One Day Review: ‘A Titanic-Scale Tearjerker’; The Ideal Netflix Series, Five Stars
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Review of One Day: Netflix’s heartbreakingly epic romantic drama, starring Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, is about as ideal Valentine’s Day programming as it gets.
A television program or any other kind of cinematic entertainment that can gracefully convey both the heartbreak of bereavement and the exhilaration of youthful love is rare. The brand-new Netflix romance series One Day succeeds in doing all of this and much more. It follows two individuals, the bubbly Emma and the handsome Dex, over the course of two decades full of highs and lows, modest wins, and life-changing setbacks. The 14 episodes have varied lengths. Poetic and serious, yet dizzy and playful all at once. One Day may be the ideal television program in its own right.
At their university graduation celebration, Emma and Dex—young adults on the verge of new experiences—first cross paths. He’s the campus hottie, his strut giving away his old-money origins. However, because she is from the working-class town of Leeds, she is more cynical. Dex’s attention is arguably the greatest affirmation a college student could ask for, so when he asks Emma out on their last day together, Emma can’t help but be a little dubious. He doesn’t typically pursue people like her. But she gives in to him, taken over by a YOLO attitude that existed before the term was ever invented.
What happens is that Richard Linklater may either blush with thanks or consider filing a lawsuit after seeing how the first episode of Before Sunrise was coded. But unlike Celine and Jesse, Emma and Dex never get romantic; even when they separate ways, they always choose to have conversations rather than get intimate. However, they establish a strong enough emotional bond to vow to keep in contact.
From 1988 until 2007, One Day visits them once a year, every year. The date, July 15, seems completely arbitrary at first. However, anyone who has read the original novel by David Nicholls or even seen the widely forgotten film adaptation will recognize its devastating ending. Emma, played by Ambika Mod, is the more contemplative of the two, even though Leo Woodall’s easygoing Dex may label her as an over-analyst. When she tells him on their first date that she wants to “change the world” and when she quotes her favorite passage from Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, about a day that waits “sly and unseen,” ready to pounce on unwary souls, there’s idealism in her eyes.
The episodic format of the show emphasizes Emma and Dex’s development despite a number of significant life events occurring off-screen. A few years following college, Dex stumbles into a position as a television presenter and turns into an annoying minor star, while Emma gives up on her ambition to become a writer and takes a work at the “second-worst Mexican restaurant in all of the UK.” It changes the way they see themselves and each other. Arrogance and despondency start to appear along with insecurity. They make new friends and lead fulfilling lives, but even though they communicate constantly, their single days seem to drag on forever.
The soundtrack and the sporadic introduction of new technology—it’s funny how contemptuous Emma is of cell phones at first—as well as Woodall and Mod’s expertly timed performances are the key ways the piece depicts the passage of time. Whether it’s the 1980s or the 2000s, Emma and Dex’s chemistry is still remarkable, but as they become older, both actors precisely alter their performances. As the plot develops, Mod softens some of Emma’s edges, but never at the expense of her wit. Conversely, Woodall becomes a more sad character as time passes.
One Day, however, oddly never mentions any historical figures. This is a wise decision since it gives the program a kind of fairytale feel, making it seem as though Emma and Dex are living in a universe far different from our own. For example, the show never shows viewers its take on the iconic Californication scene where Kurt Cobain’s death changes the dynamic between Hank and Karen. Interestingly enough, One Day’s central love tale parallels theirs quite a bit.
But to call this a will-they-won’t-they set-up would be a little too simple; One Day is a tragic romance on a par with the Titanic. Emma and Dex don’t always have equal screen time, even though they both appear in every episode and the show frequently takes them to other countries in Europe. For example, we discover more about his family history than hers. Furthermore, the later episodes have a strong tendency to favor Dex.
The series illustrates how harsh life can be with these little time capsules. Even seemingly insignificant choices can have far-reaching effects. What if Dex hadn’t even made eye contact with Emma that day? What would have happened if Emma had rejected him? How about if…? The greatest modern classics in the genre, La La Land, About Time, and Mr. Nobody, all demonstrate how much thought a romantic movie can arouse in viewers. And One Day is deserving of being discussed with them in the same breath, faults and all.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Kanika Solanki is a dedicated student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Delhi. With a passion for learning, Kanika actively seeks out opportunities to expand her skill set and explore new horizons. Previously, she served as a Content Writing Intern for Human Resources India, demonstrating her commitment to professional growth and excellence in communication.
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