10 Binge-Worthy HBO Romance Shows
You have just finished the last episode of the show you were watching, and now you are scrolling for the next romance that will not waste your evening. The trouble is that HBO romance is not one kind of thing, since some shows are sharp comedies, some are intense marriage dramas, and some are romance tucked inside a much bigger story.
This list gives you ten ranked picks from HBO and HBO Max, each with a clear sense of what it feels like and who it suits. Every entry explains the premise first, so you know the characters, the central situation and the stakes before you press play. We also explain where each show has been available, but streaming in the UK changes often, so each entry ends with either a checked platform or a reminder to check your local listings.
Romance does not mean the same thing across these shows. Some stories are built around the first rush of attraction, others around commitment and compromise, and a few treat friendship as the steadiest relationship while dating comes and goes. The best picks understand that chemistry alone cannot carry a story. The characters need to make choices, misread each other, grow and make the sort of mess that takes more than one episode to clean up.
The ranking weighs storytelling, character work, performances, emotional payoff, consistency and how satisfying each show is to revisit. It is not a popularity contest, so the order will not always match what your friends would choose. If you want a light, chatty watch, start near the top. If you want a slower drama or a queer love story with more edges, the middle and lower entries are worth your time, because some of the most rewarding picks sit lower down simply because they are less obvious. Ratings on review sites can help, but they cannot tell you how a show will feel at eleven o'clock on a weeknight.
A quick note on how to use the guide. Each entry has a short premise, an analysis of what works, a section explaining why it ranks where it does, and a line about who should watch it. If you only read the premises, you will still know which show fits your evening. If you read the whole entry, you will also see why one show edges past another, and that is usually where the real decision gets made.
Think of the list as a menu rather than a single verdict. Match a show to your mood tonight, then keep going until you find the one that makes you press next episode. Let's get into it 👇
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10. Our Flag Means Death
Stede Bonnet is a wealthy landowner who has grown bored with the life his family expects him to live. In 1717 he leaves it behind to become a pirate, buying a ship called the Revenge and gathering a crew who doubt their polite, impractical captain can keep them alive. Rhys Darby plays Stede as a gentleman trying to reinvent himself. Taika Waititi plays Blackbeard, the feared pirate whose path crosses his, and the two men form a connection neither expected.
Darby and Waititi have the most playful chemistry on this list, and the romance moves at a patient pace. Neither man has a neat explanation for what he feels, so the slow burn builds through awkward silences and small gestures. The jokes are silly by design, yet the characters take each other seriously, which gives the comedy a warm feel.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 10 because the romance shares the screen with broad pirate comedy, and the show ends before every thread can settle. It is lighter than Like Water for Chocolate at No. 9, but its emotional payoff is smaller. It is still one of the most original queer romances on television.
Who should watch: Fans of queer slow-burn romance, oddball comedy and chosen-family stories.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK, where it aired on BBC Two from January 2023, and HBO Max in the US. Series history on Wikipedia, then check your local listings.
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9. Like Water for Chocolate
Tita is the youngest daughter in a family ruled by her mother, Mamá Elena, who insists that Tita must stay unmarried and care for her until the end of her days. Tita loves Pedro Múzquiz, but when he asks for her hand, the family offers him her older sister Rosaura instead, so he can stay close. Trapped inside the house, Tita pours her feelings into cooking, and the food carries those emotions to anyone who eats it. The HBO Max series, based on Laura Esquivel's novel, follows her attempt to claim a life of her own.
Azul Guaita gives Tita a quiet defiance that the story needs, and Irene Azuela makes Mamá Elena formidable without turning her into a caricature. The magical realism is sensory rather than showy, so the kitchen scenes make hunger, longing and anger feel physical. The family rules are specific and unforgiving, which gives the romance real stakes.
