I love romantic comedies, or romantic dramas - basically anything

In the words of Rachel Bilson, “I love romantic comedies, or romantic dramas—basically anything with love in it.” Though these words seem gentle and playful, they carry a truth that echoes through the ages: that the human soul is forever drawn to stories of love, whether they bring laughter or tears. The forms may change, but the essence remains eternal. For to love, to be loved, and to witness love in others is to touch the deepest longing of the human heart.

The ancients, too, wove their lives around such tales. The comedies of Aristophanes, with their laughter and folly, often concealed a tender thread of affection; the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles tore open the wounds of passion, showing love as both gift and curse. Whether through joy or through sorrow, the ancients understood what Bilson affirms: that anything with love in it is worthy of attention, because love is the fire by which human existence is illuminated.

To cherish both romantic comedies and romantic dramas is to honor the twofold nature of love. One reveals its lightness—the playful beginnings, the misunderstandings resolved in laughter, the happy union that brings delight to the heart. The other reveals its weight—the sacrifices, the heartbreaks, the endurance that carves depth into the soul. Without the comedy, love would seem too heavy; without the drama, it would seem too shallow. Together, they reveal the full scope of human passion.

History gives us endless examples of this balance. Think of Shakespeare, whose comedies—like Much Ado About Nothing—celebrate wit, flirtation, and joyous reunion, while his dramas—like Romeo and Juliet—unveil the intensity of love that defies even death. Both sides speak to us still because both are true: love brings both delight and devastation, and to embrace one without the other is to miss its fullness. Bilson’s words, though simple, remind us that to seek love in all its forms is to embrace life itself.

And why do we return, again and again, to these tales? Because in them we see ourselves. The laughter of the romantic comedy mirrors our own moments of joy, when love feels like play. The tears of the romantic drama mirror our moments of grief, when love feels like sacrifice. Both bring us closer to understanding that to live is to love, and to love is to accept both laughter and sorrow as inseparable companions.

The lesson is this: do not seek only the joy of love, nor fear only its pain. Welcome both. For love’s power lies in its ability to stretch the heart, to teach us to rejoice, to grieve, to endure, and to hope. To be alive is to be a participant in both the comedy and the drama, and in this participation, the soul becomes whole.

And what should you do? Live as one who embraces anything with love in it. When life gives you laughter, share it freely; when it gives you sorrow, bear it bravely. Do not hide from the drama, nor dismiss the comedy, for both are teachers. Read stories, watch films, and tell tales that honor love’s many faces. And above all, live your own story with courage, letting love guide you through both its radiant joys and its inevitable trials. For in the end, love—whether comic or tragic—is the most important story of all.