I Hate Christmas

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.

I Loved this series. I haven't seen Home for Christmas, so I don't have the comparison. But I thoroughly enjoyed this on its own. Yes, there are plenty of cliches, but it's a Christmas series. What do you expect, Ingmar Bergman? The Italian actress reminded me of a young, glamorous Lucille Ball with touch of the comic about her. She was thorougly believable. And I thought the surrounding cast, particularly the women. Were outstanding. The Italian cinematic backdrop was icing on the cake. Having some familiarity with Italian culture and families, I can imagine the special pressure the daughter would feel. I look forward to watching Home for Christmas, but I will resist comparing it to this excellent series.

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.

No pun intended - and I reckon not a surprise that this is a mixture right here. Most often than not if you have strong feelings towards something, it means you care for it. Or about it - so there is also a lot of love here (really didn't mean to do another pun, if you choose to believe me).

Talking about believing: the show or rather each episode starts with the main character telling us something ... which she herself does not really believe. So it is a back and forth and really sets the tone for the rest of the show ... very well. If of course you are not annoyed by how the show handles things.

There are cliches here, even if it does try to avoid them. Tis the season to be ... well to watch a lot of seasonal greetings ... I mean movies. Maybe same difference one might say ... mostly action or horror related until this one ... one might say this has some of those elements here too.

Yes, it's a fantasy Italy, but isn't Christmas also a fantasy? We all yearn for something foreign to ourselves. It may have been modelled on a Scandinavian setting, but it still managed to convey the Italian charm in a very warm and friendly way, especially with the lead actress. I want to see more of her, a great actress with emotional depth! I love these little entanglements, which also don't correspond to reality at this speed. It is a light and entertaining series, perfect for the depressing and gloomy times we are currently living in. The series is naive, but positive and entertaining and lets you forget about everyday life for a few moments. Sometimes you need plump things to solve more important things. And the clumsiness itself is art!