Why it ranks here: Its distinctive premise and forbidden romance earn it No. 9. It falls below Love Life at No. 8 because its heightened melodrama and formal pacing will not suit a casual binge. Compared with Our Flag Means Death at No. 10, it offers more emotional weight and a stronger sense of place, but it asks for patience.
Who should watch: Fans of period romance, family sagas and stories where tradition shapes every intimate decision.
Where to watch: HBO Max in the US, where the series launched on Max in November 2024. Check your local listings for the UK.
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8. Love Life
Love Life is an anthology, so the romantic lead changes between seasons. Season one follows Darby Carter, played by Anna Kendrick, through the relationships that shape how she understands love, from early dating to the possibility of something more lasting. Season two moves to Marcus Watkins, played by William Jackson Harper, a book editor whose long relationship has ended. Each half-hour episode tends to focus on one relationship and what it reveals about the person in the middle.
Kendrick brings wry, slightly guarded charm to Darby, and the show works best when romance also opens a window onto friendship, work and changing priorities. The half-hour format makes it easy to sample, and the shift to Marcus gives the concept a welcome change in texture. Its New York setting is familiar ground, so the first season can feel like a well-worn rom-com.
Why it ranks here: Its clever concept and easy episodes place it at No. 8. It sits below Scenes from a Marriage at No. 7 because the anthology resets limit the pull of any single couple, and the writing is less ambitious. It sits above Like Water for Chocolate at No. 9 because it is breezier and more modern, which makes it better for a light binge.
Who should watch: Viewers who like episodic romance, New York settings and relationship stories that treat breakups as seriously as beginnings.
Where to watch: HBO Max in the US. Check your local listings for the UK.
7. Scenes from a Marriage
Mira and Jonathan look like a settled couple. She is a tech executive, he is a philosophy professor, and together they are raising a young daughter in a life that seems carefully arranged. The 2021 HBO miniseries, written and directed by Hagai Levi, begins when that picture starts to crack. A research interview exposes private strains neither has said out loud, and the five episodes follow each of them as they try to decide what their marriage now means. Jessica Chastain plays Mira and Oscar Isaac plays Jonathan.
This is an intimate drama rather than a cosy romance. Chastain and Isaac are given room to contradict themselves, loving in one scene and cutting in the next, and the close framing of faces lets small reactions carry weight. Levi's direction is patient and conversational, so the show works through its material in long, uncomfortable exchanges.
Why it ranks here: Few entries are as committed to performance and emotional complexity, and its five episodes form a tight, complete arc, which earns No. 7. It ranks below The Time Traveler's Wife at No. 6 because its raw tone offers little relief. It sits above Love Life at No. 8 because its performances and focus are deeper.
Who should watch: Fans of actor-led relationship drama, thoughtful marriage stories and serious romantic television.
Where to watch: HBO Max in the US. Series background on Wikipedia, then check your local listings for the UK.
6. The Time Traveler's Wife
Henry DeTamble has a condition that sends him slipping through time without warning, often leaving him disoriented and without the clothes or possessions he needs. Clare Abshire has known him for much of her life, because Henry keeps appearing to her at different ages, out of step with his own timeline. When they become adults, they try to build a marriage around a problem neither can control. Rose Leslie plays Clare and Theo James plays Henry.
The 2022 HBO series treats time travel as an everyday relationship problem rather than a puzzle to solve. Leslie gives Clare affection and exasperation in equal measure, so she is never just a patient romantic ideal. James plays Henry's charm alongside the anxiety of never knowing when his body will betray him. The premise also raises uncomfortable questions about consent.
Why it ranks here: Its memorable idea, anchored leads and concentrated single season earn No. 6. It sits below Gentleman Jack at No. 5 because that show's two seasons let the relationship grow through grounded choices, while this one stops early. It sits above Scenes from a Marriage at No. 7 because its romance is warmer and more romantic, even if the timeline is hard to follow.
Who should watch: Viewers who enjoy science-fiction romance and stories about loving someone under impossible circumstances.
