Virgin Astronaut Bucket List

starring: CAILIN PELUSO & BLAKE LEWIS

Genius Gillian was raised to go on a one way mission to Mars. But before she goes, she has a few things she wants to experience first, namely high school, going to prom, her first kiss, and a few more things…

REVIEW

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Oh if you want fun and new and different try this.

A massive shout out to @analisa_labianco and her team at @dramawave_official who are producing some of the best and most original live action verticals at the moment

Now this one is interesting. AI is used here, for some backgrounds and flashbacks of Gillian as a child. It just about works. It allows the team to tell a bigger story, but the human cast and crew are always front and center

And they are magnificent. @cailinpeluso is sooooo good in this. She never breaks, and Gillian is one of my all time fave female characters in Verticals. Nothing phases her, she even handles being buried alive, but is also utterly adorable and dorky, the robot dance is everything. Plus some stunning outfits, all the space chic works.

And this is one of my favourite roles of @blake_lewwis working with Dramawave clearly suits him, and Logan isn't perfect, he is a hot head and impulsive, but comes through at the end with a satisfying FU to his dad as he goes to declare his love.

@thatsmadisonwest has a dream role as psycho Addison, going from a little bit terrifying to strait jacket at the end. I love that we avoided the tedious same old cut a shirt open and write whore or slut on someone. This is so much more fun, and shows what happens when you have human writers who are encouraged to be original and not slavishly follow the same old data and tropes. Top work by @jossgirard as well as her willing accomplice, who is a bit too quick to go to attempted murder with a spade

And finally a shout out to @emilyrosemorris who is brilliant in everything she is in, knows how to find the comedy and please please please cast her in lots more projects.

And it is no surprise to see this is directed by @thedchen one of the best directors out there at the moment. He never misses, knows how to get the best out of his cast, brings the romance and the lighter touches.

Top work team, and a lot of love to executive producer @roberta_sparta

You all nailed it

(Only reason it isn't a gold background is the weird spanking scene)

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

I’m sorry but if your heart didn’t have a moment when Logan appears on the monitor holding up a sign saying Take Me To Your Leader - well, that rivalled the boombox in Say Anything for me.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Addison has to be one of the best villains. No messing around here - she is a psychopath. I mean we bury Gillian alive! Plus the ultimate evil, she killed MR NIBBLES the class bunny!

😂 Comedy gold:

So much - the class reaction to Mr Nibbles, anything with Emily Rose Morris (the electric shock is a hoot), the girl in the library, the rocket launch for a certain moment in the shower…

🎺 Unsung hero:

Everyone is brilliant - but Cailin Peluso is a phenomenon. She keeps the slight awkwardness Gillian has all the way through, the robot dance, the way she doesn’t blink quite as much. She has become one of the biggest stars in the vertical space, and has grown into a really impressive actress with real screen presence.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director: Dan Chen | 2026

Available on Dramawave