It was messy. Honestly, that’s the first word that comes to mind when you look back at TV Show With Love (often referred to by its original title With Love). When Gloria Calderón Kellett launched this series on Prime Video, she wasn't just trying to make another glossy rom-com. She was trying to capture the absolute chaos of being part of a giant, loud, opinionated family during the holidays. It worked.
You’ve probably seen plenty of shows that try to do the "multi-generational" thing. Most of them feel like they were written by a committee trying to check boxes. This one felt like a kitchen at 11:00 PM on Christmas Eve. Smelling of tamales. Loud. Warm.
What Most People Get Wrong About TV Show With Love
A lot of critics at the time dismissed it as "comfort food." That’s such a lazy way to describe it. Comfort food implies something simple, maybe a bit bland, but TV Show With Love was actually doing some pretty heavy lifting regarding identity and queer joy without making it feel like a "very special episode."
Take the character of Sol Perez, played by Arienne Mandi. Usually, when a show handles a non-binary romance, the plot is entirely about the struggle or the trauma of coming out. Here? It was just a Tuesday. Or rather, it was just Nochebuena. The conflict wasn't about the existence of the identity; it was about the relatable stuff—like how to introduce a partner to your slightly overbearing relatives.
The show focused on the Diaz siblings, Lily and Jorge. Lily, played by Emeraude Toubia, starts the series in a bit of a tailspin. We’ve all been there. You’re in your late 20s or early 30s, and suddenly you realize the "plan" you had isn't working. The search for a TV show with love at its center often leads people to shows that are cynical or "dark." This was the opposite. It was unapologetically sincere.
The Five-Holiday Structure Was a Gamble
Most shows follow a weekly timeline. This one skipped months at a time. We only saw the Diaz family during major holidays: Nochebuena, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Independence Day, and Día de los Muertos.
It was brilliant.
By skipping the boring Wednesdays in between, the writers forced us to see the massive shifts in these characters' lives. You see the honeymoon phase of a relationship in one episode, and by the next, they're dealing with the reality of living together. It mirrored how we actually see our own extended families. You don't see your Tía every day. You see her at the big events and realize, "Wait, when did you get a new dog/husband/haircut?"
Why the Representation in With Love Actually Mattered
We need to talk about the "B" word: Belonging.
In the landscape of 2020s television, there was a massive push for diversity, but much of it felt performative. You'd have one token character who didn't have a storyline. With Love flipped the script. It centered an Afro-Latino perspective and a queer perspective simultaneously.
Think about Jorge Jr. (Mark Indelicato). His relationship with Henry (Vincent Rodriguez III) wasn't some sidelined subplot. It was the emotional anchor for a lot of the series. Seeing a gay Latino man being fully embraced by his hyper-masculine father wasn't just "nice" to watch—it was radical. It showed a version of Latino culture that isn't often exported to the mainstream, one where "Machismo" is replaced by "Familismo."
The show also didn't shy away from the friction of aging. The parents, Beatriz and Jorge Sr., had one of the most heartbreaking and realistic subplots. After 30 years of marriage, they were bored. They loved each other, but they didn't like each other. Watching them navigate a mid-life crisis while their children were having quarter-life crises provided a layer of depth that many viewers missed on the first pass.
Realism vs. Rom-Com Tropes
Yes, there were grand gestures. Yes, there were moments where the lighting was a little too perfect and everyone looked stunning even while crying. It's a TV show, after all. But underneath the gloss, the dialogue felt real.
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"I don't know if I'm enough for you."
That line pops up in various forms throughout the series. It's the core anxiety of every person in the Diaz circle. Whether it's Lily wondering if she's too much or Jorge wondering if he's not enough, the writing tapped into that universal fear of being "unloveable" once the holiday decorations come down.
The Impact of Gloria Calderón Kellett’s Vision
If you know One Day at a Time, you know Kellett’s style. She has this specific ability to make you laugh while a lump forms in your throat. In TV show with love circles, her name is basically gold. She understands that for a story to feel "human," it has to be a little messy.
