‘From Scratch’ Review: Zoe Saldana Goes for a Gourmet Flavor

Love is the fuel that makes the world turn around, and in fiction, it is one of the most important themes that has ever been explored. There are countless songs, books, movies, and TV shows exploring the idea of love, and they will never stop because the feeling is universal. No matter who you are or where you come from, love will be there waiting for you. From Scratch, a new romantic series coming to Netflix will remind us of the power of love, food, and art, and all the things that might make you happy.

The Netflix limited series, created by Attica and Tembi Locke, is an adaptation of Tembi’s memoir of the same name. The series stars Zoe Saldana, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, and Lucia Sardo. The limited series tells the story of Amy, a young woman from Texas who goes to Florence, Italy in search of something that makes her happy. Amy thinks that she will be finding a career as an artist, but on the road to that place, she will also find love in the form of an Italian chef named Lino.

From Scratch comes across as a very soapy kind of series. One that focuses mainly on the relationship between our two protagonists, Amy and Lino. The series might remind you of something like Emily In Paris, just in a different country. However, From Scratch is a lot more serious, and it builds off its romance and drama with equal intensity. If you are ready to let your heart be filled with pink fuzzy feelings, then this is the show for you. Nevertheless, be warned that you might end up crying a lot as well while watching this show.

The series is directed by Dennie Gordon and Nzingha Stewart. They pull off every trick in the romance filmmaking cookbook to make the audience feel as much as they possibly can as we see these two people falling in love with each other and also making a life together. It is quite beautiful to see the romance in each of its phases. Not all of them are happy, but the good times overcome the bad ones, so at the end of the day. The series really tries to explore the fact that love can really move you into doing things you never thought possible.

The series is very well directed, although, at least on a visual level, it never goes beyond the minimum. Most of the shots, even the more engaging ones, come off as just part of a tool kit. Instead, it feels like something that was the best choice for the moment, or something that really came from the creative side of the creators. It isn’t bad, but it manages to take a bit of personality from the show. This only results in the show looking a bit generic and flat.

Thankfully, the show has really solid performances. Saldana has proven time and time again that she is one of the best working in the field right now. Saldana has an amazing range, and so she can jump from being serious and angry to be funny and charming in one second and still make her characters feel like real people. In this opportunity, it might be the most we have seen her explore one single character ever, and the result is quite good. You will be able to understand how Amy is feeling very easily as the show progresses.

Meanwhile, Mastrandrea, comes off as a rookie with a great future in the industry. The actor has fewer credits than Saldana, but he still manages to play at her level. The actor has amazing charisma and her chemistry with Saldana is electric. They really look beautiful together, so it is quite simple to see them as a couple as the show progresses. Mastrandrea also displays a breathtaking range, and he is able to play with emotions and intensity in a very dynamic way.

If there is something that might hurt the show, in the long run, it is that the middle of the season seems to drag a bit. Some developments are quite important, for sure, but as the series comes to an end, you might feel like the complete series could have been shorter than it is and more well-paced as a result. This is a problem that a lot of Netflix shows have been facing recently. Maybe it is because the writers need to fit the story into a set number of episodes, or maybe it is because the editing could be tighter. Nevertheless, it is something that can be felt.

From Scratch is a very solid series, featuring two amazing central performances and a plot that feels very familiar and yet, doesn’t lose that hit factor that makes us watch these types of stories over and over again. The way the show explores love for both good and bad makes the show feel quite realistic, and it makes it stand out from other shows and movies on Netflix where the fairytale is real from beginning to end. In real life, things don’t work that way, and yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness.

SCORE: 7/10