Not since You've Got Mail has a Christmas-centric rom-com relied so heavily on the art of anonymous letter writing. Dash & Lily landed on Netflix on November 10 and the eight-part festive series has everything required to be your serotonin booster this month.
Starring Euphoria's Austin Abrams and The Birch's Midori Francis, episode one kicks off when Lily leaves her notebook in a New York bookshop inscribed with the words "Do you dare…?" Dash (Austin Abrams) then discovers the diary and the pair pass the book back and forth across the city as they scribble thoughts, dreams, and dares for each other in its pages.
Basically, imagine a much less dangerous version of Tom Riddle's diary from Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, cross that with the heart-warming glow you get from Love Actually and you're halfway to imaging what this series entails. Not sure what you've got yourself in for? Here are seven reasons why you're going to love watching Dash & Lily:
1. It has feel-good vibes that you desperately need right now.
Let's be honest, the best thing about December is Christmas. The season can be a little bleak at the best of times and, with lockdown confining us to our houses, now is definitely not the time for hard-hitting entertainment. Dash & Lily is the comfort watching you need, promise.
2. You don't have to love Christmas to enjoy it.
Are you a total Grinch like Dash or Christmas obsessed like Lily? Whatever side of the festive fence you tend to sit on, the series perfectly balances Yuletide cheer with a sprinkling of seasonal blues, so, you don't need Buddy the elf levels of enthusiasm to get on board.
3. The Jonas Brothers make a cameo.
If you say you're over Joe, Nick, and Kevin, you're lying. We lost our heads the moment these boys first appeared on Disney Channel and we haven’t got them back since. Christmas and childhood heartthrobs, what more do you need to guarantee sheer, unadulterated joy?
4. There's a cracking cast list.
Netflix isn't sneaking in acting wannabes behind the title characters, these guys know what they're doing. Supporting stars include: James Saito (Always Be My Maybe), Jodi Long (The Hot Chick), Michael Park (Stranger Things), Gideon Emery (Teen Wolf), and Dante Brown (Lethal Weapon).
5. It's a love letter to New York.
As Lily and Dash hurry through the streets of NYC completing each other's increasingly elaborate dares, they end up in the corners of the city they love the most. You might be stuck in your bedroom hugging a hot water bottle, but Dash & Lily can take you to the best bits of the Big Apple for an hour or two.
6. LGBTQ representation!
The series features queer characters, most notably Lily's older brother Langston played by Troy Iwata. A spontaneous, passionate college dropout who is recovering from heartbreak, Langston encourages Lily to test her boundaries and have some fun.
7. Bop after bop on the soundtrack:
Aside from The Jonas Brothers' cameo, the series has selected a seriously underrated Christmas song for the trailer. If you don't watch Dash & Lily immediately, "Underneath The Tree" by Kelly Clarkson will be jammed in your head until you do—we suggest giving in now.
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This story originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com/uk. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
