Dash & Lily Season 1 Episode 8 New Year's Eve

Dash & Lily is a Netflix original coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama series based on the young adult novel, Dash & Lily’ Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. The series followed the story of two teenagers, Dash and Lily, who embarked on a scavenger hunt adventure around New York City via a notebook they pass back and forth at different locations. As their correspondence evolved from one page to another, their relationship grew more intense.

The season finale episode of Dash & Lily is entitled 'New Year’s Eve.' As the title suggests, this is where everything comes to an end, where we finally find out if Dash and Lily will end up together or go their separate ways. In this episode, the two young lovers will come face to face with some of the most challenging moments in their relationship as they bid goodbye to 2020.

Unlike the previous episodes, the series finale is a little bit more relaxed; there aren’t as many adventures. As it is New Year’s Eve, we see the streets of New York City brimming with festive energy, and everyone preparing for the year-end celebration. Dash and Lily seem to be on the cusp of defining the future of their relationship; they know they are meant to be, but they are not sure if they are ready to be together.

Throughout the episode, we see Lily struggling to communicate how she feels, and Dash grappling with his future plans after high school. Dash’s fear of leaving for college and losing touch with what he found in New York has him considering staying in the city for a year, which could affect his relationship with Lily.

The episode, as a whole, is more introspective, and viewers are allowed to dig deeper into the characters' personalities, trying to understand their motivations.

One of the best parts of 'New Year's Eve' is the music lineup. The showrunners have done an excellent job in curating a list of memorable tunes to match every scene; Cardi B, Miley Cyrus, and The Weeknd are just a few of the artists on the soundtrack. Every song compliments the mood and tone of the moment.

As the episode comes to a close, Lily and her family hosts a party, and everyone is invited, including Dash. The party is decorated enthusiastically for the New Year celebration, with a balloon drop at midnight. The party has a few problems like the stove breaking down due to a massive rib roast, and while Lily's Grandpa helps her mother with the food situation, the young lovers have to put their feelings out there.

The moment-of-the-season for Dash & Lily comes when the couple finally admits their feelings for each other and shares a kiss while embracing in the midst of the chaos of the party. The episode, for the most part, signals the end of the series' first season, with only bits of upcoming developments looking dire for the young couple.

In the last scenes of the episode, Lily performs karaoke, which seems a little awkward and out of place, but once again, it showcases Julian and Dash's background role, sweetly watching and enjoying her performance together. Lily ends her song, and the young couple makes their way to the streets of New York City to watch the fireworks and start the new year together.

Overall, 'New Year's Eve' is an excellent way to end the series' first season. It maintains the balance between the show’s fun and a deeper, more profound emotional connection. The episode also gave viewers a satisfying peek of the season’s end without giving everything away. With all its charm and wit, Dash & Lily reminds us that anything's possible with a little bit of risk, a lot of vulnerability, and some faith in the unexpected.