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Netflix viewers are transitioning from watching The Watcher to a new series: From Scratch. The romantic drama starring Zoe Saldaña climbed to number one of the week Netflix Top 10 . List (Opens in a new tab)surpassing the real crime that prevailed in the past two weeks.

From Scratch, which debuted on October 21, was a bit of a surprise as Netflix show #1. It comes on the heels of a true crime drama (The Watcher and Dahmer), and beats high-profile horror anthology Guillermo del Toro — and during the week before Halloween, no less.

Perhaps it’s not surprising, because From Scratch has made a splash 92% rating of Rotten Tomatoes (Opens in a new tab) and 90% audience score. Viewers seem to have finished a spooky season and are in the mood for romance. It will surely be rated among the list of the best Netflix shows.

What is a program from Scratch?

This cross-cultural love story is half sweet and light fun and half crying serious drama. Amy (Zoe Saldana) is a law school student who pursues her artistic dreams in Florence, Italy, despite her family’s fears.

There, she meets handsome Sicilian chef Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea) and falls in love with him. However, their romance is not without its drawbacks. First, Amy is wooed by another suitor, wrecked gallery owner Giancarlo (Giacomo Giannitti). After that, her family, particularly her father Herschel (Keith David), are unaware of Amy’s artistic career or her relationship with an Italian man. Additionally, Lino’s father, Giacomo (Parede Benasai), strongly disagrees with his son’s life choices.

However, Amy and Leno managed to overcome these obstacles. He follows Amy to Los Angeles, where they try to build a life together. Career complications and family issues keep popping up, but their passion for each other prevails. That is, until a health crisis completely changes their lives.

Is Scratch based on a true story?

From Scratch is based on a true story, as told in Tempe Locke’s memoir of the same name. It was selected as part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club in April 2019. Then Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine handpicked the memoir, and Locke and her sister Attica modified the book themselves into the series.

As on the show, Luke moved to Florence in the 1990s. There, she fell in love with Sicilian chef Rosario “Saro” Jolo.

While Luke chose to change names and some facts, other things stayed as close to her story as possible. They also experienced their families’ rejection of the relationship. Just like Tembi is short for Tembekile, the name Amy is short for Amahle.

The apartment where Amy lives is next door to Luke’s former apartment. “It’s exactly the exact arena I lived in,” she said on the Today show.

Another scene sees Amy trying to cook for Leno. Luke said eater (Opens in a new tab) It was inspired by a real date with Gullo. “I definitely wasn’t ready to do that level of cooking, and I got it wrong,” she said.

Amy and Leno’s health crisis mirrors the one that Luke and Jolo have experienced.

What do critics say about Fromm Scratch?

Reviews of Scratch are fairly positive, resulting in a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Consensus reads, “Turning into a heart-wrenching, heart-wrenching love story, From Scratch is an emotionally resonant miniseries that takes advantage of Italian landscapes and Zoe Saldana’s big, dramatic pieces.”

Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter (Opens in a new tab) He writes, “If you’re in the mood to swoon a little, cry a little and order a lot of Italian food on Postmates, From Scratch is an absolutely great way to spend the weekend.”

Variety Caroline Framke (Opens in a new tab) He was “pretty ready to slip into a warm bath from the show” and says, “The new, unabashedly emotional Netflix limited series is just that — at least at first. What starts out as a romance in its first episodes becomes a tale of heart-wrenching loss of resilience until the last. Honestly, it didn’t I had no chance.”

Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times (Opens in a new tab) A bit more pessimistic, it’s called an “expensive, well-acted, well-written, long-running film/Hallmark, which is what Hollywood uses to call a ‘crying’ movie.”

And the Manuel Betancourt from The AV Club (Opens in a new tab) He writes, “It’s perhaps best understood as comfort food for a TV show that sometimes feels only mathematically created. (It’s for the foodie/travel lover in your life who enjoys Chef’s Table and Under The Tuscan Sun, with a dash of A Walk to remember.”)

Should you stream from Scratch?

I immersed myself in everything from Scratch to a long plane ride and thoroughly enjoyed it. Like other reviews notes, it’s a true feast for the species. You get a gentle encounter of romantic comedy, complex race and family dynamics, career maneuvers, and heart-wrenching tragedy.

Enjoy some great views, mouth-watering food shots, and delicious sex scenes, and From Scratch really seems to have it all – the algorithm is best practiced.

However, this is a show that really has a soul. Much of that is due to the enthusiastic performances that Saldaña and Mastrandrea had as leads, as well as the excellent supporting work of the rest of the cast.

Scratch masterfully translates Locke’s memoir into lively, breathing television photography. When I watched, the eight episodes (less than 55 minutes each) flew by as I flew across the ocean. I highly recommend having a napkin or five on hand when overdoing it.

next one: The The best romantic movies on Netflix