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The Rom Complex

by Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman

Which came first, the romantic comedy or our messed up ways of thinking about love and relationships? Each week Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman break down the romcom tropes that make their hearts sing and the ones that need to be tuned up. Listen to them talk about how these movies affected their relationships–for better and for worse.

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Episodes

  1. 311. Best of the Best (2026)

    You know we love a dance movie, and we get exactly what we want from Best of the Best (2026). We also discuss how damaging mothers can be, how cool tigers are, and how many actors are simply from Britain.

  2. 310. The Love Hypothesis (2026)

    Remember to wear your goggles in the lab as we get ready to discuss The Love Hypothesis (2026). We chat about how mean attractive people are allowed to be, the subtleties of manipulation, and that hotel room scene.

  3. 309. Practical Magic 2 (2026)

    Nicki and Sandy are back for Practical Magic 2 (2026), and this time they're joined by Lee Pace! We discuss the nature of sequels, undoing all of a story's hard work, and what women's faces are allowed to look like.

  4. 308. Do Us Part (2026)

    Do Us Part (2026) takes "wedding crasher" a bit further than you might be used to--the female lead is trying to be a full-on marriage crasher. We discuss the rationality of this plan along with secure brides, overstepping best friends, and our preferred wedding antics.

  5. 307. One Night Only (2026)

    Does One Night Only (2026) manage to weave a satisfying romantic tale through the high-concept world of "The Purge but for sex"? We discuss our answers to this question along with Mister Dua Lipa, the importance of casting, and brand name medicine jingles.

  6. 306. I Want Your Sex (2026)

    I Want Your Sex (2026) might not have a lot of rom, but the com about rom is the bomb. I'm sorry, I was having fun with it. We discuss the new film from Gregg Araki along with our time machine plans, playfulness in storytelling, and our Seth Rogen support group.

  7. 305. Summer Sparks (2026)

    Summer Sparks (2026) is a Hallmark-style romcom brought to us by Roku. America truly is a melting pot. Along with the plot, we also manage to discuss how to ask someone out, whether or not a wife is alive, and what elements are required to make a situation a Parent Trap.

  8. 304. Heartstopper Forever (2026)

    A beloved Netflix series wraps up with Heartstopper Forever (2026). We see where all our favorite characters end up, and along the way we discuss character growth, people-pleasing, and our fade-to-black preferences,

  9. 303. Finding Emily (2026)

    We've recovered from last week's wacky premise to bring you a simple movie about a boy looking for a girl and finding 300+ girls. It's this year's Finding Emily (2026), and we're so excited to discuss our new actor-crush Spike Fearn, as well as proper email etiquette, ethics in psychological...

  10. 302. 40 Dates and 40 Nights (2026)

    40 Dates and 40 Nights (2026) asks the question, "Would you do something inconvenient if your Grandma agrees to pay your rent?" The answer is a resounding yes. We discuss dating stamina, aunts vs. grandmas, and the amazing impact of proximity when it comes to romance.

  11. 301. Voicemails for Isabelle (2026)

    Pro tip: grab a box of tissues before you watch this one. Voicemails for Isabelle (2026) is a tearjerker in all the right ways. Through our tears, we discuss cellular privacy, relationship podcasters, and how you can tell when a filmmaker truly loves the genre.

  12. 300. Your Fault: London (2026)

    A huge thank you to every single one of you who have listened to and supported us as we've made our way to 300 episodes. We couldn't be more grateful for our listeners, supporters, and Patrons to make this all possible. Ahem. Enough sappy stuff. Back to the serious matter of secretly-dating...

  13. 299. My Fault: London (2025)

    My Fault: London (2025) has all the tropes we've come to expect from the New Adult genre--fistfights, car chases, main character in distress--with an added step-sibling twist. We also discuss bad valets, the lawyer from Fleabag, and Tokyo Drift.

  14. 298. Office Romance (2026)

    The creatively-titled Office Romance (2026) shows us what happens when a strict HR no-dating policy comes face-to-face with a handshake from a glowing Jennifer Lopez. We also chat about restricted raunch, self-insert fanfiction, and the powerhouse performance from Betty Gilpin.

  15. 297. Oh, Hi! (2025)

    Can a comedy be both light and dark? Lightly dark? That's what we get in 2025's Oh, Hi!, a romance featuring a nice weekend getaway that turns into something else entirely. We chat about movie morals, light bondage, and remembering to pretend to forget. (A sheepish welcome back to anyone who...

  16. 296. Tuner (2025)

    Our apologies (and also congratulations?) to anyone who listened to next week's episode before we replaced it with the correct file! In Tuner (2025), we face the classic story of a piano tuner turned safe cracker who may or may not find love along the way. It happens all the time! We also discuss...

  17. Bonus: Bridgerton S4E1: The Waltz

    Head on over to the Patreon at patreon.com/theromcomplex for more mini episodes about Bridgerton and more!

