Watch Dear Child

Dear Child is a gripping new drama series that premiered on Netflix in 2023. The show centers around a woman named Sylvia who discovers she has a long lost daughter named Emma. Years earlier, when Sylvia was a teenager, she gave birth to Emma and put her up for adoption without ever meeting her. Now as an adult, Sylvia decides to track down Emma and try to build a relationship with the daughter she never knew. However, connecting with Emma proves to be more complicated than Sylvia anticipated.

Emma was adopted by a loving family and grew up in a privileged environment that contrasts starkly with Sylvia's working class roots. While curious about her biological mother, Emma also harbors resentment over being abandoned at birth. She does not warm up to Sylvia right away, leaving Sylvia to prove herself and try to make up for lost time. Through tentative meetings and awkward conversations, the two strangers slowly get to know each other and see glimpses of themselves in one another. Yet shadows from the past continue to loom over them, threatening the delicate connection they are trying to build.

Sylvia's family and friends also factor prominently into the story. Her mother Miriam acts supportive but seems to disapprove of Sylvia tracking down Emma after all these years. Sylvia's best friend Tanya, who was with her during the pregnancy and adoption, offers sympathy but also expresses doubts. Meanwhile, Emma's adoptive parents grow concerned over her growing closeness to the woman who gave her up years ago. All these relationships add layers of complexity to the central story of a mother and daughter discovering each other for the first time.

Dear Child explores themes of family, secrets, regret, and the irreversible consequences of choices made in youth. Flashing back to Sylvia's teen years, the show reveals the circumstances surrounding Emma's birth and adoption, scenes that resonate poignantly now as Sylvia tries connecting with the grown daughter she never raised. Yet scenes set in the present day are equally powerful, as Sylvia confronts what she lost while Emma processing conflicting emotions about the mother she is just getting to know. Their halting attempts to forge a bond despite missing years lead to heartfelt moments but also painful confrontations over the past.

With standout performances by Sarah Jones as Sylvia and Elizabeth Henstridge as Emma, Dear Child takes an thoughtful look at adoption, motherhood, and the ties that bind family. The show has been praised for its sensitive handling of the subject matter. While some storylines verge on melodramatic, overall Dear Child provides an emotional viewing experience. Centered around two compelling women, Dear Child tugs at the heartstrings even as it raises complex questions about maternal love, the nature of family, and whether the past can ever fully be overcome. Thought-provoking and moving, Dear Child is worth adding to your Netflix watch list.

Dear Child is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between September 7, 2023 and on Netflix