I Hate Christmas

I love her because she was what we need to see -- she was open to love and yet, she loved people more. She was not someone's doormat but she know what she needed... And I am so glad they found baby Jesus in the end--True love, love personified makes Christmas great! For Italian family, the overbearing mom was a bit too much, but all moms are overbearing. The dad as a great counterbalance but the roommate's character as being a tinder babe was too much. If your love life is determined with an app and a overcharged libido, then what about the constant feeling of emptiness afterwards. I hope that they can continue the story because the cast is worth it!

Agree with other reviews, why did Netflix create an Italian series of what was a fun and sympathetic Norwegian series. The original is a much more complex and nuanced series with greater character development and sympathy for the lead. In this new version it feels like everyone is just going through the motions and it has no real connection with Italy and why the main character behaves the way she behaves and her friends and family have no depth either. It's cringy and embarrassing to watch. Whereas the Norwegian series had more of a soul and real humanity to it along with a wonderful snow filled setting. Filming in Venice felt bizarre and jarring, the changes made felt stilted. It's an interesting idea to tell a similar story set in another country but better to do it so you keep the sense of place and real characters and things that could happen as one reflects the culture rather than repeating a story point by point as if we the viewers are stupid.

This starts off well but starts to lose its way midway through the series. It is based on the Norwegian series 'Home for the Holidays", and in some respects is a funnier. However, it really is just a repeat of the script, but with a beautiful Venetian backdrop. Sometimes, there is a loss of continuity as maybe they are not planning on a second season, but overall it's fairly entertaining even if a bit silly. The story really doesn't go anywhere, and the final episode is just a bit too sickly sweet. It remains to be seen is there will be a second season , and if they will stick slavishly to the script or maybe change the story line around.

The series is okay, but it is a remake, and Netflix's original series Home for Christmas (2019 and season two in 2021) is way better. Home for Christmas just captures the Christmas spirit in a different way, and the main actress has this amazingly warm charisma about her.

All in all, I hate Christmas is an okay series, and the Italian setting certainly is charming in it's own way. But it just can't compare to the original series set in Norway. The snowy surroundings and winter wonderland-feeling in HoC is just divine.

I really hope Netflix will want to invest in a third season of the original story, rather than making a season two of this version.

The Netflix descriptor begins ' Every Christmas is the same story' - well of course it when you copy from the original (The Norwegian Home for Christmas) which was released last Xmas on Netflix!! Do they acknowledge this anywhere? Hugely disappointing from a company that supposedly prides itself on its creativity here shamelessly copy and pasting Oslo into Venice and expecting audiences not to notice as it sinks

This Italian has a sexier lead than the Norwegian but her beauty and charm make it hard to accept the premise of her being unable to attract or keep a boyfriend.

But otherwise I'd strongly recommend Home for Christmas which feels like the real deal unlike soggy imitation that is more panned than panettone.