Netflix's Dash & Lily: A Timeless Christmas Rom-Com

The Perfect Holiday Rom-Com

Netflix's best Christmas rom-com isn't a feature film, but a limited series: Dash & Lily, a 2020 adaptation of a young adult novel. Based on Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, an entry in Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's beloved book series, the Netflix show last just one season, though that was a purposeful decision on the streamer's part. Like the source material, Joe Tracz's romantic comedy series centers on its titular characters, who are played by budding movie and TV stars Austin Abrams and Midori Francis. While Lily is a Christmas-loving 17-year-old who's eager to find true love, Dash is a jaded, holiday-hating realist. In short, Dash & Lily's tried-and-true formula is perfect for a charming, seasonal rom-com. The first of the show's eight episodes centers on Dash, who's on his own for Christmas after his wealthy father jets off for the holiday. The New York City teen wanders into The Strand Bookstore, where he finds a notebook with a message written on the front: 'Do you dare?' Although not normally the type to indulge, Dash gets invested in the scavenger hunt. Meanwhile, Lily, who penned Dash & Lily's 'Do you dare?' challenge, is thrilled when 'Notebook Boy,' a.k.a. Dash, answers her first clues with questions of his own.

Midori Francis reads a notebook as Lily in Dash & Lily

Netflix has released its fair share of well-received Christmas rom-coms over the last few years, from the queer romantic comedy Single All the Way to the spirited Love Hard to the ensemble, young-adult romp Let It Snow. Even so, none of those seasonal feature films have the same staying power as 2020's Dash & Lily. Over the course of three years, the Netflix miniseries has proven itself to be a modern classic worthy of revisiting on an annual basis. One of the best aspects of Dash & Lily is the way the series evokes the feeling of New York City at Christmastime. There's a sense of wonder and joy that fuels Dash & Lily — a kind of spirit that's incredibly hard to replicate or execute. Either a holiday flick has that magical essence or it doesn't. Moreover, Dash & Lily chronicles a rom-com relationship's signature ups and downs, but, unlike other genre entries, the show has the time for it. While there's something to be said for a two-hour romantic saga, the 8-episode miniseries proves that having a longer runtime can allow for fun plot complications and more well-rounded side characters. All of these elements make Dash & Lily Netflix's most enduring holiday rom-com.

Midori Francis as Lily pretends to be a Christmas tree while Austin Abrams as Dash laughs in Dash & Lily

A Timeless Classic

As of 2023, there are 3 books in the Dash & Lily series. Dash & Lily has proven itself to be a modern classic worthy of revisiting on an annual basis. There's a sense of wonder and joy that fuels Dash & Lily — a kind of spirit that's incredibly hard to replicate or execute. Either a holiday flick has that magical essence or it doesn't. Moreover, Dash & Lily chronicles a rom-com relationship's signature ups and downs, but, unlike other genre entries, the show has the time for it. While there's something to be said for a two-hour romantic saga, the 8-episode miniseries proves that having a longer runtime can allow for fun plot complications and more well-rounded side characters. All of these elements make Dash & Lily Netflix's most enduring holiday rom-com.

Netflix's Capability & Potential

In addition to being a stellar Christmas rom-com, Dash & Lily is a marvelous example of a well-adapted YA novel. From Everything Sucks! to Teenage Bounty Hunters to I Am Not Okay With This, Netflix has built a bit of a reputation by canceling well-reviewed young adult series after a single season. After Dash & Lily's season 1 ending, what happened next could've made for a compelling second season. However, the show's design proves that Netflix is capable of making a great miniseries. If anything, the streamer should heed its own Dash & Lily lesson and produce more stories that can be told in a single outing.