Man, looking back at 2020 from my cozy 2025 couch feels like recalling a bizarre, slightly traumatic fever dream. Remember when we all thought Tiger King was peak entertainment? Bless Hollywood though—they really said, "Let’s drown this dumpster fire in meet-cutes and grand gestures!" 🎬🔥 And honestly? As a self-proclaimed rom-com connoisseur (who may or may not have cried during Holidate), I gotta admit—2020 low-key delivered some gems. Who knew a global pandemic would birth such gloriously cheesy content? Buckle up, buttercups—let’s revisit this wild ride!

Pandemic Love: When Quarantine Met Cute

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First up: Love in the Time of Corona. Yeah, I know—"Why would I watch people stuck inside when I AM stuck inside?!" But hear me out! This Freeform mini-series was like a warm, slightly awkward hug. We had:

  • Roommates realizing they’re ~soulmates~ while arguing over toilet paper hoarding 😂

  • An elderly couple separated by nursing home rules (cue the ugly crying)

  • All the Zoom dates and sweatpants fashion shows. Relatable? Painfully so. It was the ultimate "we’re all in this together… and also lonely" vibe.

Teen Dreams & Sequel Screams

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To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You had us all squealing into our popcorn. Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky back at it? Yaaas. But oh, the DRAMA:

  • Old crushes popping up like uninvited exes at a house party 🚩

  • Peter’s lingering ex-girlfriend (girl, bye 👋)

  • That moment when you realize dating IRL is messier than love letters. Still, 10/10 for cozy sweaters and heart-fluttering kisses. Noah Centineo? Still a national treasure.

Murder, Musicals & Mayhem

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The Lovebirds said: "Forget dinner and a movie—let’s solve a CRIME!" Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple mid-breakup, accidentally framed for murder? Iconic. Their "worst date ever" involved:

  • A hit-and-run (yikes)

  • A wild goose chase across town (double yikes)

  • Realizing they still loved each other while running from cops (romance, baby! 💖). Dark? Yes. Hilarious? Absolutely. Peak 2020 energy.

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Then came The Prom—Ryan Murphy’s glitter bomb of a movie. Meryl Streep belting show tunes? James Corden existing? A lesbian teen just trying to dance with her girlfriend? Sign. Me. Up. Highlights:

  • Extravagant Broadway has-beens redeeming themselves (kinda)

  • PTA villains getting their comeuppance via jazz hands ✨

  • The message: Love wins, especially when it’s fabulously extra.

Holiday Hoopla & Time Warps

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Holidate was the rom-com equivalent of eating 12 holidays’ worth of candy in one sitting. Emma Roberts and a hot Aussie (Luke Bracey, swoon) fake-dating through:

  • Valentine’s Day (awkward!)

  • Fourth of July (explosive!)

  • St. Patrick’s Day (green beer-induced confessions! 🍻). Predictable? Sure. Delightful? You betcha. Proof that forced proximity + holidays = inevitable smooching.

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But Palm Springs? Chef’s kiss. Andy Samberg stuck in a wedding time loop? Cristin Milioti crashing his eternal Tuesday? Pure genius. Imagine:

  • Living the same day FOREVER with your sarcastic soulmate

  • Jousting in inflatable swans (because why not?)

  • Finding love while trapped in existential dread. Mood. 😂

TV Treasures & Canceled Crimes

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RIP to The Baker and the Beauty, canceled after one glorious season. A Cuban baker (Victor Rasuk) dating a superstar (Nathalie Kelley)? We were robbed! Highlights included:

  • Family bakery drama (pass the pastelitos!)

  • Paparazzi chaos

  • Grand romantic gestures that made us believe in fairy tales. ABC, why u do this? 😭

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Meanwhile, Dash & Lily gave us winter wonderland vibes in NYC. A red notebook, dares, and Austin Abrams being adorably grumpy? Swoon. Perfect for when you needed:

  • Wholesome teen romance

  • Quirky bookstore magic

  • Proof that Christmas miracles exist (even in 2020).

The Underrated & Unforgivable

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Love Life (HBO Max) was Darby Carter’s messy journey through love—a "How I Met Your Mother" for millennials. We got:

  • Cringe one-night stands ✅

  • Disastrous marriages ✅

  • The slow burn with the best friend (ugh, FINALLY). Anna Kendrick nailed the "I have no idea what I’m doing" energy. 🙃

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And then… High Fidelity. Zoe Kravitz as a record-store-owning hot mess? Perfection. Hulu gave us:

  • Epic breakup playlists

  • Endless ex-analysis

  • Zoe’s flawless wardrobe. But they CANCELED IT. Unforgivable! Justice for Rob! ✊

The Verdict in 2025

So here we are, five years later. Do these rom-coms hold up? Honestly? They’re like comfort food—a little cheesy, sometimes absurd, but exactly what we needed when the world was… well, gestures vaguely. 2020 taught us love could bloom anywhere—in quarantine, in time loops, even during a murder chase. And hey, if all else fails? There’s always Palm Springs. Again. And again. And again… 🔁

Mic drop. 🎤