From Scratch
From Scratch is a poignant Netflix limited series adapted from Tembi Locke's best-selling memoir, "From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home." It chronicles the passionate cross-cultural love story between Amahle "Amy" Wheeler, an American art student, and Lino Ortolano, a Sicilian chef, after they meet in Florence. The narrative explores their romance, marriage, the complexities of blending their distinct cultural backgrounds, and the profound challenges they face, particularly Lino's battle with a rare form of cancer. The series is an emotionally charged drama that delves into themes of love, loss, grief, resilience, and the enduring power of family, promising a deeply moving viewing experience. It is aimed at a mature audience, reflecting its realistic portrayal of adult relationships and life's hardships.
Concerns
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe series is a romance drama with significant romantic and sexual content, including passionate kissing, implied sexual activity, and scenes with partial nudity. The relationship between Amy and Lino is a central focus, involving intimacy.
Characters are shown in sexual intercourse, with partial nudity revealed, specifically the side of the breast and buttocks. In the first episode, Amy engages in intimate acts, described as 'humping a hoity-toity art-gallery owner,' before solidifying her relationship with Lino, signifying explicit premarital sexual activity.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series is emotionally intense and can be frightening due to its realistic portrayal of a terminal illness and the grieving process. It is frequently described as a "tear jerker" that causes viewers to cry heavily, particularly in later episodes.
Lino's cancer diagnosis and the subsequent seven-year battle are depicted with significant emotional intensity, including scenes of his declining health and the psychological toll on both Lino and Amy. Episode seven, titled "Between the Fire and the Pan," is highlighted as particularly heart-wrenching, focusing on Lino's final days in hospice care and his death at home, leading to profound sorrow for the characters and viewers.
Profanity
MediumThe series contains strong language and profanity used throughout, including common expletives. This is noted in parental guidance reviews for the show.
Lookout words mentioned in parental reviews include 'f*ck,' 'sh*t,' and 'd*mn,' indicating frequent use of strong language. The language contributes to the TV-MA rating of the series.
Substance Use
MediumCharacters in the series are depicted consuming alcohol and smoking hash. This substance use is shown as part of the characters' lifestyle and is not portrayed without consequences.
Characters are shown casually drinking alcohol in various scenes, fitting into the setting of a romance in Italy and later in the US. Additionally, the series includes instances where characters are shown smoking hash.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe series features themes of familial conflict and rebellion, primarily stemming from cultural clashes and parental disapproval of life choices, particularly regarding marriage and career paths.
Lino faces significant opposition and rejection from his traditional Sicilian father, Giacomo, for pursuing a chef's career instead of remaining on the family farm, and for marrying Amy, a Black American woman. Amy's family also expresses initial disapproval of her relationship with Lino due to cultural differences and her choice to pursue art over law.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowExtensive searches for LGBTQ+ content within the Netflix series "From Scratch," based on Tembi Locke's memoir, did not yield any specific instances of LGBTQ+ characters or themes. It is crucial to distinguish this series from other media with similar titles, such as books by Katrina Jackson, Georgia Beers, or Jazz Taylor, which explicitly feature LGBTQ+ representation (e.g., polyamory, lesbian, or trans characters). The Netflix series focuses solely on the heterosexual relationship between Amy and Lino and their respective families.
There are no characters identified as LGBTQ+ within the Netflix series. The central romantic plot is exclusively between Amy, a Black American woman, and Lino, a Sicilian man, with no deviations into same-sex relationships or gender identity exploration. Searches for specific LGBTQ+ representation within the Netflix show did not return any confirmed examples from reliable sources. While other works titled 'From Scratch' or 'Starting From Scratch' contain LGBTQ themes, they are not related to this specific Netflix limited series.
Violence
LowThe series does not feature physical violence, gore, or intense fight scenes. The primary 'violence' is the emotional impact of Lino's long battle with cancer and his eventual death, which is depicted realistically and can be emotionally distressing for viewers.
The show focuses on the emotional journey of Amy and Lino as they navigate his illness, rather than physical altercations. For example, Lino's decline due to leiomyosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, involves scenes of him undergoing treatment and experiencing illness, which is emotionally difficult but not physically violent. The passing of Lino in episode seven is portrayed as a tragic, natural death, prompting grief but not depicting any violent acts.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no evidence of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural themes present in "From Scratch."
The narrative of the series is grounded in realistic human experiences, focusing on romance, family dynamics, cultural integration, and the challenges of illness and grief. No elements of magic or the occult are mentioned in any plot summaries or content reviews.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe series does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. While it portrays diverse cultural backgrounds, it does not mock, insult, or promote negative messages against Christian beliefs. A scene in Sicily involves a priest, suggesting Christianity as part of the cultural backdrop without being a focal point for criticism.
After Lino's death, a priest visits Amy and Lino's family in Sicily for a gathering, indicating the presence of Christian customs within the cultural context of Lino's Italian family. This scene does not portray Christianity in a negative light but rather as a cultural element in a time of mourning.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
This series is recommended for mature audiences, aged 16 and above, primarily due to its TV-MA rating. It contains mature romantic and sexual content including partial nudity, strong language, and depictions of substance use. Furthermore, the narrative intensely explores themes of illness, death, and grief, which may be emotionally challenging for younger viewers.
Additional Notes
The series is a limited series and does not have sequels or spin-offs, so content concerns do not evolve across installments. The narrative is heavily focused on emotional depth, cultural understanding, and the realities of love and loss, which can be intense for viewers sensitive to themes of illness and grief.
Related Reviews
Is From Scratch right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required