Photo Credit : Amazon Prime Video
Series review : From Scratch
Netflix ’ s show is the epitome of a painful and pleasurable watch , but it ’ s worth it - Isabella Womack reviews
After seeing the limited series From Scratch appear on Netflix , I was immediately excited . It was a delight to obsess over another couple and their dramatic love story , like I previously had with Connell and Marianne from ‘ Normal People ’ and Tessa and Hardin in ‘ After ’.
The new romance series is inspired by the book From Scratch : A Memoir of Love , Sicily , and Finding Home by Tembi Locke . What began as an enjoyable romantic series including many cliches of the genre , such as : a hot couple , rising tension , a confession of love in the rain , sex and then marriage , unfolds into a complete tragedy .
The story encompasses the relationship between two artists ; Amy Wheeler , an aspiring painter and Lino Ortolano , a Sicilian chef . Throughout their relationship , their immensely opposing cultures intertwine , they support each other ’ s dreams and face some incredibly difficult and unexpected challenges together , including a diagnosis of terminal cancer .
This love-filled but heartbreaking series may have some cheesy moments , but it is a great binge-watch that will leave you smiling , sobbing and despite everything , leave you wanting a Lino of your own .
Amy ( played by Zoe Saldaña ) is a Texan Law student who spends a summer in Florence , Italy , to study art ; a decision that her father disapproves . Lino , ( played by Eugenio Mastrandrea ), is a young and talented chef from Sicily .
He fled the crippling burden of his family ’ s generational tradition of farming and the conservative constraints of his small Sicilian town . This rebellion , tied to marrying without the permission of his father , creates an unfixable wound in their relationship .
The couple spontaneously meets each other through a mutual friend on the streets of Florence . Their relationship eventually leads to marriage and Lino moves to Los Angelos , Amy ’ s home . The couple takes risks in their careers to reach their dreams and support one another with endless devotion .
Although , this happiness is shortlived . Lino is diagnosed with a rare form of tissue cancer in his knee , leiomyosarcoma . The series then follows Lino , Amy , and their families as they navigate the heartbreaking aftermath of this discovery .
The biggest problem with From Scratch is that the drama in the series fluctuates from heavy to fluffy moments ; I feel that the series could have been more impactful as a three or four-part series . One moment I was glued to my screen , crying , or laughing and then another I was doing the dishes while it was on in the background . The series , too often , glosses over the tests the couple face in an unrelatable and unrealistic way .
During an earlier episode there is a love triangle between Amy , Lino , and Giancarlo . Giancarlo is the owner of a well-respected art gallery . This was an opportunity for some delicious drama to unfold . But instead , it was solved without any real tension and leaves you wondering if Amy even liked Giancarlo in the first place . What was the point of that storyline ?
The great features of this series were the actors themselves . In particular , the families of Lino and Amy . Amy ’ s sister Zora ( played by Danielle Deadwyler ) acts as the ride or die , protective , witty older sister , who is a constant support pillar of Amy and a pivotal character of the series .
Amy ’ s dad Hershel ( played by Keith David ) acts as the supportive , lovable , and cowboy-hatted father-figure . The passionate and raw performances of the lead characters feel real ; they share genuine vulnerability and sexy chemistry with one another .
Some of their moments together relating to Lino ’ s illness feel so genuine , it left me with genuine tears . Another strength of the series is the quality cinematography .
The breathtaking beauty of Sicily , Florence and the presentation of the Italian cuisine was captured effortlessly by Brian Pearson and Patrick Murguia .
From Scratch is a good series , but it is an even better binge watch . The actors ’ performances make this show truly special and worth watching , even the fluffier bits . The American and Silican cultural differences and family drama that fill the series , feels true to a realistic family dynamic .
These factors take a simple love story cliché , of man meets woman , into a relatable , humorous but also devastating story about family , love , and loss .
From Scratch takes the throne for beautiful but painful romances .
With great acting , love , and drama , you cannot go wrong with this series .
Are some moments a bit uneventful or hard to watch ?
Yes , but would I watch it again ? Absolutely .