  18. 295. You, Me & Tuscany (2026)

    It's travel season (isn't that every season?) and we're headed to Italia for the views, the food, the wine, and the fun little rom-com You, Me & Tuscany (2026). Find out if Sam thinks Regé-Jean Page's face can fit believably in a contemporary setting!

  19. 294. The Drama (2026)

    The real drama of The Drama (2026) is that no characters spend the entire movie telling Zendaya how beautiful she is. We discuss this divisive new film along with empathy, the ability to change, and an outsider's perspective on the US.

  20. 293. Splitsville (2025)

    We know you're not getting enough Dakota Johnson in your life, so we're covering 2025's Splitsville to try to make up the deficit. But be warned, this film is aware of how UNromantic it is.

  21. 292. Love Me, Love Me (2026)

    Love Me, Love Me (2026) has it all--love triangles, motorcycles, underground teen fighting rings--you name it! But is it any good? Well, I think we're going to need a more complex scale to nail that one down.

  22. 291. Reminders of Him (2026)

    It's got drama, it's got Colleen Hoover's unique brand of storytelling, and it's got Tyriq Withers's baby-blues--it's the new romance Reminders of Him (2026). We talk through the whole movie until we have only one question left: is that a freaking pigeon?

  23. 290. Pillion (2025)

    We do not know how to ride a motorcycle, but we're still ready to rev your engines as we discuss the darkly funny romance Pillion. We also chat about tiny glasses, figuring out your boundaries, and the things we'd do if Alexander Skarsgård asked us.

  24. 289. Kissing is the Easy Part (2026)

    Tubi has brought us a high school rom-com with surprising depth of feeling in Kissing is the Easy Part (2026). We chat about the stories we inherit from our parents, the attractiveness of nice nerds, and why you simply should not agree to underhanded deals with physicists.

  25. 288. All the Real Girls (2003) with Susan Kemp

    We're joined by writer/director/actor/friend Susan Kemp to discuss one of her favorite romances, All the Real Girls (2003). We chat about the realities of young love, blooming late, and how sometimes an actor is just a guy. See more of Susan on Instagram and Youtube @susiekemp.

  26. 287. Wuthering Heights (2026)

    We hit the theaters to see what Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi get up to in the moors in Wuthering Heights (2026). The answer may surprise you by being not-all-that surprising. Let's go get our ears pierced!

  27. 286. Relationship Goals (2026)

    What more research did we need to do other than "Relationship Goals (2026) is a new romcom starring Kelly Rowland"? It turns out she plays a boss babe who needs a little help with love from the big man upstairs, and I don't mean Method Man.

  28. 285. How to Lose a Popularity Contest (2026)

    Tubi has your enemies-to-lovers high school romcom fix available in the form of How to Lose a Popularity Contest (2026). Will the highly-motivated nerd end up with the slacker jock? And do they deserve each other? Find out here!

  29. 284. People We Meet On Vacation (2026)

    Welcome to season two and EVEN MORE welcome to our new theme song, brought to you by Nick Foster and Jone! We hope you love it as much as we do. We're kicking off the year and the season with the adaptation of Emily Henry's friends-to-lovers romance People We Meet On Vacation. Come take a trip…

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  30. Bonus: Bridgerton S2E1: Capital R Rake

    Head on over to the Patreon at patreon.com/theromcomplex for more mini episodes about Bridgerton and more!

  31. 283. Eternity: Love in the Afterlife

    We left our comfy homes to go see Eternity (2025), and what a treat it was! We're all spoilers as we discuss love triangles, difficult choices, and where we would spend our eternities. We hope you've enjoyed season one of The Rom Complex, and we look forward to having you around for season 2.

  32. 282. The Philadelphia Story: I Don't Want to Be Worshipped. I Want to Be Loved.

    The Philadelphia Story (1940) is NOT to be confused with Philadelphia (1993), the drama starring Tom Hanks. This one has Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and a whole lotta antics--as we've come to expect from the pair.

  33. 281. Ghost: The Love Inside, You Take It With You

    If the only thing you know about Ghost (1990) is the sexy pottery scene, then consider opening your mind (or spirit) to a beautiful and funny romance fantasy film. Also, there's another sexy scene you're missing out on!

  34. 280. Love, Rosie: You Deserve Someone Who Loves You with Every Beat of His Heart

    As we head toward the end of season one of The Rom Complex, we're on endings and new beginnings, starting with a Lily Collins friends-to-lovers romance, 2014's Love, Rosie. We also discuss how well drunk people are able to remember events, saying what you mean, and Sam's dream bed and breakfast.

  35. 279. Because I Said So (Revisited): Love Is Supposed to Make You Feel Good About Yourself

    We're taking another look at 2007's Because I Said So, a movie about sisterhood, motherhood, and trying not to make the same mistakes as your sisters and mother. We also discuss Diane Keaton, souffles, and not overstepping in your kid's life.