Where to watch: It was removed from HBO Max in the US in December 2022, so check your local listings or digital stores. Series history on Wikipedia.
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5. Gentleman Jack
In 1832, Anne Lister returns to Shibden Hall, the family estate she has inherited, determined to restore it and secure her independence. She is a landowner and businesswoman whose confidence unsettles many of the people around her, and she keeps a diary that records her private life, including her attraction to women. When she begins courting Ann Walker, a wealthy neighbour whose gentle manner hides uncertainty, their relationship grows alongside money worries and family pressure. Suranne Jones plays Anne and Sophie Rundle plays Ann.
Suranne Jones makes Anne magnetic without sanding off her stubbornness. Rundle gives Ann a quieter, more hesitant presence, so the courtship has genuine movement, because each woman has to decide what security and commitment mean to her. The Yorkshire landscape and the practical detail of estate management keep the drama grounded.
Why it ranks here: It earns fifth place because it is one of the strongest character-led romances here, with a vivid lead performance and a relationship that develops through choices. It sits below Looking at No. 4 because the estate storylines sometimes compete with the courtship, and the show ends before every chapter of Anne and Ann's life can be dramatised. It sits above The Time Traveler's Wife at No. 6 because its romance is rooted in a specific historical world.
Who should watch: Fans of historical romance, LGBTQ+ stories and sharp, self-possessed leads.
Where to watch: It was a BBC and HBO co-production, so check your local listings for current UK availability. Read more on Wikipedia.
4. Looking
Patrick Murray is a video game designer in San Francisco who is trying to make sense of dating, sex and friendship as he approaches thirty. His close friends, Dom and Agustín, are facing their own turning points. Dom wonders whether it is too late to pursue the business he wants, while Agustín struggles with commitment in his relationship with Frank. Patrick's love life grows more complicated when he meets Richie, a barber, and when his feelings for a colleague named Kevin add tension. Jonathan Groff plays Patrick.
Groff makes Patrick's uncertainty endearing without making him easy to like all the time. The show is observant about how confidence falters when a flirtation becomes real, and about how friends can love each other while being blunt, selfish or bad at listening. The San Francisco setting gives the series a relaxed pace, and its quiet humour keeps the characters feeling like people rather than examples.
Why it ranks here: Looking is fourth because it is one of the most tender and conversational shows here, and its ensemble offers a wider view of queer adult life than a single love story could. It sits below Insecure at No. 3 because its two seasons leave some arcs abbreviated. It sits above Gentleman Jack at No. 5 because its romance is more contemporary and its friendships are more fully explored.
Who should watch: Fans of intimate ensemble dramas, queer romance and gentle, character-driven comedy.
Where to watch: HBO Max in the US. Check your local listings for the UK.
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3. Insecure
Issa Dee works at a nonprofit in Los Angeles, where her efforts to connect with students and colleagues can be awkward even when her intentions are good. Outside work, she is trying to decide what she wants from her long-term relationship with Lawrence, who has become stuck in his own career and is no longer the partner she remembers. Her best friend Molly, played by Yvonne Orji, is a successful lawyer with her own frustrations in love. Across five seasons, Issa turns vague dissatisfaction into real choices.
Issa Rae, who co-created the series, and the ensemble make the comedy feel rooted in precise social detail, from a workplace conversation that goes sideways to a party where everyone is performing a little. The show is candid about how people can be loyal and competitive at the same time. Its romance refuses to treat love as an automatic reward for growth.
Why it ranks here: Insecure sits at No. 3 because its voice is distinctive, its Los Angeles setting is rich, and its five-season run gives the relationships room to grow. Its romance carries real weight, but the Issa and Molly friendship is developed just as carefully, which gives it more depth than a couple-centred show. It sits below Starstruck at No. 2 because that series is more openly romantic and lighter to watch.
Who should watch: Fans of contemporary Black television, friendship stories and romantic comedy with real growing pains.
