Parents' Guide to Lovesick

TV Netflix Comedy 2015
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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Mature U.K. comedy treats taboo topic with humor and heart.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

LOVESICK is a British comedy series about a young and rather sensitive single guy who's been diagnosed with an STD. Rather than sending the recommended postcards to his former sexual partners notifying them that he's been treated for chlamydia, 20-something Dylan (Johnny Flynn) chooses to track down and personally contact each of the women to give them the bad news. In between reconnecting with each of his former partners, he spends lots of his time with his womanizing pal Luke (Daniel Ings) and his best friend, Evie (Antonia Thomas), with whom he has a complicated relationship. Making sense of his present connections while facing the disastrous ones of his past isn't easy, but Dylan faces each of them one embarrassing moment at a time.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

It's difficult to create a smart, irreverent comedy full of potentially laugh-out-loud moments from something that most people are uncomfortable with (if not ashamed of) talking about. But if you can get past the awkwardness, Lovesick is a clever adult-oriented series that examines a range of social situations in a way that is fresh and original. Thanks to good writing, genuinely likable characters, and well-orchestrated flashbacks, the stories unfold in ways that are often unexpected and infectiously entertaining.

The show's creative concept allows the past and present to collide in ways that allow for brief moments of heartfelt self-examination. These bits add some depth to the narratives in ways that are honest rather than judgmental. However, not everyone will catch this, and others will simply be put off by the show's premise. But, despite the show's immodest approach, some endearingly funny moments are surprisingly contagious.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about relying on taboo themes to be funny. Is this appropriate? Should shows that deal with serious situations such as getting a sexually transmitted disease focus on teaching lessons? Or is it OK to find humor in these situations?

  • What are some of the differences between American TV and television from other countries? Are there topics that folks in the U.S. may be more uncomfortable with than folks in places such as the United Kingdom, and vice versa? Why?

TV Details

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