Mix Tape explores the theme of what could have been, something that every human on Earth can, and will, relate to. It should be noted that this review is based solely on the first two episodes of Mix Tape.
Have you ever wondered what could have been? We all have thought about how different our lives might have been, even with one little change. Mix Tape explores this idea by shining a light on two individuals who were in love as teenagers but grew apart. Now, many years later, they are both married with children of their own. But what will happen when they start to reconnect online?
In a world of social media and the internet, it is not uncommon for friends and lovers from the past to rediscover one another. Things do get messy, however, when individuals are married but find themselves rekindling a spark they thought they had lost.
In Mix Tape, both Alison and Daniel have moved on from the teenage relationship. At the same time, they are both dealing with problems in their lives, as one does. Their marriages are not perfect and neither are their children’s.
This causes Daniel to think back to his High School love and wonder what could have been if they had stayed in touch and remained on the same path in life. When he friend requests Alison on Facebook, and she accepts, it is clear Alison has also been thinking about him.
While I have only seen the first two episodes of Mix Tape so far, things have been set up for an interesting, to say the least, story. The series seemlessly goes back and forth between the present and the past, allowing viewers to understand the relationship that Daniel and Alison had as teens, and why it has stuck with them.
The name of the series comes because Daniel made a mix tape for Alison when they were young in order to show her how much he was thinking of her. Now, as adults, he reverts back to sharing songs with her that make him think of their time together.
It is hard to judge an entire season based on two episodes, especially since adult Alison and Daniel have not really spoken with each other yet, but to say that I am intrigued to see where this goes would be an understatement.
Emotionally cheating on your spouse might make for great television, but it can be difficult at times to watch – especially for viewers who are married. Because of this I am hopeful that this relationship will remain platonic, while exploring their lives that could have been. Either way, I will certainly be tuning into the rest of the series when it releases later this year.
About Mix Tape
In Sheffield, 1989, teenagers Daniel and Alison meet at a house party, and bond over their love for music. Daniel is popular, Alison is a wallflower. When they meet on the dance floor, their lives are forever changed. The relationship they forge that night will follow them forever, and leave them wondering what could have been.
Twenty years later, Daniel is in Sheffield and Alison in Sydney. Both are married, with children nearly grown. Life looks differently for both of them than how’d they’d imagined it at seventeen.
Daniel, powerless to the strong hold the memory of Alison still has on him, reaches out to her in the hope that they might be able to rekindle that spark.
Mix Tape episodes one and two premiered at SXSW 2025 and will be released later this year.
