[puts on tinfoil hat, clears throat]
So, the romantic comedy Sam references in the rom-communism scene is Bridget Jones’ Diary. The plot of Bridget Jones’ Diary involves Bridget dating her boss, who turns out to be the wrong person for her in the end. He cheats on her, and it ends very badly for them. Bridget ends up happy with Mark, of course. Perhaps this is foreshadowing that Sam and Rebecca are not meant to be, but that Sam will be okay and find someone else who is good for him and makes him happy.
Meanwhile, Ted‘s list of actors is clearly referencing You’ve Got Mail (staring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks), and Notting Hill (starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts). You’ve Got Mail was probably picked because of the whole bantr subplot, but it’s also interesting that part of the plot of that movie is that Tom Hanks’s character is actively sabotaging Meg Ryan for a big chunk of it, while unknowingly falling in love with her over email. And Notting Hill? Notting Hill is about an American and a Brit falling in love, and it’s also about a guy falling in love with a famous woman, and how the public eye impacts their relationship. These are all story beats that Tedbecca shares.
Romcommunism is real, thanks for coming to my tedtalk