She also insisted on a writers' room that reflected the people on screen. This wasn't a bunch of people guessing what a quinceañera feels like. They knew. They knew the specific brand of guilt a mother can weaponize. They knew the specific joy of a coordinated family dance routine.
It's also worth noting the fashion. It sounds trivial, but the costume design in the show was a character in itself. Every holiday had a color palette. Every character had a "look" that evolved as their confidence grew. It was a visual feast that helped the show stand out in a crowded streaming market.
What Really Happened with Season 2?
When Season 2 dropped, the stakes shifted. We moved away from the "search" for love and into the "maintenance" of it. This is usually where shows fail. The "Will they/Won't they" is easy. The "Now that they are together, how do they not kill each other?" is hard.
The second season took some big swings. It dealt with miscarriage. It dealt with the pressure of weddings. It dealt with the fear of success. It wasn't always as "happy" as the first season, but it felt more honest. The introduction of new love interests and the shifting dynamics of the friend group kept it from feeling stagnant.
Finding Your Own TV Show With Love
If you’re looking for something that captures this specific vibe, you have to look for shows that prioritize character over plot.
- Jane the Virgin: For the magical realism and the heavy focus on the matriarchy.
- Schitt’s Creek: For the slow-burn character growth and the depiction of unconditional parental love.
- The Bear: Wait, hear me out. It’s stressful, sure. But the "Seven Fishes" episode is the only thing on TV that rivals the Diaz family holiday chaos—just with more screaming and less dancing.
The truth is, we crave these stories because real life is often lonely. Seeing a family that actually likes each other—despite the flaws—is a form of escapism that feels productive. It makes you want to call your mom. Or your brother. Or that friend you haven't spoken to since last New Year's.
The Technical Excellence Nobody Talks About
We should mention the music. The soundtrack was a masterclass in blending contemporary Latin pop with nostalgic classics. It didn't just sit in the background; it drove the emotional beats of the scenes. When a specific song played during a rooftop scene in Portland, it wasn't just for vibe—it was storytelling.
Also, the cinematography. Portland is often filmed as grey, rainy, and "hipster." With Love filmed it in vibrant oranges, deep greens, and warm yellows. It reclaimed the city as a place of warmth rather than just a place for coffee and indie records.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Binge-Watch
If you’re diving back into this world or watching it for the first time, don't just "background watch" it while scrolling on your phone. You’ll miss the nuances.
- Watch it by holiday. If it’s December, watch the Nochebuena episode. It hits differently when you’re actually in the season.
- Pay attention to the background characters. The Diaz family "extras" and the people in the restaurant are often doing hilarious things that add to the world-building.
- Look for the callbacks. Small jokes from the pilot often resurface in the finale of Season 2. The writers were playing the long game.
- Check out the creator's interviews. Gloria Calderón Kellett is incredibly transparent about the "why" behind her scenes. Following her social media gives you a "Director's Commentary" vibe that adds layers to the viewing experience.
Ultimately, the reason this TV show with love at its core resonated wasn't because it was perfect. It was because it was loud. It was because it reminded us that love isn't a destination you reach at the end of a Hallmark movie. It’s a series of choices you make every time you show up to a family dinner you’d rather skip.
It’s about the effort. It’s about the "mess." And it’s about the fact that, at the end of the day, having people who know your worst traits and still offer you a plate of food is the greatest romance of all.
Next Steps for Content Seekers:
To get the most out of your viewing, start by identifying the themes that resonate with your own life—whether that's the struggle for career independence or navigating cultural expectations. Once you've finished the series, look for "The Making Of" features to see how the Afro-Latino and LGBTQ+ consultants shaped the scripts. This deepens the appreciation for the craft behind the camera and provides a blueprint for finding similar, high-quality representation in modern streaming.