With journalist Phoebe Judge as host and co-producer, This is Love had a built-in fanbase from the hit true crime series Criminal, which she also hosts and co-produces, but she’s not resting on her laurels here. Judge’s soothing voice, a calm contrast to the disturbing events of Criminal, is perfectly suited to exploring mystery stories of an altogether more positive nature.
The “love stories,” if they are love stories, come from refreshingly different directions, rarely about romantic love, but always about the most poignant moments of a relationship, interwoven with snippets of conversation, ethereal music and a sense of wonder. Some are devastating, like the one about an Iowa corn farmer who is spurred by the death of a close family friend to realize a long-held dream: to build a Wimbledon-level grass tennis court in the middle of his fields.
As with other episodes, the way the story is built up with historical facts and gently told through the years that have passed doesn’t prepare you for the emotional impact of the ending. This style of storytelling is skillful and really fun to get swept up in.
