Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama With Love, which brings heartfelt holiday romance and Latino family dynamics to life with authentic cultural celebration and romantic comedy charm.
With Love premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 17, 2021, created by Gloria Calderón Kellett, featuring 5 episodes in Season 1 and 6 episodes in Season 2 with each installment running approximately 60 minutes. Season 2 premiered on June 2, 2023, but the series was unfortunately canceled in November 2023 after two seasons. The show follows the Diaz siblings, Lily and Jorge, as they navigate love, family expectations, and personal growth throughout major holidays.
This romantic dramedy breaks new ground in representation by centering Latino characters and culture while exploring universal themes of family, love, and self-discovery. With Love uses the framework of holidays throughout the year to structure storytelling that feels both intimate and celebratory, capturing how special occasions amplify both joy and family drama.
The series excels at balancing ensemble storytelling with individual character development, weaving together multiple romantic storylines while maintaining focus on the central sibling relationship between Lily and Jorge. Each holiday setting provides natural dramatic tension and emotional stakes that drive character decisions and relationship developments.
The Diaz Family: Cultural Authenticity and Modern Romance
Emeraude Toubia brings depth and charisma to Lily Diaz, a successful immigration lawyer who struggles to balance career ambitions with family expectations about marriage and traditional gender roles. Her character represents many contemporary Latina women navigating professional success while honoring cultural values that sometimes conflict with personal desires.
Mark Indelicato delivers a nuanced performance as Jorge, a teacher and aspiring writer who faces his own challenges around sexuality, career fulfillment, and family acceptance. His storylines address LGBTQ+ representation within Latino families with sensitivity and authenticity, avoiding stereotypes while acknowledging real cultural tensions.
The Diaz family dynamics feel genuinely lived-in rather than constructed for television, with multi-generational perspectives that create both comedy and drama. Their holiday celebrations become character-driven showcases that reveal personality traits, relationship patterns, and family history through natural interactions.
Holiday Framework: Structure That Celebrates Culture
The show’s unique holiday-based structure allows With Love to explore different emotional registers throughout the year, from New Year’s Eve optimism to Halloween playfulness to Christmas family intensity. Each holiday brings specific cultural traditions that inform character behavior and relationship dynamics.
This framework prevents the series from falling into typical romantic comedy patterns by grounding storylines in specific cultural contexts and seasonal emotions. The holidays become more than just settings, they’re active elements that influence character decisions and relationship developments in believable ways.
The production design authentically recreates Latino holiday celebrations with attention to food, music, decorations, and family rituals that feel respectful rather than performative. These details create immersive environments that support character storytelling while celebrating cultural specificity.
Romance Across Generations and Orientations
With Love excels at portraying diverse romantic relationships that span different ages, sexual orientations, and life stages within the same family network. The series avoids treating any relationship type as more or less valid, creating storylines where all characters deserve love and happiness regardless of their circumstances.
The romantic chemistry between various couples feels authentic rather than forced, with writing that allows relationships to develop organically through shared experiences and emotional vulnerability. Each pairing brings different relationship challenges that reflect real-world dating complexities.
The show’s handling of LGBTQ+ romance within Latino family contexts demonstrates particular sensitivity, acknowledging cultural challenges while celebrating love and acceptance. These storylines feel integral to the series rather than tokenistic additions.
Prime Video’s Representation Success
With Love garnered critical praise for its authentic Latino representation and inclusive storytelling, earning a 7.2/10 rating on IMDb. The series filled an important gap in streaming content by centering Latino characters and cultural experiences while maintaining universal romantic appeal. Despite positive reception, the show was canceled after two seasons, highlighting ongoing challenges for diverse content in competitive streaming markets.
Gloria Calderón Kellett’s creation successfully demonstrated audience appetite for culturally specific romantic content that doesn’t sacrifice authenticity for broader appeal. The series proved that holiday-themed storytelling could work beyond traditional Christmas movies when grounded in genuine character development.
The Perfect Cultural Romance Celebration
If you love authentic family dynamics and diverse romantic storytelling, With Love is the perfect series to binge on Prime Video. The show successfully combines holiday warmth with genuine cultural representation, creating heartfelt television that celebrates love in all its forms while honoring Latino family traditions.
Why This Holiday Romance Warmed Hearts
Positive Aspects:
- Emeraude Toubia and Mark Indelicato deliver authentic sibling chemistry that anchors every episode emotionally
- Genuine cultural representation that celebrates Latino traditions without stereotyping or exoticizing
- Holiday structure provides natural dramatic tension and emotional stakes for romantic developments
- Diverse romantic storylines that include different ages, orientations, and relationship challenges authentically
- Gloria Calderón Kellett’s writing balances humor and heart while addressing real family dynamics
Negative Aspects:
- Short season lengths limited character development opportunities for extensive ensemble cast
- Some romantic storylines felt rushed due to holiday framework time constraints
- Cancellation after two seasons left several character arcs incomplete and unresolved
- Limited episodes meant less time to explore complex family history and cultural context
- Occasional pacing issues when balancing multiple romantic plots within single episodes
With Love proved that culturally specific romantic content could achieve both authenticity and universal appeal while celebrating the power of family bonds and holiday traditions.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: Season 1: 5 episodes, Season 2: 6 episodes
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- Release Years: 2021-2023
- Current IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Genre: Romantic Comedy Drama
- Production Type: American Latino Family Series
- Status: Canceled after 2 seasons (November 2023)
- Main Cast: Emeraude Toubia (Lily Diaz), Mark Indelicato (Jorge Diaz Jr.)
- Supporting Cast: Isis King, Rome Flynn, Vincent Rodriguez III, Desmond Chiam, Constance Marie
- Creator: Gloria Calderón Kellett
- Notable Elements: Holiday-structured storytelling, LGBTQ+ representation, Latino cultural authenticity