The Delight of Netflix's Dash and Lily

BY KCY

A red notebook. Christmas in New York. An Asian Pollyanna and a teenaged Holden Caufield. Do you dare?

Such is the premise of my new favorite guilty pleasure, Netflix’s Dash and Lily.

Lately, I’ve become a Roger Egbert of types. You must think the only thing I do now is watch television and that I have stock in Netflix. While it’s true I’ve been watching television a little more recently, it is most definitely not true that I’ll receive a big payout from Netflix. I can’t help that lately, they have been knocking it out of the park with their shows and movies.

Normally, during this time of the year, you can find me glued to the Hallmark channel. And, while I’m still an avid Hallmark Christmas movie fanatic, Netflix’s Dash and Lily is just something that I can’t resist. Eight episodes, around 25 minutes each, of pure fun.

It all begins with a notebook placed in one of the most famous bookstores of them all, The Strand. A notebook which reads “Do you dare?”.

Dash, a self-proclaimed loner who hates Christmas, curiously, opens this red notebook, finding out that he does dare. Thus, begins an adventure of epic proportions. Lily and Dash take turns writing in this magical notebook, daring each other to do things they both would never do. From stealing Santa’s hat at New York City’s biggest department store, Macy’s Santaland to find out Lily’s name, to strolling through Dyker Heights’ Christmas decorations, Dash catches a glimpse of the Christmas goodness Lily loves. Lily, a shy, never-been-kissed introvert, ventures out to do things she would never do, like go to a live music event in the basement of a grocery store.

Yes, it’s a predictable story. Girl and boy write to each other. They don’t meet in person, but by writing to each other, they each change for the better, and, of course, fall in love. It is so predictable, but yet so delightful and quirky.

Austin Abrams does a wonderful job of playing the sullen teenager Dash, while Midori Frances with her hopeful innocence comes off as simply so lovable and warm, like a nice cup of hot chocolate in the snow.

Dash and Lily is about finding yourself, bettering yourself, and the magic of Christmas in New York City. The writers make no secret that this is, in essence, their love letter to New York City. Although, some of it unrealistic (I mean, seriously, when have you ever seen Grand Central completely empty of people?!), Dash and Lily allows us to remember New York City during the winter time, during Christmas time. It reminds us of the wonderful things about New York City. A far cry from the depressing images and stories we were seeing about New York City during the earlier part of the COVID19 pandemic which this New Yorker at heart so wants to forget.

So, slip on your pjs, eat those Christmas cookies, that salty New York pretzel or that piece of pie with cheese on top (you’ll understand later!) and immerse yourself in the magic that is Dash and Lily.