Still Up is Apple TV+’s latest sweet rom-com that’s taking the platform by storm. It could potentially fill the hopeful, comfort-food void Ted Lasso left behind. Starring Antonia Thomas and Craig Roberts, the British comedy follows Lisa and Danny, two insomniacs who keep each other company at night. Throughout the eight-episode series, their relationship deepens as they encounter the weirdly wonderful surprises the night holds in store for them.
So far, it’s a lot of fun — a delightfully whimsical, lighthearted comedy that offers escapism and nuanced performances from the leads. Despite never occupying the same room, Thomas and Roberts boast excellent chemistry.
If you’re new to Thomas or Roberts (you probably know Thomas from The Good Doctor) or hoping to find something else in the same vein, here are eight shows you should watch if you love Still Up.
RELATED: TV Review: Still Up Season 1
Lovesick
Credit: Alan Peebles/Netflix
What It’s About: 20-something Dylan discovers he has chlamydia and embarks on the arduous (and embarrassing) task of informing every woman he’s slept with about it. Based on that premise, it sounds super masculine. However, Lovesick breaks barriers by putting a target on the back of toxic masculinity and firing at will. This particularly applies to Dylan’s best friend, Luke, who embarks on a journey to reexamine his lothario behavior and attends therapy sessions.
You might recognize Antonia Thomas as Evie, one of the main characters whose will-they-won’t-they with Dylan is as fun to watch as it is frustrating (in a good way). Fun fact: I first watched this delightful rom-com back when it was called Scrotal Recall. Yes, that was its original title.
The Stars: Johnny Flynn, Antonia Thomas, Daniel Ings, Joshua McGuire, Hannah Britland
Where to Watch: Netflix
Starstruck
Credit: Mark Johnson/HBO Max
What It’s About: Jessie’s a millennial in London struggling to make ends meet while working two jobs. On New Year’s Eve, she meets a handsome man at the pub and has a one-night stand, not realizing until the following morning that she slept with a super famous film star, Tom Kapoor.
RELATED: Top 10 British TV Comedies
Starstruck feels like a lighter version of Fleabag, with the charming, lovable Jessie spewing witty one-liners at every turn. It doesn’t go as deep as Fleabag, but it’s a fluffy rom-com that boasts two leads with electrifying chemistry who try to navigate their burgeoning relationship.
The Stars: Rose Matafeo (creator, writer and director), Nikesh Patel, Emma Sidi, Al Roberts, Minnie Driver
Where to Watch: Max (Season 3 arrives in the US on Friday, September 29)
Red Oaks
Credit: Eric Liebowitz/Amazon Studios
What It’s About: Here’s a Craig Roberts-starring series that’s not quite in the vein of Still Up, but it’s a fun, nostalgia-filled romp that’s worth a watch. Roberts plays David Meyers, a college student with filmmaking dreams living it up in the ’80s. David finds love and becomes a tennis pro at the Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey. It’s a feel-good, coming-of-age comedy, perfect for fans of Craig Roberts and Stranger Things. (Or anything set in the 1980s.) Plus, it’s got a few bona fide ’80s stars in a solid cast.
The Stars: Craig Roberts, Ennis Esmer, Oliver Cooper, Alexandra Turshen, Jennifer Grey, Richard Kind, Alexandra Socha, Paul Reiser
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Misfits
Credit: E4
What It’s About: If you’re a fan of fantasy/sci-fi with a comedic twist, chances are you’ve heard of Misfits. It’s definitely gained a cult following over the decade since it concluded. This UK series follows a group of offenders carrying out their community service. Suddenly, they’re struck by lightning during a freak storm, resulting in inexplicable superpowers. What transpires next is cheeky, superpowered antics with hilarious yet grounded performances across the board. The show is also a nice blend of comedy and heartstring-tugging drama.
The Stars: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Iwan Rheon, Antonia Thomas, Robert Sheehan, Joe Gilgun, Lauren Socha, Karla Crome
Where to Watch: Hulu, Freevee
Crashing
Credit: Netflix
What It’s About: This charming six-episode British series spotlights a group of 20-and-30-somethings residing in an abandoned hospital, where they’re property guardians. Crashing is a straight-up adorable and hysterical comedy that should’ve lived beyond one season. Additionally, you’ve got a pre-Bridgerton Jonathan Bailey and Phoebe Waller-Bridge before Fleabag shot her to new heights. To top it all off, one of the characters is named Melody. As a Melody myself, there aren’t that many characters that share my name. I’m all for a higher concentration of fictional characters with my name.
The Stars: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (creator and writer), Jonathan Bailey, Julie Dray, Amit Shah, Damien Molony, Louise Ford, Adrian Scarborough
Where to Watch: Netflix
Chewing Gum
Credit: Netflix
What It’s About: Tracey desperately wants to have sex. She’s also got a crush on Connor, who lives nearby. Hilarious antics ensue. Chewing Gum is all about Tracey and the mishaps involving her friends and family. It’s a simple premise that creator, writer and star Michaela Coel (pre-I May Destroy You) takes and runs with to stellar results. If you want to laugh out loud, watch this series. The romance might not fall into the traditional rom-com camp, but it’s weirdly wonderful and hysterically kooky.
The Stars: Michaela Coel, Danielle Walters, Robert Lonsdale, Shola Adewusi, Susan Wokoma, Maggie Steed, Kadiff Kirwan, Olisa Odele
Where to Watch: Max
Love
Credit: Suzanne Hanover/Netflix
What It’s About: Gillian Jacobs‘ post-Community effort is the cheeky rom-dramedy Love. Mickey Dobbs and Gus Cruikshank navigate the highs and lows of intimacy, commitment and everything else they try to avoid. It’s perfect for the jaded 30-something who doesn’t believe in love. That may sound like the opposite of a hopeful rom-com like Still Up, but keep watching. Mickey and Gus are pretty damn cute.
RELATED: Top 10 Feel-Good TV Shows Guaranteed to Make You Feel Good
The Stars: Gillian Jacobs, Paul Rust, Claudia O’Doherty, Mike Mitchell, Alexandre Crepet
Where to Watch: Netflix
Catastrophe
Credit: Amazon Studios
What It’s About: British comedies just get it. They’re sharp as a tack, darkly funny, gut-wrenchingly vulnerable and everything in between. Enter Catastrophe, which tells the tale of an American man who gets an Irish woman pregnant during the one week he’s in London for a business trip. Of course, they take the unconventional route with their relationship as they get to know each other and prepare to bring a child into this world. It’s a beautiful amalgam of poignancy and laugh-out-loud hilarity. This series also features one of Carrie Fisher‘s final roles.
The Stars: Sharon Horgan (co-creator), Rob Delaney (co-creator), Mark Bonnar, Ashley Jensen, Daniel Lapaine
Where to Watch: Prime Video
What rom-com series are you watching? Have you seen any of the shows on this list? Sound off in the comments below!
Still Up drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.
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Melody.McCune@geekgirlauthority.com
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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