The Expression Hub

Genre: Romance/Drama

No. of episodes:8

Presented by:This One & That One,3 Arts Entertainment, Cinestar and Hello Sunshine

“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.”

Loretta Young

Well, its the month of January which always signifies a start of a new year. So, taking this in account into my mind, I decided to dedicate this month of January to new beginnings . After all, shouldn’t the very first month of the year do the same- embrace the new while celebrating the endings. Also, new beginnings means there are endless possibilities to explore new things. And shouldn’t our life be all about making new discoveries?

  With all this in mind, I bring to you a story which was endearing as well as one which could move you to tears. A story which makes you realize the importance of having people who stand like a rock in your life and a story which makes you believe in the power of resilience and hope. Read on to find out more about this one.

Synopsis : From Scratch is a story which has everything in it – love, hope , friendship, family and resilience. Amy is a young girl who is supposed to be a lawyer but wants to embrace beauty through art. So, she undertakes a trip to Florence, Italy for some soul searching as well as to undertake a workshop in art. There while walking on the streets, she encounters a handsome chef named Lino who is originally from Sicily but has a restaurant in the city. Lino falls for Amy and invites her to his restaurant. From there what begins as a friendship between two people starts blossoming into love. From her time in Florence, Amy too has a realization that she is not cut to be a lawyer like her father but instead can make a career in art something which she has always wanted to. She makes a decision to forego her career as a lawyer and instead make it big in the world of art. Lino too decides to run after his dreams of opening a bigger restaurant. While trying to pursue their dreams, they also solidify their relationship by ending getting married to each other. However, trouble ensues in the paradise when Lino does not feel at home in America as he feels the place has no center. Amy tries to support him and make him feel at home by providing him comfort. But it seems destiny has more tests for the couple as Lino gets diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. What trials do have the two face together? Will they succeed or will destiny play a cruel role?

Assessment : A series that has everything which appeals to the viewers. It has drama, love , friendship, hope ,family and resilience. This series makes you fall in love with the main characters as they try traversing through the different phases of their lives. This series makes you fall in love with their families who initially are reluctant but as time passes form a strong unit and stand strong . This series attempts to celebrate the fact that it does not matter where a person is from, a person can still win the hearts of the people if he or she puts in the right efforts. This series attempts to celebrate love across the continents despite the roadblocks. The positives of the show: this show captures the beautiful city of Florence and its culture in contrast to the fast paced life of an American. This show also highlights the importance of the time one spends with their loved ones . This show also underlines the importance of hope and resilience for the situations one faces in one’s life.

  The progression that Amy’s character goes through as she goes from being a friend to a lover to a better half is beautifully captured. Another thing that I found interesting was that she had a great support system in her younger sister who has her back no matter what. The same case with her both the mothers who try to make her feel at ease when she experiences tough times. The negatives : way too much sexual intimacy thrown that it feels pretty made up. I mean intimacy is a good thing but you do end up being uncomfortable somewhere that you feel like leaving your seat and run away. Another negative is the gossip which Amy’s mother in laws relatives resort to. Gossiping is a big no in real life especially if the matters are not productive in nature .

The view: A beautiful show which makes you fall in love with everyone involved. It is a show which captures the fragility of human relationships. It is also a show which highlights the importance of the time one has and how it is important for one to prioritize things in life. This is a show which teaches a lot of lessons in relationships which I think couples or people who want to fall in love will find valuable. Though it has its own share of drama but the good thing is it doesn’t seem over the top. So, do watch this beautiful show and give yourself a treat in human emotions . And if this reason does not sound appealing do watch it for the terrific histrionics of Zoe Saldana and Eugenio Mastrandrea as well as the sass of Danielle Deadwyler.

Rating: *** and a 1/2 stars

Baap Dialogue:”Today we start our new lives together. Nothing is holding us back. Only dreams ahead…” [Lino to Amy]

Que: What is the name of Amy’s mother in law?

a. Maria

b. Stephanie

c. Philomina

d. Bianca