*How has your love life evolved since the early days of the pandemic? Freeform’s new romantic-comedy limited series, “Love in the Time if Corona” takes an interesting look at that question.
In one of the first productions to take place during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ensemble-led show was shot using remote technologies from the cast’s actual homes. The series follows four interwoven stories about the hopeful search for love and connection during this time of quarantine. It begins during the early stages of the stay-at-home order and includes the events that ignited the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests.
The series stars Tony® and GRAMMY® Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”) as James and his real-life wife Nicolette Robinson (“The Affair”) as Sade. The couple has been married for 12 years, but basically living separate lives. When Corona puts a stop to James’ work travel, they are forced to reconnect and revaluate their relationship goals.
It also stars Tommy Dorfman (“13 Reasons Why”) as Oscar, Rainey Qualley (“Mad Men”) as Elle, Gil Bellows (“Patriot”) as Paul, Rya Kihlstedt (“One Mississippi”) as Sarah, Ava Bellows (“This Too Shall Pass”) as Sophie and L. Scott Caldwell (“Lost”) as Nanda.
The other stories are as follows:
Roommates Oscar and Elle have a mostly platonic relationship. The uncertainty of the pandemic causes things to become slightly complicated, when the two decide to explore the potential for love with each other.
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Paul and Sarah are putting up a fake “happy couple” front for the sake of their daughter Sophie. When the pandemic hits and sends her home from college the parents pretend all is well, but in reality they are separated.
Nanda, a headstrong woman whose husband is unable to return home from his rehab facility, is determined to celebrate her fiftieth wedding anniversary
EURweb’s Jill Munroe spoke with the cast about the experience of shooting from home and what they learned about love and Corona.
For Odom Jr. and Robinson – who also had the additional layer of being producers on the series- they switched up their storyline. Initially it was going to focus on two people who met online, and were navigating the early stages of dating. Basing it slightly off of their own situation – being married for twelve years – and bringing in different conversations around love and family at that point in the relationship. They also discussed the importance of including the Black Lives Matter protests into the script.
“We were really interested in telling a story that we felt like many people could grab on, connect and relate to. We had been experiencing it ourselves in a way, so we really wanted to bring a lot of our personal experiences into the story.” Robinson continued, “there’s something really healing about being able to tell important timely stories in the moment.”
The series is executive produced by Joanna Johnson, Chris Sacani, Robyn Meisinger, Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson. “Love in the Time of Corona” premieres as a two-night limited event on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8:00 PM. The episodes will also be available on Hulu the following day.
