7 Shows To Watch Like ‘The Baker and The Beauty’

If you’re looking for a dash of the Hallmarkian in your rom-com fix (as you should), Emily in Paris is exactly what you need in your life. Despite inciting controversy for garnering a Golden Globes nomination it didn’t particularly deserve, it still makes for wildly enjoyable viewing. As the title suggests, the eponymous protagonist jets off to Paris for a job opportunity. There, the Chicago-native experiences culture shock and a less shocking romantic liaison.

Where to watch Emily in Paris

Another light rom-com with a dash of absurdity is Younger, starring Broadway icon Sutton Foster. Unlike Emily in Paris, this joy of a show is in its seventh and final season, so you don’t have to go through the post-show withdrawals anytime soon. Younger is not only expertly cast, but has a hilarious premise: a 40-year-old divorcee is shut out of the workplace after a long hiatus and masquerades as a 20-something to get her life and career back on track. It’s a little more com than rom, but all seven seasons are well-worth watching.

Where to watch Younger

Love Life is an HBO Max seasonal anthology series, meaning it intends to switch protagonists and POVs with each season. Each episode covers a fresh love interest for lead Anna Kendrick, giving the show a Sex and The City sustainable appeal. As Kendrick’s first major foray into scripted TV, Love Life is a relatable portrayal of the highs and lows of dating. It doesn’t offer much in the way of substance, but easy-viewing is precisely the appeal.

Where to watch Love Life

High Fidelity stars Zoë Kravitz, so you shouldn’t need anymore convincing than that. If that’s somehow not motivation enough to head to Hulu right now, it’s also one of the best remakes out there. The 2020 series only ran for one season, but it is a brilliant adaptation of the original chic flic film of the same name (which featured Kravitz’s twin of a mother, Lisa Bonet). The fun twist: High Fidelity the series gender-bends the lead character, flipping the script for a more modern and compelling take on the iconic original.

Where to watch High Fidelity

Mindy Kaling can do no wrong, and The Mindy Project is exhibit A. The Office vet created and starred in the rom com, which ran for six seasons on Hulu. Kaling’s character is an obstetrician/gynaecologist, who must navigate her New York City practice and her stalled love life. It’s witty, but not lacking in depth, making it the perfect follow up to The Baker and The Beauty if you’re looking to maintain the lightness of tone and lose a touch of the cheese.

Where to watch The Mindy Project

Jane the Virgin has become the gold standard of timeless streaming mainstays for a reason. While the appeal of Jane the Virgin may be familiar (romance, absurdist comedy, etc), you haven’t seen anything like it. The satirical telenovela parodies common tropes while simultaneously subverting many tired scripted drama tropes. Not to mention the premise: a virgin who gets pregnant after an accidental artificial insemination by her gynecologist. The immaculate conception is just the beginning, because the father is Jane’s boss’s boss and her former crush.

Where to watch Jane the Virgin

Finally, the crown jewel of indulgent romance binges: Bridgerton. If you haven’t watched this yet, you have some catching up to do because this Shondaland creation has already been renewed through Season 4! Bridgerton has it all: Austenian drama, Julie Andrew’s narration, and possibly the juiciest will-they-or-wont-they to ever grace Netflix. Despite its critical snubs, Bridgerton is incessantly fun and is truly the diamond of the high society social season, otherwise known as quarantine.

Where to watch Bridgerton