The broken ones heal each other. That’s essentially what all great romances do, and it’s especially what memorable romances do. However, forbidden romance isn’t the easiest trope to work with outside of the genre for avid readers, yet My Fault: London nails it with compelling leads, a gripping narrative, and thoughtful character arcs.
Step siblings are controversial, but I’ll bet countless millennials could go on and on about why on earth Casey and Derek had so much chemistry in Disney’s Life With Derek. The step-siblings trope isn’t Game of Thrones, and the relationship isn’t incestuous—it’s also not one that blooms after years and years of knowing each other, making it that much weirder. Still, up until that final second where their parents question things, it’s an unconventional pairing, yes, but all of that aside, the film’s an absolute treat—it’s hot, thrilling, and dramatic without overdoing it.
My Fault: London Deliciously Plays With Rare Tropes
Teen dramas on screen are often full of redundant, contrived, and frustrating tropes. It almost always involves a love triangle that drags on and on, leaving viewers with very little time with the primary couple they’re meant to root for. Prime Video’s My Fault: London thankfully nips this in the bud early on, allowing the other players to be catalysts for Nick and Noah’s relationship.
But, let’s back pedal for a moment. Before their first kiss which sparks the embers between them, Nick and Noah are both presumably taken and simultaneously get off on the wrong foot. The tension that boils between them during the early scenes fan the flames of their undeniable attraction, making it easy to see that once there’s a taste, there’s no going back. Noah’s boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend, then grovels and later settles for Nick’s deal of sending him home with 1.5k in his pocket. And the best part of this is that from that moment, it becomes clear to the audience that there’s nothing Nick wouldn’t do for Noah. (Dropping to his knees and all.)
The audience later learns that the two are more alike than they’re different, with parents who’ve broken their spirit, testing their loyalty and turning them into the people they are today. As the stakes rise and the dramatic narrative arcs propel the two of them into impossible situations, it makes wanting one another that much more challenging. It’s when they finally give in after Noah’s second panic attack that it becomes clear to the audience that this forbidden romance is actually right for both characters because it’s not just the chemistry but it’s the emotional pull. It’s the decision to do anything and everything to protect each other at all costs.
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With that, it’s important to give a big shoutout to the ultimate microtrope—hurt/comfort. Whether that’s tending to each other’s wounds or Nick rescuing Noah from the closet before she has a panic attack, the inclusion of hurt/comfort in any romance easily makes it worth watching. The vulnerability the hurt/comfort trope brings forth allows actors to strengthen their character motives, making the relationship that much more compelling.
Interestingly, people love to wrongfully dismiss romance by calling it shallow or surface-level, claiming it’s a cliche and everything’s too easy. Yet, when we get instances of characters taking care of each other, we ultimately get the most realistic and tender display of humanity. And in spite of the drama in My Fault: London, the movie is brimming with vulnerable scenes that allow the characters to heal from the demons they’ve long kept inside.
A romance’s success outside of the literary world relies heavily on the performances. Asha Banks and Matthew Broome are an excellent pair, playing off one another with nuances that elevate the bond between their characters. Plus, as someone who watches The Buccaneers, it’s always riveting to watch an actor in another role while being able to separate the two characters. Broome makes this super easy to do from the moment he steps onto the screen and it’s not because his hair is different or he’s wearing modern clothes, but rather he’s embodying a character well enough to make the clear distinction.
Thematically, the film’s contents are rich and engaging. As far as filmmaking goes, one of the riveting details comes from Melissa Osborne’s enticing screenplay. The authenticity in language and conversations makes the characters feel surprisingly mature and easy to care for. Darker scenes are thankfully visible, which is a testament to cinematography and editors. Finally, no media is complete without a great soundtrack plus a thrilling original score, and My Fault: London is loaded with gems. Letting the credits roll to Holly Humberstone’s “Dive” is the type of superb choice that would’ve guaranteed I’d come back to a sequel, even if the content weren’t all that great. Thankfully, it’s good—it’s really good. Forbidden romance with step-siblings done right.
My Fault: London is now streaming on Prime Video.
First Featured Image Credit: Amazon MGM Studios