Hello From The Past

starring: KIM SANDWICH & BRIAN O’SHEA

Three years after being abandoned at the altar, ambitious jewellery designer Silvia Wilkins accepts her dream job, only to find that her new boss is none other than her runaway ex-fiance, Dean Martinez. Despite her resentment, Silvia must unravel the secret behind his sudden disappearance to choose between her thriving career and her rekindled feelings.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is really, really good.

I do wish @dramashorts_official would ditch their hideous AI posters. It's put me off watching anything as I don't recognize anyone and suspect all AI cast.

Thankfully I did give this a go because it is lovely. It is a grown up, sensible vertical, which ditches the nonsense and instead tells a gorgeous second chance live story between Silvia and Dean.

@kimsandwichx Silvia is wonderful, she has a backbone, won't forgive Dean easily, even at the end and has a powerful moment where she talks about refusing to hide when things get tough again but instead comes back stronger.

Pauline is well written which means @_haleyljohnson has something to work with, and slowly pushes all Silvia 's buttons.

A little moment worth noting, rather than an immediate kidnap / attack, we instead see Silvia aware someone is following her. Just taking the time to show this is so much more effective, and builds tension. A new thing for a vertical.

But this is all about @brianoshea93

He will break your heart. He made me cry. Cos he is absolutely brilliant in this, as a good man desperately trying to do the right thing but unable to make anyone happy least of all himself.

I can't quite comprehend this is the same actor who made me cheer when Bryan finally got bumped off in Game of Choice.

He is so so so so so good

And I am not being very eloquent here.

Just flipping heck he has leveled up.

This is such a lovely vert, but there is one horrible line

Something is said about Autism that is wince inducing and wrong. It jars horribly and wish I could throw it out, esp as a parent with a phenomenal teen who is autistic, and one of the best people on this planet.

Just crass writing, but it is a tiny moment and never referred to again.

And the rest of the vert does such a good job of proving you can tell a strong story without the need for sensationalist violence or language that I really do think you should all watch it.

Plus note the main character is called Dean Martinez. Progress. (fyi Brian is from Argentina).

This all gives me hope people.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

Right we now have a problem because now I have a thing for Brian O’Shea. Because Dean Martinez has to be one of the most green flag male leads ever - a good guy trying to do the right thing, especially by his son. I mean when he wants Silvia back he HUGS her. None of this arrogant, domineering nonsense. And we have a huge big gesture at the end to ensure Pauline is out of his life forever. It’s just the best.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Dean’s ex Pauline - but refreshingly she doesn’t rely on violence. It is much more effective that she humiliates Silvia with things like using her wedding ring, making her look at wedding dresses with her. And thankfully we never see the neglect of her son, it is all off screen, and just that she clearly doesn’t care. This is how to write a good villain. Thank you.

😂 Comedy gold:

Watching Dean’s facial expression as he gets more and more jealous of Jacob.

🎺 Unsung hero:

There are some good lines here - proving that you don’t need to use the standard vertical insults of ‘sl*t, wh*re’ etc. I much preferred: ‘washed up corporate has been’ and ‘I asked for options, not mediocrity’.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director: Anish Saini | 2025

Available on Dramashorts