Dash & Lily dropped on Netflix in November 2020 and became an instant holiday comfort watch for teens and adults alike. The premise is delightfully analog: Lily, an optimistic Christmas-obsessed romantic, leaves a red notebook full of dares in a bookstore. Dash, a cynical curmudgeon who hates the holidays, finds it. What follows is a scavenger hunt across Manhattan, with each teen leaving challenges and clues for the other.

The show stars Austin Abrams (Dash) and Midori Francis (Lily), with standout supporting performances from Dante Brown as Lily's brother Langston (who's gay and fabulous), Troy Iwata as Dash's ex-boyfriend Boomer, and a scene-stealing turn from Keana Marie as Sofia.

It's based on the "Dash & Lily" book series by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (who also wrote Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), and the show stays pretty faithful to the source material while updating some elements for 2020.

It's aspirational without being unrealistic. The show captures that intoxicating feeling of a new crush—the notebook exchanges are basically the literary equivalent of the perfect text thread. But both characters are also genuinely flawed. Lily is anxious and sheltered, sometimes to the point of being naive. Dash is pretentious and self-sabotaging. They're not perfect people having a perfect romance; they're messy teens figuring it out.

The representation feels natural. Lily is Japanese-American, Dash's best friend and ex-boyfriend Boomer is Korean-American and gay, Lily's brother Langston is Black and gay, and none of these identities are treated as plot points or "issues to address." They just... are. It's refreshing.

New York City as a character. For teens who dream of living in NYC, this show is catnip. The Strand bookstore, holiday markets, underground punk shows, fancy department stores—it's a love letter to the city during the holidays.

It's genuinely funny. The humor lands without trying too hard. Dash's sardonic commentary, Lily's over-the-top holiday enthusiasm, the absurdity of some of the dares—it all works.

This is where some parents might pump the brakes. The language is consistent with what you'd hear in a PG-13 movie, but it's throughout the series:

If your family has a zero-tolerance policy for profanity, this isn't going to work. But if you're okay with the language your teen would hear in most high school hallways, you're in the right ballpark.

The show doesn't have explicit sex scenes, but sexual topics come up:

It's handled more maturely than most teen shows—there's no gratuitous camera work or exploitation—but sex is definitely part of the conversation.

Teens drink at multiple parties throughout the series. Some characters get drunk, make poor decisions, and deal with consequences. It's not glorified, but it's also not heavily moralized. The show treats it as part of teen experience, which might be realistic but could also normalize underage drinking depending on your family's values.

This is where the show actually shines. Both main characters struggle with real issues:

The show handles these topics with genuine care and doesn't offer easy solutions. Therapy is mentioned positively. Characters make mistakes and hurt each other, then have to do the work to repair relationships.

Multiple main characters are gay, and it's treated as completely normal. There are same-sex kisses and romantic storylines. If your family is still working through conversations about LGBTQ+ identities, this might be an opportunity to have those conversations, but it's not a show that's going to pause to explain or justify anyone's orientation.

Ages 13-15: This is the sweet spot. The content matches what most teens this age are thinking about, even if they're not necessarily experiencing it yet. The emotional maturity of the show—characters learning to communicate, dealing with rejection, working through anxiety—makes it valuable viewing for early teens navigating similar feelings.

Ages 11-12: This is where it gets iffy. Some mature 12-year-olds, especially those who've read the books, will be fine. But the language, sexual content, and drinking might be more than you want to introduce yet. Consider watching the first episode together to gauge whether it's a fit.

Ages 16+: Totally appropriate, though older teens might find some of the conflicts a bit young for them. That said, the show's humor and heart work for all ages—plenty of adults love it as their own comfort watch.

For parents: Honestly? This is a great one to watch together. It's genuinely entertaining for adults, and co-viewing gives you natural opportunities to talk about the themes that come up. Plus, you might actually enjoy it, which is more than you can say for most teen content.

If you're trying to figure out where this falls on the teen content spectrum:

Less mature than:

More mature than:

Similar to:

Despite the content concerns, there's a lot to love here:

It celebrates books and reading. In a world where teens are glued to screens, watching a show where the central romance revolves around a physical notebook and literary references is kind of radical. The Strand bookstore becomes a magical place, and both characters are portrayed as smart and well-read without being insufferable about it.

The character growth is real. Both Dash and Lily start the series with significant emotional limitations and actually do the work to grow. Lily learns to be braver and more independent. Dash learns to be vulnerable and let people in. They don't just "fix" each other through the power of love—they each do their own work.

It shows healthy and unhealthy relationship dynamics. The show doesn't pretend teen relationships are always perfect. Characters make mistakes, cross boundaries, and hurt each other. But it also shows what it looks like to apologize, communicate, and repair. That's valuable modeling.

The supporting characters are fully realized. This isn't just the Dash and Lily show. Langston, Boomer, Sofia, and others have their own arcs and depth. The friendships feel real, and the family dynamics are complicated in recognizable ways.

It's genuinely romantic without being cheesy. The notebook concept could easily veer into cringe territory, but the writing and performances keep it grounded. The romance builds slowly and feels earned.

If you decide to watch together (or your teen watches independently), here are some conversation starters:

About communication: "Dash and Lily built their relationship through writing before meeting in person. How do you think that's different from how most people connect now?"

About anxiety: "Lily struggles with anxiety about leaving her comfort zone. What do you think helped her push through that?"

About authenticity: "Dash pretends to be someone he's not at first. Why do you think people do that when they're trying to impress someone?"

About drinking: "The show shows teens drinking at parties. What did you notice about the consequences?"

About family: "Both characters have complicated family situations. How do you think that affected their relationship?"

You don't have to turn it into a lecture—just genuine curiosity about what they noticed and thought.

Dash & Lily is a genuinely sweet, well-crafted teen rom-com that treats its characters and audience with respect. The TV-14 rating is accurate—this is solidly teen content with language, sexual themes, and drinking that might be too much for younger viewers.

But for teens 13 and up, it offers something valuable: a story about two flawed people learning to be vulnerable, communicate, and show up for each other. In a media landscape full of either sanitized kids' content or overly edgy "teen" shows that feel more like adult fantasy, Dash & Lily hits a sweet spot of authenticity.

Is it perfect? No. Will some parents object to the language or sexual content? Absolutely. But if you're looking for holiday viewing that's age-appropriate for teens, emotionally intelligent, and actually enjoyable to watch, this is one of the better options out there.

Pro tip: If your teen loves it, the book series by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is excellent and slightly less explicit than the show. There are three books total, and they're perfect for readers who loved the show's voice and want more of these characters.

Want to explore more teen rom-coms? Check out our guide to age-appropriate romance movies and shows for teens.

Concerned about Netflix's teen content? We've got a breakdown of how to navigate Netflix's rating system and set up appropriate parental controls.

Looking for holiday viewing alternatives? Our family-friendly holiday movies and shows guide has options for every age range.

Still have questions? Ask our chatbot about specific concerns or scenarios—it can help you think through whether this is right for your specific kid and family values.