  36. 278. The First Wives Club: Goodbye Love, Hello Pop-Tarts

    Did you miss us? Because we missed you! We're back to discuss The First Wives Club (1996) and the late, great Diane Keaton. If you know romcoms, you know Diane Keaton. Join us to chat about The First Wives Club, the plot of which Shelby kept getting confused with the new Kim Kardashian show All's...

  37. 277. Pitch Perfect: I Love Stackin' CDs

    Sam has overcome her distaste for a certain actor and decided we should watch Pitch Perfect (2012). We chat about the peak of a cappella, having girl friends, and the black cat/golden retriever dynamic.

  38. 276. Hairspray: Never Leave Me Without Love

    You can't stop the beat, and you can't stop us talking about Hairspray (2007). We also discuss airport altercations, Zefron in a suit, and what type of men we are.

  39. 275. Across the Universe: All You Need Is Love

    Help, Sam is cursed and the only way to relieve it is to talk about Across the Universe (2007)! Luckily, there is plenty to say. We talk puppets, plot threads, and protests, all with a beautiful Beatles soundtrack.

  40. 274. Bye Bye Birdie: We Love You Conrad, Oh Yes We Do

    Ahem, mi mi mi mi miiiii. Sorry, just had to warm up my voice for Sing-along September! Our first musical masterpiece is Bye Bye Birdie (1963). We also discuss young love, less-young love, mama's boys, and what wars happened in what years.

  41. 273. Made of Honor: If You Love Something, Set It Free

    McDreamy and McCreamy collide in 2008's Made of Honor, a movie that proves that a rich man can have "broke boy energy." We also discuss Scotland, friends versus best friends, and comic relief grandmas.

  42. 272. The Wedding Singer: I Fell in Love with This Girl Who's Going to Marry an Idiot

    The Wedding Singer (1998) is our next wedding-themed selection, and we don't even mention the musical stage adaptation. We discuss the Adam Sandler method of movie production, character-based comedy, and the allure of dating a musician.

  43. 271. The Wedding Date: I'd Rather Fight with You Than Make Love with Anyone Else

    We've returned to 2005, Sam's favorite year for movies, for The Wedding Date. Join us as we chat about complicated families, dancing away the anger, and how more men should be named Dermot.

  44. 270. The Wedding Banquet: Let's Try Looking More in Love

    Grab your Bowen Yang Lego minifigs because we're starting Wedding month with this year's The Wedding Banquet (2025). We discuss the surprising plot, tropes we hate the most, and lying to Grandma. Join us for the celebration!

  45. 269. The Fault in Our Stars: Ours Is An Epic Love Story

    We're finishing up Summertime Sadness with The Fault in Our Stars (2014), based on the book that kicked off an entire trend of "sick lit." Find out which one of us knows more about the Green brothers!

  46. 268. Me Before You: Did You Ever Love Anything That Much?

    Don't put away those tissues yet because we are still powering through Summertime Sadness despite our sniffles and puffy eyes. This week we're discussing Me Before You (2016), a light little romantic drama (just kidding). Triggers include assisted suicide and discussion of suicidal ideation.

  47. 267. One Day: I Love You, I Just Don't Like You Anymore

    For our next bout of Summertime Sadness, we're joined by Anne Hathaway. Not physically, but spiritually, through her role in the movie One Day (2011). We also discuss character growth, diverging paths in life, and reality television.

  48. 266. Remember Me: They Love This Freaky, Poetic Crap

    This month we are celebrating Summertime Sadness, and we're off to an extremely tragic start with 2010's Remember Me. Trigger warning for the September 11th terrorist attacks. If you know, you know!

  49. 265. Gorgeous: We Love Dolphins (with Nick Foster)

    Writer, rapper, and filmmaker Nicholas Foster joins us to discuss 1999's Gorgeous, an extremely silly Jackie Chan romcom that veers off into unexpected side stories involving gangsters, business, and boxing. Lots of boxing. Check out more of Nick's work at https://justnickperiod.com/

  50. 264. Summer Catch: Love's the Game

    Summer Catch (2001) teaches us a lot, mostly about toxic masculinity and collegiate summer baseball leagues. We also discuss cool girls, summer love, and an abundance of subplots.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Which came first, the romantic comedy or our messed up ways of thinking about love and relationships? Each week Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman break down the romcom tropes that make their hearts sing and the ones that need to be tuned up. Listen to them talk about how these movies affected their relationships–for better and for worse.

HOSTED BY

Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman

CATEGORIES

tv film

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Rom Complex have?

The Rom Complex currently has 315 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Rom Complex about?

Which came first, the romantic comedy or our messed up ways of thinking about love and relationships? Each week Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman break down the romcom tropes that make their hearts sing and the ones that need to be tuned up. Listen to them talk about how these movies affected...

How often does The Rom Complex release new episodes?

The Rom Complex publishes regularly with 315 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to The Rom Complex?

You can listen to The Rom Complex on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Rom Complex?

The Rom Complex is created and hosted by Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman.
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