‘Too Much’ Review: Lena Dunham’s Netflix Romantic Dramedy Has Some Intimacy Issues

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Towards the end of episode 2, Jess (played by Megan Stalter), the bold main character from Netflix’s Too Much, settles down with the mix CD her new British love, Felix (Will Sharpe), has prepared for her. Sliding on her headphones, he relaxes too, happy to simply snuggle up next to her on the bed as she listens. No further dialogue passes between them, and no inappropriate contact occurs. However, as the camera focuses on their tender expressions, we sense the unique connection they share, the deep contentment and enjoyment they find in being together.

This 10-episode series offers some heartwarmingly genuine moments of intimacy, which are surprisingly rare and understated. These scenes were inspired by the real-life courtship of its creators, Lena Dunham and Luis Felber. The show is refreshingly candid, scrutinizing its characters’ flaws with the compassionate perspective of a skilled therapist. However, it has difficulty fully immersing you in its emotions, resulting in a romance that is charming but not quite captivating enough to make you fall deeply in love.

The distance in the story isn’t due to any specific shyness about its characters. In the initial minutes of the Dunham-directed premiere, Jess invades the Brooklyn apartment shared by her ex, Zev (Michael Zegen), and his influencer girlfriend, Emily Ratajkowski. By the end of approximately 30 minutes, Jess manages to reach London in search of a new beginning – an endeavor that results in her accidentally setting herself on fire on her very first night there, causing her to scream for whoever could dial the UK’s emergency number instead of 911. Despite the fact that Jess is fond of endearing, clumsy heroines seen in Richard Curtis romantic comedies and Jane Austen adaptations, she has moved beyond being ‘adorable’ into being ‘messy,’ although she strongly dislikes this term.

Her Mr. Darcy certainly doesn’t seem as put together compared to Felix, the indie musician who struggles with his own issues related to addiction and trauma, which become more evident as the series progresses. The show doesn’t shy away from depicting their ups and downs, whether it’s a night of intense passion that leaves them both spent, or a heated argument outside a wedding at a manor for Felix’s most obnoxious schoolmates.

Throughout the series, the strength of “Too Much” lies in its engaging dialogue crafted by Dunham and Felber. It’s witty enough to keep viewers intrigued without veering into pretentiousness. They skillfully express a lifetime of dreams and setbacks for Jess with casual remarks such as, “I just need to readjust my expectations. I’m always readjusting my expectations,” and create a warm rapport between Felix and Jess in mere moments through their subtle, slightly quirky banter about murder and suspicious Wi-Fi signals.

It takes only a moment to perceive the loving yet exasperated dynamic within Jess’ family – Nora (Dunham), Lois (Rita Wilson) and Dottie (Rhea Perlman), who reside together in a living situation reminiscent of ‘intergenerational Grey Gardens torment’ on Long Island. This becomes evident when they make jokes about blowjobs while watching ‘Sense and Sensibility’. Similarly, the way Zev behaves towards Jess, revealing his type as a typical crummy ex-boyfriend, is demonstrated through his speech patterns in flashbacks; he speaks to her with apparent compliments that are actually disguised insults, such as calling her “beautiful” but not like a Hadid or “too smart” for the enjoyment of Miley Cyrus’ music.

Nevertheless, while it skillfully captures characters in a succinct manner and isn’t shy about portraying their flaws, Too Much seems detached, as if we’re merely being informed about these events instead of being immersed in them. This disconnection is particularly noticeable in the side plots featuring secondary characters, such as the romantic encounters among Jess’ marketing colleagues (including her boss, portrayed by Richard E. Grant). Although we witness significant milestones – first dates, breakups, reunions – most of the crucial interactions occur off-screen. As a result, these aren’t shared experiences we’re living through, but rather brief glimpses gleaned from social media posts or casual chatter with a mutual friend.

As a gamer, I found the game’s balance to be spot-on, but the same can’t be said for Jess and Felix’s relationship in this narrative. It’s disappointing because Stalter, as the lead, doesn’t seem consistent. She manages to tug at my heartstrings during Jess’ quiet, fragile moments, and her chemistry with Sharpe and Zegen is commendable. However, when it comes to portraying Jess’ more intense emotional outbursts, she falters. It feels like she hasn’t quite mastered how to deliver big emotions without resorting to the comedic flair she often uses in Hacks.

The majority of the criticism, nevertheless, is directed towards the series for concentrating too much on delving into the past issues of its lead couple, which causes it to lose focus on the reason we started watching in the first place – the essence of romance. In contrast to an intense whirlwind romance, Too Much seems surprisingly devoid of passion. There’s a lot of passionate love-making and heartfelt discussions, but what’s missing are those lingering glances or intimate close-ups that could draw us into their world, allowing us to feel as enamored with Jess and Felix’s relationship as they appear to be. Without this emotional connection, Too Much appears less like a captivating romance designed for our enjoyment, and more like a therapy session aimed at helping the couple rather than entertaining us.

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2025-07-10 10:24