Forbidden Love In The Air
starring: BROOKE LAYNE & ZACHARY RIST
Grieving the loss of husband Chris, pregant Julia is given a home by her mother in law safe from her grasping family. When Chris’s brother, pilot Leo returns home he is instantly suspicious of Julia’s motives, suspecting she is a gold digger...
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really rather lovely on Flareflow.
Yes there have been versions of this story before, notably the lovely one with Brooke Moltrum & Nick Ritacco, but space for lots more versions of this story, particulalry as it is handled sensitively here
Brooke Layne is super here as Julia, there is a scene with Leo, where she has a single tear, that somehow captures her grief, the comfort and life with Leo, and also the desire of wanting him. It's so good.
Zachary Rist’s Leo is careworn for a lot of the story, so there is lovely moment when he grabs the guitar to accompany Julia, and Leo smiles, laughs and is happy, and realise how rare it is to see that in a vertical for a male lead. You actually see how he relaxes and becomes more vulnerable with Julia. And we actually have a proper scene with a baby scan, and time to linger on reactions.
Side note - mum mode here - Zachary Rist I spent the entire vertical wanting to tell you to push that lock of hair out of your eyes.
Back to the vertical, love the mum Laura Faye Smith because it is a full rounded character! Finally
Lots of fun from Vinnie Doud, Nika Brzhezytska and the mum as the gruesome trio. At least the fact they are poor explains more of their money grabbing actions, and why they only have bikes 😆
Jessica Bell is slightly terrifying as Lillian. I mean she is still trying to get some when the plane is going down...
Oh and I loved Carlos, and how the mum slowly buried him under all the clothes they are buying in the shop
One of the things I really like about this is you can see the script has been localised a bit more. There are a few more American cultural references, lines like welfare queen and the 1%
We keep the essence of a vert, whilst also removing some of the madder bits, and making it feel a little bit more American
It's a great, solid vert on Flareflow and hugely appreciate everyone involved in making it
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
It’s all about the moment Julia sings in the shower - cos if Leo isn’t already in love, he is after this. The loss of Chris is well handled, and this is a tentative, sweet romance, but don’t worry ladies, there are also quite a lot of shots of Leo wandering around in just a towel. Something for everyone.
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
Julia’s family are awful - but it has to be dreadful lascivious Lillian, who is still trying to get some with Leo when the plane is about to crash, does terrible things to AV equipment, and to quote Kim Kardashian does stuff because “it is iconic, and I love to do iconic sh*t”
😂 Comedy gold:
The fact Vinny goes everywhere on his bike 😆
Olga’s insistence she is an exotic dancer NOT a stripper
Lillian similarly that she is a First Class Flight Attendant and NOT a stewardess (really reminding my of Dwight in the Office - he is Assistant Regional Manager NOT Assistant to the Regional Manager
🎺 Unsung hero:
Margaret has to be one of the best vert mums ever, so pleased for Laura Faye Smith getting to play this role. She gets to have conversations, offer emotional support, moments with real heart, build a fully rounded character, and a few funny moments too. More mums like this please.
✍🏼 DETAILS
Director Stephen Law | 2025
Available on Flareflow
