Ripple Review: Four strangers run into each other unexpectedly after going through love and loss in life, creating a ripple effect that causes their stories to interconnect.
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Ripple Netflix Cast
Ian Harding, Julia Chan, Sydney Agudong, Frankie Faison, Vanessa Smythe, Robert Bazzochi
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Ripple Series Showrunners
Michele Giannusa, Joni Lefkowitz
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Ripple Directors
Amanda Tapping, Scott Smith, Melanie Orr, Lisa Soper
The series has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 42 minutes.
Ripple Review
Four strangers, Aria, Nate, Kris and Walter, find their lives interconnecting through chance events. The series is a sweet watch that doesn’t take much out of your life. It’s a slow-moving watch that wants you to trust the process; so the non-linear storytelling, although a bit confusing at first, becomes a cornerstone for the show as the bigger picture is gradually revealed. The series makes use of the ripple effect metaphor quite well, with the blue stone passing through the characters, which signifies big life changes and pushes the characters towards one another.
The strong emotional core of the series is one of its biggest strengths. Exploring themes of grief and loneliness, we are pulled towards relatable situations that ground us in the story and make us root for the characters. Although the storyline is simplistic and sometimes a bit sappy, it’s nice to watch something grounded yet fantastic in true Hallmark fashion.
As mentioned earlier, the disconnected storytelling might feel confusing and overwhelming at times; however, it’s satisfying once things fall into place. The series won’t make you expect a lot, as you realise what you are in for quite early on. But, even then, some moments feel familiar yet refreshing. The cosy vibes of the drama can be comforting if you need something sweet and hopeful.
The performances are good as well, considering the quality of the show. Although the cinematography and production quality can sometimes falter, the performances keep everything together. I think it’s an enjoyable watch if you keep your expectations low.
On that note, the Ripple relies heavily on coincidences, making this a rather convenient and contrived watch. Sometimes things feel a bit too good to be true, and although you realise that there’s a fantasy element to it, it’s just too hard to take it seriously. The series also works a bit too hard to make things feel “fated,” so much so that it gets a bit too on the nose and annoying. It feels extremely preachy and unserious when it tries to shove the narrative that “life is interconnected,” which will take you out of the experience.
As mentioned previously, the production quality falters quite a bit as a series tries to showcase Toronto as New York City and fails miserably. We could’ve just seen this take place in Toronto, and nothing would’ve really changed. I don’t know why this was necessary. Moreover, the series really misses out on creating a nice, wholesome group of characters, as some are given more attention than others. As a result, the other characters remain quite underdeveloped as well.
Final Thoughts
This is a melodrama that might not interest a lot of people. Ripple is for anyone who likes low-stakes, emotional stories that talk about fate and human connection. However, it does overdo that aspect a lot and leaves us feeling rather burnt out by the end. Overall, it’s a warm and predictable watch that is best felt rather than thought about!
What are your thoughts on Ripple? Let us know in the comments below!
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