Through Ashes Their Sorrow Awakens
starring: PAIGE SMELTZER, BRIAN O’SHEA & TEIG SADHANA
Cellist Ashley is framed and imprisoned by adopted sister Lilith. When she gets out her whole family, including fiancee Ethan, still believe Lilith’s lies and keep hurting her… leading Ashley to eventually fake her own death to start a new life abroad as Dorothea.
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐⭐
It came up in the fan survey and again today at @contentlondon
How do you decide what vertical to watch? The leads actors and actresses are a massive reason - case in point here. I'm not a fan of the cuckoo story, so wouldn't have watched this. But big fan of @paige_smeltzer @brianoshea93 @sadhat8 so here I am
Well it is full on. Let's say that now. I skipped quite a bit of the violence and could have done without all that
BUT it just about serves the story, and there is learning, Dorothea is appalled her family repeat the cycle when they turn on Lilith
And there are actually some interesting moral debates here - who is worse Lilith or the family / fiance? Should Dorothea forgive them? Does revenge destroy who you are?
And we all know people like the family - who make everything about themselves and are incapable of seeing anyone's else's viewpoint
@paige_smeltzer is super in what looks like an incredibly gruelling role. You do see Dorothea grow throughout the story as she becomes the leader for everyone, explaining to her family and Ethan what love is, but then also letting go of some of the anger so she can find her happiness
@brianoshea93 won my heart in his recent Dramashorts show and now stomps all over it here. It is a testament to Brian that you slightly feel for Ethan as he kneels and slowly realizes what he has lost. I mean I should hate the dude but Brian made me care.
@tori_ellis_02 dials down Lilith to a more subtle villainess, which works as otherwise why would the family trust here?
And @sadhat8 saves the day as lovely Vincent who gives Dorothea the love she desperately needs and deserves
It's all high melodrama and a bit too full on violence wise, but the huge saving grace is the performances and the script
- Ethan learns something
- The Family almost learn something
- Dorothea stays strong and doesn't forgive too easily or go back to Mr Toxic
There is some character growth and development
Some nice shots of brownstones in New York
And a worrying brown poster with too many brown suits
What about all the amazing red outfits Dorothea had?
Overall this is one of the better, more responsible revenge storylines.
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
Well thank goodness for the Winkler family and Vincent. Dorothea gets a much needed happy ending, and we all get an example of what true love should be. See the attempts to save each other at the end during the kidnapping.
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
I mean Lilith is a psychopath. So top villain. But Ashley’s family and Ethan go along with it all - does this make them worse? Bit of a moral debate here - how much responsibility do they need to take?
😂 Comedy gold:
Um poor Vincent hoping Lilith’s word meant something - as Dorothea says far too kind hearted. And the endless delusion of Ethan and Ashley’s family that they can make things ok by saying sorry and buying lots of red clothes.
🎺 Unsung hero:
Dorothea / Ashely. Because she is the moral pragmatic heart at the centre of it. She calls out her family when they turn on Lilith to repeat the cycle of violence. And she has to be the pragmatist to Vincent’s naive faith, and then parent Ethan through his man tantrum.
✍🏼 DETAILS
2025
Available on Dramabox