Where to watch: HBO Max in the US. Check your local listings for the UK.
2. Starstruck
Jessie is a 20-something New Zealander living in Hackney, London. After a New Year's Eve hookup, she learns that the man she spent the night with is Tom Kapoor, an A-list actor. Neither expects more than one night, but their connection keeps pulling them back together. Their on-and-off romance follows them through breakups, reunions and flirtations with other people, while Jessie's friend Kate keeps her grounded. Rose Matafeo, who created the series, plays Jessie, and Nikesh Patel plays Tom.
Matafeo and Patel have a loose, funny chemistry that makes the romance feel like a real friendship with sparks. The show plays with the fame gap without turning it into a lecture, so Tom's glamorous world is awkward and funny rather than aspirational. The tone moves smoothly from sharp comedy to tender scenes.
Why it ranks here: Starstruck ranks second because it is the most romance-led comedy on the list, and its three seasons keep the central pair at the centre. It sits below Sex and the City only because that show has a wider ensemble and a longer cultural footprint. It sits above Insecure at No. 3 because the romance is the whole point here, while Insecure's love story shares space with careers and friendship.
Who should watch: Fans of British romantic comedy, celebrity-romance premises and fast, sharp dialogue.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK, where the series was available after its BBC Three run, and HBO Max in the US. Series history on Wikipedia.
🎧 Before we reveal our No. 1 pick…
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1. Sex and the City
Carrie Bradshaw is a New York writer whose column turns her own dating life, and that of her friends, into a running conversation about sex, love and what women want. Miranda Hobbes is a pragmatic lawyer whose sharp edge hides a warm heart. Charlotte York believes in romance and a proper marriage. Samantha Jones works in public relations and approaches dating with confidence and appetite. Over six seasons, from 1998 to 2004, the four friends test their ideas about love, careers and themselves.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon create four distinct comic rhythms, and Manhattan becomes a playground for conversations that are funny, sometimes dated and often revealing. Carrie's narration gives each episode a clear voice. Friendship sits at the centre of the romance, which is why the show still works when a relationship ends.
Why it ranks here: Sex and the City takes the top spot because it balances romance, comedy, friendship and memorable characters better than any other entry. Compared with Starstruck at No. 2, it has a bigger ensemble and a longer run, though its age shows in some attitudes. Compared with Insecure at No. 3, it is more consistently rewatchable because each episode is built for easy return visits.
Who should watch: Anyone who wants a witty, chatty binge about dating, friendship and New York, and viewers who enjoy comedy with bite.
Where to watch: HBO Max in the US. Check your local listings for the UK.
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Conclusion
These ten shows approach romance from very different angles. Some turn dating into quick comedy, while others sit with the slow work of a marriage, a courtship shaped by history or the complicated seasons after a breakup. Together they suggest that the most memorable romances are built on character as much as chemistry, and that a good love story needs room for friendship, work and failure.
For an easy, chatty binge, start with Sex and the City. For a sharper, more romance-first pick, Starstruck is the one to try next. Insecure offers the most layered balance of friendship, ambition and love, while Looking gives queer adulthood an intimate, conversational feel. If you want something heavier, Gentleman Jack and Scenes from a Marriage show what romance looks like when history, money or marriage weigh on every choice.
Sex and the City takes No. 1 because its four leads make romance feel varied, funny and connected to everyday friendship. Its age shows in places, but the ensemble and the episode structure still invite one more instalment. Starstruck is close behind because it puts the romance first, which is why it takes second place. Which would you put at No. 1? Share your favourites, your own rankings or any HBO romance you think we missed in the comments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which HBO romance show should I start with?
If you want the easiest entry point, start with Sex and the City. It has six seasons, a witty voice and a group of friends whose romantic lives are easy to follow from episode to episode. If you prefer a romance-first comedy, Starstruck is the better choice, with its three seasons and an on-and-off couple at the centre. Both shows are a good way to see whether you enjoy romance mixed with comedy before moving on to the heavier dramas further down the list.
