Younger - awaiting its 7th season - gives viewers a glimpse of dating in NYC, a la Sex And The City. Although for most of the 6 seasons fans watched Liza Miller romantically volley between adorable 20-something tattoo artist Josh (Nico Tortorella) and dashing 40-something publisher Charles Brooks (Peter Hermann), she also had her share of "thank u, next" encounters - one of which was with her ex-husband, the cheater/gambler.
Her friends and colleagues, Maggie (Debi Mazar), Kelsey (Hilary Duff), and Diana (Miriam Shor) have had to kiss a few frogs along the way as well.
Some of the ill-fated trysts are familiar tropes ("He's gay?" "He's married!"), while others are as quirky as the show itself.
Liza And The Sheep Herder
S2, E9 "The Good Shepherd": At a Brooklyn flea market, Liza buys a wool scarf from Sebastian (Matthew Morrison) and convinces Diana to publish his book of essays documenting his bucolic upstate life. Their business meeting at his farm, where she goes have him sign the contracts to close the deal, turns into an impromptu date.
Things go awry as Liza is leaving and realizes her paperwork isn't in order. She heads back to the barn and realizes he also gets romantic with members of his flock.
Diana And The Teen Fashion Blogger
S1, E3 "IRL": While Liza worries over whether to take her encounter with Josh seriously, when he believes she's his age despite the fact that she doesn't know who Lena Dunham is (or any colloquial millennial idioms), Diana tries to get in the game with online dating.
The sophisticated New York woman who never met a statement necklace she didn't like gets her first lesson is catfishing when the "college professor" Diana thought she was meeting turns out to be a high school kid who blogs about handbags.
Kelsey And The Magazine Writer
S3, E8 "What's Up, Dock?" Colin, a preppy and bespeckled writer for the New Yorker, attends a Millennial publishing event and highlights the imprint in the "Talk of the Town" section. He and the always fashionable Kelsey strike up a collegial friendship which turns romantic.
Just as the youngest publisher in the business begins to think she may have met "the one," he tells her he's written a novel and wonders if she'd "give it a read."
Liza And The Architect
S4, E4 "In the Pink": Liza, Kelsey, and Lauren have a giggly and boozy girls night out where a very handsome man at the bar flirts with Liza from across the room. Liza is goaded into "going for it" and sidles up next to the guy who turns out to be an out-of-town builder of Argentinian descent.
He invites Liza to tour the gorgeous site he's refurbishing and they end up making love on a mattress below a skylight. Lisa confesses she is an "all but the papers are signed divorced mom" and he reveals he's "single in Manhattan" aka married.
Maggie And Mustache Woman
S4, E6 "A Close Shave": Maggie is approached in a bar by a fan named Donna. The successful and sophisticated knockout makes it clear from the get-go that she's interested in more than Maggie's artwork.
Donna goes to Maggie's apartment where they share a bottle of wine, a bubble bath, and what Donna believes will be a sensual night of bliss. However, the Brooklyn-based bohemian can't get past her admirer's hairy upper lip. Things take a turn when Maggie offers to shave it off.
Diana And The Rent-A-Biker
S3, E8 "What's Up Dock?" Not used to being chatted up in the street by such a good-looking and charming man (and viable dating candidate), Diana is smitten by Clay, a rent-a-bike rider who invites her to join him to pedal around town after work.
On their jaunt, Diana learns that he is not only gay, but married. Fed up, she hops off the bike and leaves it (and her helmet) on the sidewalk, then calls Liza to go retrieve it.
Kelsey And The Pancake
S3, E5 "P is for Pancake": Kelsey meets Mr. Perfect--a guy named Lucas who checks all the boxes. He is educated, worldly, handsome, athletic, not into game playing, and totally into the blonde publisher.
Her friend Lauren warns her that "the first relationship after a bad breakup is the pancake." (Translation: the first pancake in the pan always burns.) One lets that relationship go bad, then moves on to more serious contenders. Just as Kelsey is about to put Lucas on the back burner until she can get back in the game with a real pancake guy out of the way, he admits he lives in the most uncool place outside of Manhattan. Kelsey can now use him and move on.
Liza And The Freelance Writer
S5, E4 "The Talented Mr. Ridley": Liza meets a freelance writer, Don, (he was pocketing food from a buffet at the time) who has great book ideas she presents to Charles, who vetoes everything. They go out to drown their sorrows and their attraction is undeniable.
Don's credit cards are declined and he encourages her to "dine and ditch." Instead of a red flag, ever-the-optimist Liza sees him as fun. So disarmed by him, she tells him about her dual identity. Believing this story of publishing lies and intrigue will get him back in the big time, he betrays her and sells the article to Vanity Fair.
Maggie And The Orthodox Hat Designer
S3, E5 "P is for Pancake": Maggie meets a woman named Malkie at the neighborhood community garden. She owns a store where she makes hats, so she's an artisan like Maggie, and also a lesbian and extremely interested romantically.
Malkie is also an Orthodox Jew. She invites Maggie to attend a social event, which is also a religious ritual. Free-spirited Maggie is always up for anything, but her tattoos and other behaviors acceptable in the secular world freak out Malkie as well as her friends.
Liza And Charles
S3, E11 "A Book Fair to Remember": Liza and Kelsey have to attend a book fair in the Hamptons to promote their imprint, Millennial. After the event, Liza runs into Charles and they decide to go to a concert, dance together, and top off the fun and romantic evening with an incredibly sensual kiss.
For them it is the perfect first date for two people who have been enduring sexual tension from day one. It's the worst date ever for Josh, who witnesses their encounter after he has spelled out "Marry Me" in rose petals on the hotel bed he and Liza were sharing.