30 Days To Love
starring: GRACE SWANSON & JACKSON TILLER
Sofia filed for divorce. Ryan tracked her happiness like data. A judge gave them 30 days of trial separation. The holidays gave Sofia and Ryan one messy second chance - if they survive her family’s Thanksgiving first.
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an admirable attempt at a striking new script that wobbles a bit all over the place but is carried and saved by the leads. Because it gives @gracewswanson and @jacksontiller__ something to work with
We have a super opening as both put their case to judge @david.moskowitz and the audience are trusted to follow the back and forth
This is one of my fave roles of @jacksontiller__- the health bro influencer is so well drawn, anyone who has ventured on to YouTube knows it well, but we soon realise there is a reason Ryan is so desperately controlling things. Jackson gets to do comedy, deadpan, regret, as well as a man desperately in love with his wife but no idea how to communicate with her. It's just joyous watching someone who has been in the trenches of verticals, made the best he can with mad scripts given something to work with, that allows him to do so much more
It is the same with @gracewswanson - Sofia isn't always likeable, and is probably quite close to most of us, incredibly stressed as she tries to keep it altogether and beyond frustrated with her husband. Again just joyous to see Grace be able to express more emotions and sure the argument scenes work so well because Jackson and Grace have worked together so frequently
I could have spent a lot more time with @thresa_richardson and @johnhenryrichardson as Sofia's parents. Their entire subplot was glorious, I want more of this in verticals.
@theadamchisnall is great as Leo where producer hat tends to win out over friend hat
The whole thing looks great
The script is a mess. It starts strongly then falls off half way through. Sofia's void thing is wanky nonsense. And we stray dangerously close to lecturing and moralising. Something that has come up repeatedly as a reason people come to Verticals - they don't want to be lectured or think too deeply, they are here to switch off from the fact everyday life is hard
And this is going to be a huge challenge. Bringing the current audience with you as you tweak the stories, but also writing to attract new viewers.
This is a really admirable attempt, and making more stories like this can only be a good thing.
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
How hard Ryan tries to fix things. And the childhood reveal is lovely. It is a great change seeing a vertical that looks at what happens after the happy ever after and how to make a marriage / relationship work.
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
Social Media! Because Ryan and Sofia both clearly lose large parts of their life to cultivating their social media following and image - a lesson for us all perhaps.
😂 Comedy gold:
Lots - the opening scene in the courthouse, Henry with is shotgun, the whole Henry and Grace storyline, the reality tv show totally honest episode.
🎺 Unsung hero:
Leo Finch for creating Marriage SOS and forcing Sofia and Ryan back together, all from the kindness of his heart (well for the pay cheque but hey). And Nonna Maria, for being Nonna Maria.
2025
Available on TasteLife
