"Dash & Lily": Christmas Romcom with a Gay BFF and His Boyfriend

This morrning I logged on to Netflix, told them I was Boomer, not Bob or "the kids," and suddenly my screen filled with Dash and Lilly.  "New York at Christmas.  You're surrounded by possibility and the hope that somehwere in the city is the one person you were meant to be with."

That old chestnut about "the one"! We heard that in high school: every boy was destined to be with Tha Girl.  If he found her, and managed to wrestle her away from the obnoxious jock she was dating, his life would be infinite joy forever.  If he couldn't find her, or  she chose the jock,  his life would be unending misery.   

Nonsense!  There are uncountable thousands of girls in the world with whom a boy could have a perfectly fulfilling relationship.  Plus -- guess what -- some boys like boys.  And some girls like girls.  And some people have no interest in a romantic relationship of any sort.

The myth originated in the 17th century, during the transition from arranged to companionate marriage, but it got a major push during the 1950s, to promote the nuclear family: dad working, mom staying home, no other caregivers for the kids, living in a separate house that requires purchasing an infinite number of products and thereby supporting late capitalism..

I was about ready to yell "Heterosexist brainwashing! Next!", but then a review said "Queer-inclusive holiday comedy", and another said "Queer holiday feels."  So I checked out a clip

The plot: Cynical Dash (Austin Abrams) hates Christmas. Joyous Lily (Midori Francis) loves Christmas.  They have never met, but they communicate by writing notes in a book in their favorite used bookstore.  

Wait, that's vandalism!  And what teenager reads physical books anymore?  They're doing kindles and ipads.  

Austin Abrams is 24 years old, but the only beefcake photos I could find come from his early teen yers.  Or else he's just young-looking.

The clip:  Lily's brother Langston (Troy Iwata, left) and his boyfriend Benny (Diego Guevara), who are both fab-u-lous,  give her a Queer Eye makeover so she can get out there and win her man.

Well, better than nothing, but it's still a throwback to the 1990s gay best friend, who says "You need a man, girl!  Let's make you fabulous!"

According to the IMDB, Langston appears in all 8 episodes, and Benny in 4, so maybe they have a more substantial role. 

Michael Cyril Creighton appears in four episodes as "Jeff the Door Queen," so apparently all the gay guys in New York are fab-u-lous, girlfriend.

 To be sure, I fast-forwarded through the last episode.

The last episode: New Year's Eve.  Dash's friends, all guys, none fab-u-lous, are dissing him for being a dick.

His best-friend  (Dante Brown) is starting to date a girl.  

Lily's family gathers for the traditional New Year's gift from conservative Japanese Grandpa: an envelope containing money.  

When it's Langston's turn, Grandpa says "You started NYU last fall, but dropped out after two months because you said your heart was broken.  Then last week I find a naked boy in your room."

Everyone looks uncomfortable and embarrassed.  Has Langston been outed?  Is Grandpa homophobic?

He continues "I assume that this means your heart has been healed."  

Everyone laughs with relief.

Later Langston throws snowballs at Diego's window, and when he answers, yells "I got you a notebook."  Presumably this is a reconciliation scene?  

Dash and Lily, who have apparently been arguing, meet at a bar just as "Aud Lang Syne" starts.  They spend the rest of the episode, about ten minutes, kissing.

My Verdict: Watch if you want.  I'm holding out for something a little less 1990s.