Series Review: "Over Christmas" ("ÜberWeihnachten") (2020).

From Germany and Netflix comes Over Christmas (ÜberWeihnachten). This German miniseries directed by Tobias Baumann, and written by Baumann, Dennis Eick, and Tanja Bubbel. Unlucky at cards - and then also unlucky in love. For Basti things get really tough in the festive season: his career as a musician is not crowned with success and the prospect of having to celebrate a rather depressing Christmas after separating from his girlfriend Fine pulls the general mood down even more. A visit over the holidays to meet his family promises a welcome distraction - but when his brother Niklas suddenly appears with ex Fine at his side, Basti even loses the last bit of hope for a happy future.

The series stars Luke Mockridge, Seyneb Saleh, Cristina do Rego, Lucas Reiber, Johanna Gastdorf, Rudolf Kowalski, Carmen-Maja Antoni, Jonathan Kwesi Aikins, Eugen Bauder, and Eike Weinreich. Like all good Christmas-themes shows, the actors playing characters living in the past are in their thirties and the events take place in a different reality from that in which most of us live. The show just works. Saleh gives good smolder, and Mockridge is terrific, delivering a breakout performance in a role that could be intensely annoying but that he makes wounded and winning. While Mockridge is delightful as the down-on-his-luck musician Bastian (an impressive turn for those most familiar with his work), but it's Saleh's Karina that really packs the charming punch.

It's a show about stepping out of your comfort zone, admitting and accepting vulnerability, and appreciating the people you already have in your life who love you instead of pointing out what's missing. This show is horribly cute. I am smiling at all the potential mishaps that the two may get into and I can't remember the last time I shipped two young people. Christmas is truly a fun holiday for those who want love. The show is a delightful holiday series that reminds us how festive and cozy the Christmas season normally feels, whether you usually celebrate in a country like Germany or in your small hometown -- or whether you celebrate Christmas at all. The show, led by Mockridge and Saleh, is heartwarming and feels like a modern classic. Like we should be watching these teens figure themselves out every holiday season for the next couple of years, that's how good it is. What I love most about the show is that it also feels like a love letter to Germany during this time of year, which I find fascinating. The musician's offbeat favorite Christmas Wrapping is a spiritual cool aunt to the show. Audiences of any age will hear at least one tune they'll want to add to their Christmas mix. The show made me smile in its efforts to invigorate a sense of Christmas cheer in me - an enjoyable piece of escapism to deck the halls with. The show could easily cross over from comfortingly familiar to straight-up hacky. What keeps it on the right side of the line, for me at least, is the liveliness and authenticity of its contemporary Germany.

Simon says Over Christmas (ÜberWeihnachten) receives: