Rating: 4/5
That time of year has arrived, pushing open the floodgates of holiday movies and TV shows on Netflix to watch with loved ones and enjoy the holiday spirit. The Netflix original, “Dash & Lily,” which premiered on Nov. 10, 2020, is about two teenagers alone on Christmas, seeking a relationship with each other through a notebook hidden within the stacks of a New York City bookstore.
The show is a delightful watch as the characters bring forth relatable commentary and troubles. Austin Abrams, who plays Dash, portrays his character as a laughable mix between Holden Caulfield and Ebenezer Scrooge. He is the exact opposite of Lily, played by Midori Francis, who breathes Christmas spirit and is abundant in wonder and joy. The two characters complement each other with their contrasting personalities, making it all the more interesting to see the plot unfold.
The story begins with Dash finding a red-leather notebook written by Lily, who is alone for the holidays and yearns to find someone to have a relationship or even a friendship with. In the notebook, Lily sets dares for Dash to do around New York City so that they can get to know each other better. The story progresses as the two of them make dares for each other around New York City and write about their lives in the notebook without knowing one another aside from their writings in the book.
The side characters in the show like Langston, Lily’s older brother, or Boomer, Dash’s best friend, also provide hilarious scenes and add to the storyline. For example, Boomer helps Lily find Dash through the dares he set for her, and Langston helps Lily gain enough confidence to continue setting dares for Dash. There is even a guest appearance on the show by Nick Jonas, the executive producer of the series.
Although the series has a simple plot, it displays some refreshing and original content such as Lily going to an underground Jewish nightclub or Dash making mochi with Japanese women. The show represents not only Christmas, but Hanukkah and other holidays as well.
Although the show was interesting to watch overall, many scenes are unnecessary to the larger storyline. Some scenes seem as if they are there to prolong the story when in actuality, they disrupt the flow.
In terms of filming and the sets, the series was filmed beautifully, evoking a warm Christmas spirit and pushing the viewers to savor the tender romance between Dash and Lily which comes straight out of a fairytale with scenes that rehash classic children’s tales, adding to the magical spirit of Christmas. Overall, “Dash & Lily” is a wonderful show to cherish with loved ones this holiday season.