Rom-Com Rescue

Any takeaways from this episode?
Bridgerton is back—and before the tea is sipped and the masquerade begins, we’re setting the table.
In this Bridgerton Central Pre-Game episode, Kira and Izzy break down everything we’re excited (and slightly nervous) about as Season 4 approaches—starting with the most fascinating Bridgerton brother of them all: Benedict.
Why has Benedict spent three seasons wandering, creating art, and falling into secret, emotionally safe relationships? Why now? And what would real growth actually look like for him—beyond love-at-first-sight and grand gestures?
We dig into:
Benedict’s full relationship history—and what it reveals
His avoidant-coded patterns and emotional “safe plays”
Why humor, charm, and being the fun one can be a defense
What we hope to see instead of a quick Cinderella-style transformation
The difference between falling in love and choosing to show up intentionally
Plus, we talk:
Masquerade vibes, Cinderella coding, and why Ever After still holds up
Power dynamics, nervous system safety, and class imbalance in love stories
Violet Bridgerton’s blooming!
Francesca’s storyline, quiet love vs. chaotic love, and why that distinction matters
Lady Danbury, the Queen, and the backstories we’re dying to see
Cressida Cowper: villain, victim, or misunderstood chaos agent?
And because this is Bridgerton Central, it’s not just a podcast—it’s a conversation.
📣 Join the Conversation
We want your thoughts, theories, and hot takes all month long:
🎙️ Leave us a voicemail via SpeakPipe at romcomrescue.com (you might be featured on the show!)
📲 Slide into our Instagram DMs
🗳️ Vote in polls, play along with games, and grab your Bridgerton Bingo card
🎭 Follow along daily on Instagram for reels, carousels, and very serious Ton commentary
Next week, the real watching begins as we kick off Episode 1 of our weekly Bridgerton breakdowns, covering love lessons, red flags, nervous system notes, and relationship dynamics—RomCom Rescue style.
✨ New episodes drop every Wednesday for the next five weeks.
Because at the end of the day…
 We believe we make our own happily ever afters.
And we’ll meet you in the Ton. 🫖💜
Come talk with us about your favorite rom-coms on instagram, tiktok, & youtube and Bluesky!

Get show notes, transcripts, and more information on at Rom-ComRescue.com

Any takeaways from this episode?
College friends. Annual vacations. Questionable boundaries. And the illusion that everything works better when life is on pause.
This week on RomCom Rescue, Kira Sabin and Dr. Isabelle Morley break down Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth — a friends-to-lovers story that should work… but maybe doesn’t.
We talk about:
Why “vacation chemistry” is not the same as real-life compatibility
The outdated question of “Can men and women be friends?”
Emotional intimacy, blurry boundaries, and what actually creates problems in relationships
Why attraction alone doesn’t mean you should build a life together
And the big miss that kept this romance from fully landing
Fair warning: we liked parts of it… and still had a lot to say.
💡 Key Love Lessons We Break Down
1. Vacation You ≠ Real-Life You
Being relaxed, playful, and day-drinking in Tuscany is not the same as navigating:
2. “Can Men and Women Be Friends?” Is the Wrong Question
 Avoidance, lack of clarity, and unspoken dynamics are.
3. Attraction Is Human — What You Do With It Matters
4. Chemistry vs. Compatibility
Chemistry asks: Do I feel pulled toward you?
Compatibility asks: Can our lives actually work together?
5. Emotional Closeness Needs Clarity
🎧 Coming Next Week - Our Bridgerton Event!
✨ Bridgerton Pre-Game Episode
What we love. What we don’t. What we’re hoping to see.
Costumes included. Obviously.
Come talk with us about your favorite rom-coms on instagram, tiktok, & youtube and Bluesky!

Get show notes, transcripts, and more information on at Rom-ComRescue.com

Any takeaways from this episode?
This week on Rom-Com Rescue, we are diving headfirst into the internet-melting, emotionally devastating, wildly addictive rom-com series Heated Rivalry starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie (2025), now streaming on HBO Max.
Hockey rivals.
Secret lovers.
A decade-long slow burn.
One cottage that changed everything.
And yes — some of the most talked-about butts on screen.
We’re breaking down why Heated Rivalry has taken over timelines, group chats, and late-night thoughts — and why this story hits so deeply for so many people.
On the surface, this is a sexy rivals-to-lovers romance between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. But underneath? This show taps directly into anxious attachment, avoidant coping, long-distance fantasy, secrecy, and the very human desire to be chosen — fully and openly.
In this episode, Kira and Dr. Isabelle Morley unpack:
Why long-distance + time creates powerful fantasy bonds
How secrecy intensifies intimacy (and where it goes wrong)
The anxious–avoidant push/pull dynamic at the heart of the story
Why sex can feel like closeness — even when emotional intimacy is missing
What makes this show feel emotionally safe in a way so many romances don’t
We also talk about:
Why this story resonated so strongly with women
What it means to feel wanted vs. chosen
Healthy vs. unhealthy longing
Representation without trauma
And why so many of us are still thinking about the cottage
This is not a recap podcast.
This is a relationship dynamics deep dive — and Heated Rivalry gives us a LOT to work with.
Come talk with us about your favorite rom-coms on instagram, tiktok, & youtube and Bluesky!