Which show on this list is the quickest to binge?
Love Life is the easiest to watch in short sessions. Its episodes run around half an hour, and each one tends to focus on a single relationship in the lead character's life. Sex and the City and Starstruck are also easy to binge, because their episodes are short and the storylines keep pulling you onward. For a longer, more demanding watch, Scenes from a Marriage is best spread over a few evenings.
Is Starstruck available in the UK?
Yes, but not through HBO Max. Starstruck was made for BBC Three, and the first two series were released in full on BBC iPlayer. The series was also released on HBO Max, which is its main home in the US. Streaming rights can change, so check BBC iPlayer and your local listings before you start, especially if you want to watch the whole run in one go.
Is The Time Traveler's Wife still on HBO Max?
No. The HBO series was removed from HBO Max in December 2022, after HBO cancelled it following one season of six episodes. In the UK, check your digital stores or rental platforms for buying options, and check your local listings in case it has moved to another service. The series is based on Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel, which is a good choice if you enjoy the story and want more of it.
Is Gentleman Jack based on a real person?
Yes. The series is based on the life of Anne Lister, an English diarist who lived from 1791 to 1840 and recorded her private life in detail, including her relationships with women. Suranne Jones plays Anne, and the show follows her efforts to restore her family estate, Shibden Hall, while she pursues Ann Walker. Some scenes are dramatised, so if you want the history, reading Anne Lister's diaries alongside the show is a rewarding next step.
Where can I watch Our Flag Means Death in the UK?
In the UK, the BBC acquired the series and aired it on BBC Two from January 2023, with episodes available on BBC iPlayer. In the US, it is on HBO Max. The show ran for two seasons with 18 episodes in total, which makes it a manageable binge. Because availability can change, check BBC iPlayer and your local listings before you start, rather than relying on an older guide.
Is Scenes from a Marriage a good choice for a relaxed night in?
Not really, unless you want a serious drama. The 2021 HBO miniseries has five episodes, and each one is built around long, direct conversations between Mira and Jonathan. Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac are compelling at showing how love and resentment can sit side by side, but the tone is raw and often uncomfortable. If you want something softer, try Love Life or Starstruck first, and return to this one when you are ready for it.
Which show on this list has the strongest queer romance?
There is no single answer, because these shows approach queer relationships in different ways. Our Flag Means Death pairs an absurd pirate comedy with a tender slow-burn connection between Stede and Blackbeard. Looking spends more time on the shifting friendships and romances of its characters in San Francisco, while Gentleman Jack focuses on the courtship of Anne Lister and Ann Walker in Halifax in 1832. Each one offers a different kind of queer love story.
Is Like Water for Chocolate in English?
The original title is Como agua para chocolate, and the HBO Max series is a Spanish-language production set in Mexico. Subtitles are the easiest route for most English-speaking viewers. The series is based on Laura Esquivel's novel, which is also available in English, so you can read it before or after watching. The series launched on Max in the US in November 2024, so check your local listings for UK availability.
How many seasons does Love Life have?
Love Life has two seasons. Season one stars Anna Kendrick as Darby Carter, and season two shifts to Marcus Watkins, played by William Jackson Harper. Each season is an anthology with a different romantic lead, so you can watch in order without tracking one storyline across the whole run. The show was made for HBO Max in the US, so check your local listings for UK availability before you start.
More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows
IMDb: full cast, crew, episode guides and user ratings.
Rotten Tomatoes: critic and audience scores for series and films.
Metacritic: aggregated critic reviews for TV and movies.
Wikipedia: series histories, broadcast details and cast lists.
TV Guide: schedules, streaming listings and show guides.
Entertainment Weekly: TV news, reviews and features.
Deadline: industry news on renewals, cancellations and new releases.
The Hollywood Reporter: TV news and in-depth coverage.
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