious with a self-confessed cynic like Evie who will force him to face reality. And as their friendship develops and deepens, the more risky taking a chance on romance becomes.
Evie, on the other hand, shuts down her feelings and first meets Dylan at a time when a relationship is the last thing she’s looking for. Their relationship only becomes a serious possibility after they’ve started to grow and evolve separately. Dylan spends two seasons realising that he’s been avoiding real feelings by falling ‘in love’ repeatedly while Evie learns to embrace vulnerability and listen to her heart. As she explains: “I think for a long time I’ve had other people’s ideas in my head about what things are supposed to be. And I’m realising that none of them knew what the fuck they were talking about.”
The series’ commitment to realism means that even when *spoiler alert* Dylan and Evie do finally get together midway through season three, it’s not all plain sailing. In fact, the night they confess their feelings and the morning after aftermath yield some of the series’ most bittersweet moments. From Abigail’s tear-soaked realisation - “I think that you two have loved each other for a very long time but just in the wrong order” - to the dreaded post-break-up item exchange. It even leads to the new couple’s first fight as they are forced to face up to the guilt and heartbreak that Dylan feels over losing Abigail while also being happy about his new relationship. That’s a bittersweet emotion that isn’t often depicted on TV - a medium where the alternative love interest is more typically quickly cast off and immediately forgotten.
Even so, this mostly happy ending for Dylan and Evie cements them as one of TV’s most satisfying slow-burn couples. They make mistakes, miss opportunities and communicate terribly but they’re both good people - it’s impossible not to root for them. There’s no manipulation or game playing, no lopsided love triangles or fights for no reason. Instead, Lovesick shows us two people learning about themselves through their love for each other, becoming more comfortable with vulnerability and ready for a real relationship. Ultimately they realise that denying their feelings and repeating old patterns in the purest of a peaceful life is a hollow way to live. After all, love might make you sick but it’s worth it, every time.