Once you’ve met someone interesting on a dating site, you can easily develop a sense of chemistry with regular messages and a lot of flirting. You’ll soon become eager to take this connection to the next level by arranging a get-together. The main question to consider would be what would make the most ideal activity for your first date? Our top suggestion would be to snuggle close on a comfortable couch, refreshments to hand, watching a romantic TV show. With that being said, we’ve asked dating experts from this website for some recommendations and they came up with top six TV shows that would be a perfect fit for this occasion.
1. Outlander
Based on the novels by American author Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is a sweeping romance. Claire (Caitriona Fraser), a World War Two nurse, married to Jonathan (Tobias Menzies), comes across a mysterious stone circle that transports her back to the 1740s, a turbulent period when many of the Scottish Highland clans – extended family groups living in proximity – are in armed rebellion against the British Crown. Hunting them down are red-coated British soldiers. Claire meets and falls for Jamie (Sam Heughan), a rugged rebel Clansman. The action unfolds during various stages of Claire’s time-traveling exploits, and the couple faces numerous trials and tribulations, not least when Sam falls victim to a predatory redcoat officer (also portrayed by Menzies), an ancestor of Jonathan. But the most intriguing aspect is that although Claire knows of forthcoming major events that will shape the destiny of her new acquaintances, she can only influence certain aspects of the outcome. This has everything for your first date – an intriguing premise, colorful characters, a twisting plot, and steamy encounters!
2. Poldark
Returning from British defeat during the American Revolutionary Wars in the 1770s, Captain Ross Podlark (Aidan Turner) takes up his family business, a tin mine in Cornwall, England. Discovering his first love Elizabeth (Heida Reed) promised to another, he marries a feisty Cornish redhead, Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson). But the course of their love faces numerous obstacles, not least when he crosses swords with arch-enemy, George (Jack Farthing), now married to Elizabeth, who is jealous of the dashing ex-soldier and the hold he still seems to have over Elizabeth. Against Poldark’s fiery romance, an ensemble cast conjures this turbulent period, with industrial unrest being suppressed by the establishment, while the tin miners face inhospitable working conditions. As the storylines progress, Ross eventually decides the best way to fight for justice for his workforce is to stand as a member of parliament. This only leads to further animosity as he clashes with power-hungry George, who has also trying to carve out a career in parliament.
3. Nashville
Set in Nashville, Tennessee, home of America’s vibrant country and western scene, this is a captivating series about the ups and downs of ambitious exponents of this hugely popular musical style. Rayna James (Connie Britton) is a legendary performer whose star is beginning to fade. Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) is the rising youngster snapping at her heels. Running for six seasons, whether or not you are big on country music, you will soon be drawn in by the bravura performances, the weaving storylines, and the sparks of romance between the characters involved in this dynamic and constantly evolving entertainment industry.
4. Bridgerton
England’s Regency era (in the early 19th century, during the reign of King George III), is a fertile ground for drama, instantly conjuring the romantic but often duplicitous world of Jane Austen’s novels. Bridgerton is set in London, centering on the Bridgerton family (four sons and four daughters), and the turbulent course of their quest to find love in uncertain times. The action is narrated by Julie Andrews, the anonymous voice of a newsletter that relishes the latest scandal and intrigue. What had made this series so notable is the way it focuses on how racially-integrated London was at this time (there has been a consistent debate that Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, was of mixed-race heritage.) So rather than the traditional perception of people of color only existing as servants, here they are depicted in positions of authority, many holding aristocratic titles. Aside from the historical aspects, there are vivid characters and rich backstories to keep you and your partner hooked.
5. Friends
Although this show is now some 30 years old, it has become so successful that repeat viewings can easily be tracked down with a modicum of searching via your remote! The energetic plots follows the intertwining love lives of six 20-somethings living in New York, each with strong character traits, allowing huge amounts of chemistry to fizzle as they interact, bicker or form relationships. The central performances are uniformly exemplary – Ross (David Schwimmer), his fastidious sister Monica (Courtney Cox), sarcastic Chandler (Matthew Perry), kooky Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), woman-hungry Joey (Matt Le Blanc), and endearing Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) – aided and abetted by many other cast members, including family, friends, love rivals and prospective partners. Filmed before a live studio audience, there are many laugh-out-loud moments, but one of the reasons this is perfect for your date night is that even if you’ve seen any of the episodes before, re-runs remain hugely entertaining.
6. Modern Family
Set in California, this mockumentary charts the interweaving fortunes of the Pritchett and Dunphy families, starring a rich cast who excel at comedy timing. Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) is the family head, owner of a company that design closets, and who is married to the much younger Colombian bombshell Gloria (Sofia Vergara). Much of the comic situations between them revolve around her mispronunciations of Spanish to English, together with regular alluding to her homeland’s backdrop of organized crime. Jay’s daughter Claire (Julie Bowen) is married to realtor Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrel), whose daughters couldn’t be more opposite: Alex (Ariel Winter) is studious; Haley (Sarah Hyland) is materialistic. Son Luke (Nolan Gould) is not the sharpest tool. Claire’s brother Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) is married to Missouri-born but highly-strung football coach Cameron (Eric Stonestreet). With frequent knowing looks to the camera, the scripts are uniformly excellent, making this ideal an ideal icebreaker for your first date.
