5 Reasons You Should Be Watching Mozart in the Jungle

If you're a fan of classical music, you'll no doubt love the music featured in Mozart in the Jungle, but stanning Bach and Chopin definitely isn't a requirement. The plot of each episode is always intensely character-driven, and the music might as well be another member of the cast. It's always lingering in the background, showing up at just the right time to make a scene beautiful or heartbreaking.

If you aren't already a little bit in love with Bernal, his role as the symphony's sexy, lovable, eccentric Maestro just might do the trick. His insanely likable character Rodrigo is just the right level of over-the-top, and it's clear that he really cares about the members of his orchestra. The sizzling sexual tension between him and Hailey (Lola Kirke), especially in the second season, is an unexpected bonus.

Lola Kirke is slowly but surely becoming known for much more than being Girls star Jemima Kirke's little sister. She's had roles in Gone Girl and Mistress America, but it's in Mozart in the Jungle that the actress has a real opportunity to shine. Her character, Hailey, is a young oboist struggling to find gigs throughout the city, until the Maestro takes a chance on her and hires her as his assistant. Between the hilarious interactions she has with Rodrigo and the joy we feel for her when she finally gets a chance to stick it to a mean, older oboist in the symphony, Hailey perfectly epitomizes what it feels like to be growing up, vulnerable, and unsure of yourself.

Whether it's Haylie's relationship with her dancer boyfriend Alex, her are-they-or-aren't-they moments with Rodrigo, or alluring cello player Cynthia's interactions with her many conquests, the show's romance will make your heart grow a minimum of three sizes.

The cast is huge, and every character, down to the smallest part, is a winner. Gloria (Bernadette Peters), Haylie's roommate Lizzie (Hannah Dunne), Union Bob (Mark Blum), Betty (Debra Monk), and Pavel (Sandro Isaack) are just some of the many who provide perfect, interesting, and hilarious accents to the show's main storylines.