Unlike Holidate, Dash & Lily has a sweeter, more magical worldview that puts it squarely in the young adult category, and also makes it just right for escaping real-world anxiety at the most magical time of the year. The running gag of Collation, the fake Pixar movie about a stapler and a stack of papers who fall in love, is one of the better details. A scene with the leads unknowingly listening to Fairytale of New York from The Pogues in split screen feels like a knowing ode to When Harry Met Sally’s scene with the leads watching Casablanca together but apart, over the phone.Īs with most book adaptations, the world of Dash and Lily’s version of New York feels lived in, helped along by filming on location. Well aware of the legacy it steps into, Dash & Lily plays with elements of You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless and Seattle, where the protagonists spend much of the film apart, managing to pack in plenty of genuine romance and butterfly-level chemistry in spite of that constraint. Dash & Lily benefits from the longer runtime of a show versus a movie, but wisely keeps it moving with eight brisk episodes that clock in at roughly 22 minutes each. Dash says he dislikes Christmas because of a breakup, but it doesn’t take long to see that there’s more under the surface there. Lily actually has real reasons for being shy that move the story forward, rather than having “shy pretty girl” as her entire personality. The writers also flex their muscles when it comes to character development. Several LGBTQ characters populate the story, in addition to Lily’s brother Langston (Troy Iwata, Be More Chill on Broadway), his romantic interest Benny (Diego Guevara, Strapped for Danger), and their shot at romance. ![]() While other channels struggle with inclusion in their Christmas offerings, Netflix effortlessly incorporates Lily’s heritage and has a Hanukkah episode, still a rarity for the genre. Diversity informs the story in a number of aspects that might seem small to some but will make others feel seen. Small surprises and red herrings make the viewing experience genuinely delightful, especially for a genre that’s expected to be predictable, and the presence of genuine character arcs can’t be oversold. Netflix is a thoughtful step above the Christmas competitors in a few ways. Dash’s best friend Boomer (Dante Brown) brings a fun spoiler-y element. ![]() Basil E (Jodi Long, Sullivan & Son), the show’s version of a fairy godmother and possibly the only useful adult in the series, is an excellent addition who gets just the right amount of screen time. ![]() Midori Francis has a quiet, grounded internal strength as a performer that commands attention. Luckily, Austin Abrams quickly brings charm and vulnerability to the role and does his damndest to give Chris Evans a run for his cable-knit money. The lead performances make a huge difference here – it’s not hard to imagine a version of the show where Dash never stops being a sad, pedantic quart-life crisis Gen Z Kevin McAllister. That sets off a series of back and forth challenges and an ongoing conversation via the notebook, which travels throughout the city, as the two fall for one another and try to convince each other that their view of Christmas (Lily is firmly pro, Dash is surrounded by Christmas breakups and therefore anti) is the correct one. Inside the book is a puzzle and a dare, which heartbroken loner Dash (Austin Abrams of Euphoria, The Walking Dead) finds and is eager to solve. Lily (Midori Francis of Good Boys, Ocean’s 8), a shy teenager who’s sick of being the only one without a partner, optimistically puts a red moleskin notebook in New York’s famous Strand bookstore among some of her favorite books (Salinger) for a fellow bookworm to find. With a big, beating heart and a surprising amount of insight, Netflix’s series Dash & Lily is here to remind us of the world outside and the magical feeling of falling in love in the “before-time.” Based on the young adult book series Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares from Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (who wrote Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist) Dash & Lily continues in the proud tradition of Netflix romcoms and Netflix holiday fare of small-scale stories with warmth. This Dash & Lily review contains no spoilers.
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