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A definitive ranking of all the Modern Love episodes, based on how much they'll make you cry.

 

Warning: This post contains some spoilers for Amazon Prime Video’s Modern Love.

If you’re anything like me, you probably spent (or are about to spend) a decent chunk of your weekend binging Amazon Prime Video’s Modern Love.

The new anthology series, which is based on the popular New York Times column of the same name, follows true stories that have been chronicled in the newspaper.

Take a look at the trailer for Modern Love below. Post continues after video.


From stories of romantic love to stories of platonic love or even self-love, each episode in the eight-part series features a whole new all-star cast including actors such as Anne Hathaway, Dev Patel, Julia Garner, Catherine Keener and Andrew Scott (AKA Fleabag’s Hot Priest) set against the backdrop of New York City.

Yep, we’re head over heels in love.

But you see, despite all of its positives, there’s a slight… problem with Modern Love.

We. Can’t. Stop. Crying.

From Lexi’s powerful story about her struggles with bipolar disorder in episode three to Margot and Kenji’s late-in-life love story in the final episode, almost every single episode left us teary-eyed.

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Laura Brodnik and Keryn Donnelly discuss Amazon Prime’s Modern Love on Mamamia Reviews. Post continues below.

Here’s our definitive ranking of all the Modern Love episodes, based on how much they’ll make you cry.

8. “He Looked Like Dad. It Was Just Dinner, Right?”

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Image: Amazon Prime.

In "He Looked Like Dad. It Was Just Dinner, Right?", Maddy (Julie Garner) enters a complicated relationship with an older man (Shea Whigham).

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After losing her father at a young age, Maddy is searching for unconditional male affection.

Inevitably, the pair discover that they both want completely different things out of their relationship. While Peter perceives the relationship as romantic, Maddy views it as strictly platonic.

After discovering she's definitely not physically attracted to Peter, Maddy decides to let him go.

In the end, the episode is all a little bit... uncomfortable.

7. "At The Hospital, An Interlude Of Clarity."

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Image: Amazon Prime.
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In "At The Hospital, An Interlude Of Clarity", Yasmine (Sofia Boutella) and Rob's (John Gallagher Jr.) second date goes awry when Rob slips and cuts himself on a glass, resulting in a trip to the ER and emergency surgery.

While waiting in the hospital for six hours until Rob can be discharged, the pair discuss topics of conversation that are not often shared in the early stages of a relationship.

From Rob's anxiety to Yasmine's obsession with seeking attention, the pair share their deepest secrets and vulnerabilities.

And just like we've seen in Grey's Anatomy time and time again, it seems hospitals are often a place of love.

6. "Rallying To Keep The Game Alive."

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Image: Amazon Prime.
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"Rallying To Keep The Game Alive" is actually a glimpse into a real-life celebrity marriage – the original essay was written by novelist Ann Leary who is married to actor Dennis Leary.

This episode is also one of the realest yet.

In the fourth episode of the series, Sarah (Tina Fey) and Denis (John Slattery), who were staying together for their kids' sake, attempt to rebuild their marriage.

It's a marriage like many others – and it's that relatable nature that makes it such a tear-jerker.

5. "When The Doorman Is Your Main Man."

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Image: Amazon Prime.
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The first episode in the series, "When The Doorman Is Your Main Man", has the internet obsessed.

The episode follows Maggie (Cristin Milioti), an editor living in New York, who soon strikes up a close relationship with her doorman, Guzmin (Laurentius Possa).

Along the way, Guzmin claims he can tell whether a man is a good match for Maggie – and he's never wrong.

The episode, which focuses on found family, ends with Guzmin's revelation that he didn't care about the men Maggie was with – he just cared about how she looked at them. Cue: lots of tears.

Yep, we officially all need a Guzmin in our lives.

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4. "When Cupid Is A Prying Journalist."

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Image: Amazon Prime.

In the second episode of the series, "When Cupid Is A Prying Journalist", Dev Patel plays Joshua, the founder and CEO of a dating app.

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While being profiled by journalist Julie (Catherine Keener), Joshua opens up about his own experiences with lost love. Emma (Caitlin McGee) is the one that got away.

Julie, on the other hand, has her own long-lost love story too and together, the unlikely friends encourage each other to revisit their past relationships.

Along the way, the episode touches on long-lost love, online love and married love and there's a happy ending in sight for both characters.

Expect happy tears. And lots of them.

(Very important side note – we'd like to see Dev Patel as a romantic leading man again, please.)

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3. "Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am."

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Image: Amazon Prime.

The third episode in the series, "Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am", follows Lexi (Anne Hathaway) – a lawyer navigating her career and dating while dealing with the struggles of bipolar disorder.

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At the beginning of the episode, we see Lexi thriving in a manic period. But just moments later, she struggles to get out of bed for a week.

The episode features a powerful overarching message about mental health, as it gives a lesson on how to support someone with mental illness. Towards the end of the episode, Lexi finds a true friend in her former coworker and finds the courage to be honest with others about her mental illness.

Most importantly, she also learns to take herself as she is.

It definitely hits hard.

2. "Hers Was A World Of One."

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Image: Amazon Prime.
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"Hers Was A World Of One", the penultimate episode of Modern Love, follows the story of Tobin (Andrew Scott AKA Fleabag's Hot Priest) and Andy (Brandon Kyle Goodman).

Longing for a child of their own, Tobin and Andy enter an open adoption with Karla (Olivia Cooke). But along the way, Tobin must prepare to welcome his unborn child into the world by learning to love his child's unconventional mother.

As their child enters the world, Tobin comes to both respect and completely accept Karla – despite her flaws and their differences.

There's also a rogue Ed Sheeran cameo which was... unexpected.

Expect tears.

LOTS OF TEARS.

1. "The Race Grows Sweeter Near Its Final Lap."

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Image: Amazon Prime.
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The final episode of Modern Love, "The Race Grows Sweeter Near Its Final Lap", tells a late-in-life love story.

Margot (Jane Alexander) and Kenji (James Saito), both widowed, meet during running practice.

But although the episode touches on their short time together – growing a garden together, moving in together and even marriage – it's Margot's mourning of Kenji that is the core focus of the episode.

At Kenji's funeral, Margot talks about the challenges and advantages of old love, while reflecting on their relationship.

The episode also ties together all of the stories from the other episodes, providing little snippets of what happened to the other characters.

It was... a lot to go through and to be honest, we're still tearing up just thinking about it.

Modern Love is available to watch now on Amazon Prime Video.  

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