Valentine’s Day is approaching and I’ve never been the lovey-dovey romantic type. I prefer fun or practical gifts to the flowers/candy/jewelry, and I generally favor dramas to rom-coms. Regardless, I still like Valentine’s Day and I’m still a big believer in love. Love takes many forms and Netflix streaming has shows and movies that celebrate all of them. I’ve compiled a list of a few love-related favorites on Netflix, including some for the kids or the whole family.
Let me know in the comments what you’ll be streaming on Netflix for Valentines Day!
Friendship
I know what we’re gonna do today – we’re gonna watch step-brothers and best friends Phineas and Ferb come up with amazingly creative ways to spend their summer days. Not only are Phineas and Ferb best friends, but they have a crew of friends who are always by their side. Even Candace – their older sister who is always trying to “bust” them and prove to their parents they’re doing crazy things – is often along for the ride and is among their closest friends too.
My kids are big fans of Lab Rats, a Disney show about a family made up of a mom, dad, teenage boy, and three teenage superhumans. They navigate high school drama, get into trouble, and go on missions to save the world; and through it all, they’re best friends.
Part of growing up and adulting is becoming independent, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Jessica Day moved in with Schmidt, Winston, and Nick and they quickly become as close as family.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Shake & Bake! I don’t know what it means, and I doubt Ricky Bobby or Cal Naughton do either, but it’s a the tagline they’ve shared since childhood. Now, as NASCAR racers, the two are still inseparable. Even when disaster strikes and their relationship is strained, they make it through.
The story of Jim and Pam is one of my favorite love stories ever, but there are plenty of other amazing relationships in The Office too. See friendships begin and evolve throughout the 9 seasons of the show.
Love Gone Wrong
Love isn’t always a picnic. Losing people you love can be devastating and love (or what we think is love) can make us do some pretty crazy things sometimes. Explore the darker side of love with these not-for-kids Netflix shows.
Frank Castle had a family he loved, but when they were murdered he turned vigilante. He uses his Marine training and pain to avenge the murders of his family, and then to undercover a dark conspiracy.
Jessica, a private investigator with superhuman powers, suffers from PTSD as a result of time spent with Kilgrave, a man who is convinced he loves her, but uses his powers to control her. Jessica Jones is a dark show that portrays emotional abuse very accurately.
Walter White doesn’t plan to be a drug kingpin, he just wants to support his family. Things get a little out of control.
Love can make people do crazy things, including money laundering. In OITNB, that puts Piper into Litchfield Correctional Facility right alongside the woman she loves, Alex. Orange is the New Black is full of stories of how love made people do crazy things, love found in unexpected places, and bonding through trauma.
Unexpected Love
Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it, whether that love is romantic or platonic. These movies and shows have characters who find someone they love in an odd situation or find that they love someone they didn’t expect to like.
There are two kinds of animals in Zootopia – predators and prey. Judy Hopps is not only a prey animal, but also a police officer. Nicke Wilde, a predator and con man, seems like a natural enemy, but the two must team up to find out what’s really going on in Zootopia, and they grow to become close friends.
The BFG is the kid-friendly story of an orphan girl and a 24-foot tall giant. Not exactly a match made in heaven, but they become great friends and work together to protect the world from human-eating giants.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
With the literal end of the world approaching Dodge’s wife leaves him. He sets off on an adventure to find a former sweetheart and ends up developing an unlikely friendship with his neighbor Penny.
Another dark show, but definitely worth watching. FBI agent Elizabeth Keen finds herself paired up with “Red”, one of the world’s most wanted fugitives. Surprisingly, he’s sometimes the only one she can trust.
Bonding through Difficult Times
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
When a family is torn apart by a fire, the kids must endure their greedy, evil guardian. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire still have each other and have to work together to protect each other and their future.
The bond between a tight-knit group of friends is tested when one of them goes missing and a mysterious girl appears. Not only do the kids stick by each other through everything, but they add a few new loyal companions along the way.
Sibling rivalry often extends to adulthood and that’s definitely the case with Sam and Dean Winchester. When tragedy strikes and their father disappears, they agree to work together. As they fight demons and other supernatural enemies, they strengthen their brotherly bond.
Life seems to be going pretty smoothly for Grace and Frankie when their husbands announce they’ll be ending their 30-something year marriages to marry each other. Grace and Frankie had always been rivals, but they soon come together as frenemies, and eventually best friends, as they struggle through major life changes.
Prison’s not a nice place to be, but for Andy Dufresne and “Red” it’s a place to bond over similar struggles, beliefs, and dreams.
I’m not even sure what to say about The OA without giving too much away, but there’s definitely bonding and difficult times.
Thanks to the #StreamTeam for making this post possible and for all the amazing Streaming options Netflix offers!