Get show notes, transcripts, and more information on at Rom-ComRescue.com

Any takeaways from this episode?
House swapping, hot drunk Englishman, personal movie trailers, and Mr. Napkinhead!
That's right, we are watching the 2006 rom-com series THE HOLIDAY, with Kate Winslet, Cameron DIaz, Jude Law and Jack Black.
In this episode of RomCom Rescue, Kira and Dr. Isabelle go deep into the cozy chaos of The Holiday—house swaps, emotional avoidance, unrequited “love,” and why Jasper is the human equivalent of a walking red flag.
You’ll hear us unpack:
Iris, Jasper, and the myth of unrequited loveWhy Iris’s “epic love story” with Jasper is actually a long-term crush with terrible ROI
How we confuse attention with intention
What it really costs you to keep hanging on to someone who will never fully choose you

Crush vs. Love (a.k.a. Love-Adjacent Feelings)What makes a crush different from genuine love
How fantasy can feel safer than real intimacy
Questions to ask yourself if you’ve been stuck on someone for months (or years)

Amanda, emotional avoidance, and finally crying in the carWhy some people literally can’t cry and what’s underneath that
How emotional unavailability shows up in relationships
The difference between calling someone out vs. weaponizing their coping skills

Graham, kids, and complicated timingThe rush into “I love you” after two weeks (with children involved)
What a healthier “I have feelings for you” might sound like
Why step-parent energy needs more than a holiday montage to work

Miles, green flags, and why friendship-first relationships matterWhy Miles is basically a walking green flag (with one big misstep)
The tension between prioritizing romantic partners vs. friendships
How both Iris and Miles are recovering from lopsided relationships

Best friends vs. leading ladiesArthur’s iconic line about being the leading lady in your own life
Why we’re done equating being “the best friend” with being less deserving of love
How to stop sidelining yourself in your own story

Sex, foreplay & bad messages we don’t want you absorbingWhy “foreplay is overrated” is a terrible love (and sex) lesson
What good, enthusiastic, mutual intimacy actually looks like

Holiday comfort, nostalgia, and a little triviaNancy Meyers house porn, Blackberry sightings, and OG house swapping
The real-life history between Kate Winslet and Rufus Sewell
Why this is one of Isabelle’s all-time favorite rom-coms and Kira’s go-to holiday rewatch

Finally, we rate The Holiday on both movie joy and love lessons—with Isabelle wildly breaking the 5-star system and Kira pretending to enforce it.
Join us next for 2025 Holiday Rom-Com - My Secret Santa
Currently streaming on Netflix.
Come talk with us about your favorite rom-coms on instagram, tiktok, & youtube and Bluesky!

Get show notes, transcripts, and more information on at Rom-ComRescue.com

Any takeaways from this episode?
Ring mix-ups. NYC holiday magic. Fresh bread and cornettos for days.
This week on RomCom Rescue, we’re breaking down Something From Tiffany’s (2022) — the cozy, charming, slightly chaotic holiday rom-com currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
We get into:
 💍 The Tiffany’s ring mix-up that launches the whole story
🎄 Why NYC at Christmas is basically its own character
🚩 The red flags that are NOT festive — Gary, we’re looking at you
❤️ When holiday magic blinds us to very real relationship issues
🧠 Why you should never be shocked by a proposal in 2025
👧 Daisy: the most emotionally mature person in this entire movie
🔥 And whether Ethan & Rachel have an actual shot… or if we’re just rom-com magic blind
We’re talking chemistry, timing, boundaries, intention, emotional availability, and why “it’s complicated” usually just means no one is steering the damn ship.
If you love:
 — Cozy NYC streets
 — Pastries as a love language
 — Holiday rom-coms with actual nuance
 — And characters who are charming and a little chaotic
…this episode is your December comfort watch in podcast form.
📺 Watch Something From Tiffany’s on Amazon Prime
📲 Vote in our Instagram polls & DM us your hot takes
🎧 Follow/subscribe so you never miss a holiday breakdown
Because at the end of the day…
 💫 We create our own happily ever afters — and yes, order the cornetto.
Come talk with us about your favorite rom-coms on instagram, tiktok, & youtube and Bluesky!

Get show notes, transcripts, and more information on at Rom-ComRescue.com