How to Ruin Christmas (2020– ) User Reviews

Good enough

[sidevercontent · 6/10 · 30 January 2021]

It's an average mini series which is easy to watch but it lost me when they did the cliche trope of making the characters have a conflict which would be resolved in the 3rd act and what made it worse was that the conflict wasn't compelling nor unrealistic

Urban, Hip, very South African & realistic Fiction

[vaughndarkie · 6/10 · 16 December 2020]

It's just brilliant. If you've ever wondered what the rich and famous this side of the world get up to, This is it. The characters are lovable and believable

Fun

[greviousmarjorie · 7/10 · 22 December 2020]

Structurally imperfect but definitely not your typical Christmas romance glop. Funny, touching, dramatic and leaves you hanging, light hearted fun

Loved it!

[nataliemodom · 10/10 · 18 December 2020]

This was an incredible tell. Seeing the traditions blended into a modern love story really was refreshing. Well done. I look forward to the series continuing.

Disappointing

[bornjano · 2/10 · 16 December 2020]

I kept watching this show hoping it would get beter. The script is horrible and they trying too much. The first 3 minutes were so good I was about to share on my IG but the more I kept watching the more disappointed I become. Their is always room for improvement, work on the script and the acting and also the story line is all over the place.

At last! A great South African series

[rachelbriant · 9/10 · 18 December 2020]

Heartfelt, relatable, considered characters. Well produced, consistent delivery on quality throughout. Simple but well-executed. I love me a good old fashioned rom-com, but this one had that South African flavour, so it felt like home! (Although less comedy than drama tbh) Common cultural issues were navigated with sensitivity and a light touch. Also, did I mention the outfits, sets and cars were high-class!?

A realistic funny show

[fadzaimichaelmangwana · 9/10 · 18 December 2020]

This show is comedy gold, especially for those who understand the culture and how weddings come about. There are some elements that do not work well in the show but they are not major drawbacks but I was in shreds for three episodes and the show managed to comment on how we often forget that the point of the wedding is not the spectacle but the two people getting married. I feel that some jokes will be lost to non-South Africans but it was a well executed show.

Loved it!

[levans314-357-974326 · 9/10 · 17 December 2020]

Highly entertaining with depth to the characters and quality acting to boot! Also loved the wardrobe choices specifically those mauve bridesmaids dresses. The guy that played the cheating husband- brother could've been more attractive to make it more palatable/believable but I got over it. I didn't get why she brought the old guy with her to the other bar but whatevs. Looking forward to seeing more seasons!

Amazing

[mamakasisipho · 10/10 · 16 December 2020]

Everything about this production is 120% the music, plot,acting !!! Konke nje love 120% Proudly South African .... I love how authentic it is, the americanized themed productions bore me shame.

Very cute, but...

[EyeSeesMovies · 9/10 · 27 December 2020]

...how can they all blame Tumi for their problems? I'm halfway through E3 and no one has taken responsibility for their own actions! Yes, she slept with ol' dude, but was he who was married and he who was the recovering alcoholic. Yes, I know this was touched, but I don't recall the guy even apologizing to his wife and family. Then, Tumi does her sister a big favor and in the process, finds out the man she thought was her father, in fact, wasn't...and in the worst way. Her mom gave what served as an apology, but for me it wasn't enough, especially considering the disdain and blame she put on her. Then, in the heat of emotion after this revelation, she truthfully tells her sister that's she worried only about her pregnancy. A real pregnancy...a product of her and her fiancé, and somehow, Tumi was so wrong for this???? I guess they were really upset that Tumi showed them mirrors. For me, the only person she got close to wronging was her best friend.

Great!

[samkethehuman · 8/10 · 15 March 2021]

Great casting! Great acting! Great comedic relief!

Feels pretty authentic

[aliciarahema · 10/10 · 23 December 2021]

From the speaking of so many different languages, to the throwback Kwaito tunes, to getting to see various cities in SA, How to ruin Christmas feels more authentic than most other mainstream African shows. The wild plots, humor, and sentimental moments make it easy to get hooked into.

Entertaining and funny

[joyced91 · 8/10 · 20 December 2020]

Nice series, not the best plot but l'd recommend it.

This just worked

[mphocastry · 8/10 · 19 November 2021]

As a South African, I connected with this story at so many layers. As a young person, as a married person, as a person from the Township, as a person living in a city. The drama and story arcs for each character were hyper realistic in a South African context. The cast was also perfect for the roles, no one felt offish. I highly recommend it. I hope they used the same writers and directors for the follow-up.

Loved it

[landomercy · 10/10 · 20 December 2020]

I absolutely loved watching this waiting for more episodes.

Loved Seeing Tradition

[qmmviqhgk · 10/10 · 17 December 2020]

This was fabulous! Laughed and cried. For those of us who were denied the ability to continue important tradition, the end brought pride as well as sadness. Good show! Can't wait for season 2.

Lmao

[shamiegee · 9/10 · 21 December 2020]

If you can relate, you can relate 🤣 Really funny & good production quality. Well done guys

See it for yourself

[delbe-92089 · 9/10 · 1 January 2021]

I thought it was fun and grittier than I had expected. Tumi needs a whop on the behind. Full grown but I can't tell. Relatable. Watching her struggle was painful ly funny. Want to watch it again

Beautiful, fun, rich & effortless

[whatasheawants · 10/10 · 26 December 2020]

The show effectively reaches the depths of real family pain points and true individual fxck-ups, while maintaining its foundation of humor and beauty, which is also how the main character moves. She's at the center of all of those struggles personally and at some point in the show's timeline, and there is no "gotta love her," moment to balance when she's flat out wrong. It took no work to embrace each character as human, as they weren't presented as oversimplified for good, bad, or ugly (and it gets ugly!). The acting was impeccable and everything is gorgeous. The culturally relevant imagery and audio was rich, from the mixed-language script to the music, hair, and daily clothes to ceremonial garb. I loved it all and look forward to the next episodes/seasons!

Loved it

[mpahlwaphiwe · 10/10 · 25 December 2020]

I loved it. I watched it three times. I have told people to watch it they enjoy it as well. It is so South African.

I WANT MORE!

[teianas · 10/10 · 20 December 2020]

I love everything about this show from all the characters to the writers and even the show designs (especially the wedding). I laughed and cried at the end of the third episode I was looking for the 4th episode. Please have more episodes and more seasons. I also like that you get to learn about South African culture.

Absolutely Loved It

[tumiwamay · 10/10 · 28 December 2020]

Stunning.... everything from the cast to the production itself

Left me wanting more👌🏿👌🏿

[mjmapi · 9/10 · 25 December 2020]

The is not a lot of shows I can seat and watch with my wife and sisters in law..yes not even during Covid-19 lockdown and Festive season, this treasure however was able to kept us glued and left us wanting more, my wife rated it a South African 'Insecure', great performance from actors, it has humor...yes even South African kind, family scandals,drama,calture..it leaves you feeling happy that you don't have a family member like Tumi, at same time longing for her type of friendship,it's a shame it takes big distribution like Netflix to provide us with such quality talent+story telling SABC is clearly failing to provide

Love it

[marcietodd-09057 · 10/10 · 12 January 2021]

Loooooove it! I just wish it were longer than 3 episodes

Great Watch!

[andersonbelicia · 10/10 · 26 December 2020]

I loved this! This was a nice story with the perfect amount of romance, fantasy and realness. Please add more!!