How Much Is Too Much

2025-07-19

Send us a textI've been thinking for a long time about the gendered sociocultural accusation of "too much" that's often directed towards women's behavior, especially how they love and connect to others, and how often this theme appears in romantic stories. This episode is the first in a little series I have planned, talking about female characters in romances who are shamed for being "too much," especially in costume dramas and 19th century romantic novel adaptations. Lena Dunham's fantastic new romantic...

Send us a text

I've been thinking for a long time about the gendered sociocultural accusation of "too much" that's often directed towards women's behavior, especially how they love and connect to others, and how often this theme appears in romantic stories. This episode is the first in a little series I have planned, talking about female characters in romances who are shamed for being "too much," especially in costume dramas and 19th century romantic novel adaptations. Lena Dunham's fantastic new romantic comedy series is the perfect jumping off point to examine the power this accusation still has today. (I say fluffy about 29 times in this episode, but I won't apologize for being too much.)

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

Now this is a good trailer. I'm not one of those Love Actually girls, but I am one of those Notting Hill girls.

Lena Dunham on creating the show Too Much.

A breakdown of one of my favorite scenes in the series.

And the truly jaw-dropping Megan Stalter interview on Stephen Colbert. Or maybe charmingly chaotic? That wig could have its own talk show.

Oh how those corsets, and gender roles, still bind us today.

Some of us are born A Bit Much.

Delightful interview with Lyndsay Rush on NPR's Book of the Day.

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