One page for ‘One Day’

By Lily Stern

Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod in still from “One Day.” Photo taken from @netflixuk

Warning: Spoilers ahead for “One Day,” which came out in early February and has made enough rounds on social media that I can’t be held accountable for divulging plot points anymore.

I remain a firm believer in television shows being the best form of media for book adaptations, and Netflix’s new take on David Nicholls’ 2009 novel “One Day” proves my point to a tee. The show spends 14 episodes following two young adults who meet on the night of their college graduation on the same day (July 15) every single year, and makes my heart ache or sing (or both) the entire time.

Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew have almost nothing in common besides their initial attraction to one another, but they immediately subvert the expectation that they’ll have a quick hookup and move on with their lives by spending the night talking about their future instead (brought to you by Emma’s beautifully awkward self who keeps derailing anything romantic instead of going along with it; I love her so dearly). They spend the next morning together, promising to stay in contact at the end of the episode with the promise of more — it’s just enough to keep you guessing what their relationship will be, and WHEN.

It’s absolutely a love story, but it’s not just about the two of them circling around each other soundtracked by 1990s indie hits. It’s more of their individual stories and how they grow in and out of themselves together, which I mused while watching the fifth episode. Their lives keep moving regardless, but part of the beauty in this show is both characters realizing how much they want the other at their side. Even when they’re seeing or marrying other people, flitting between jobs, or suffering tragedies, the most important person in their life is each other.

That’s why I can’t even be upset that we only get an episode and a half of them being a real couple. It wouldn’t have felt right or necessary until they did a substantial amount of growing and smoothed out their rough edges, especially Dex with all his obvious turmoil on the surface, but also Em in her inner sense of self. You can’t help but root for them to find their way back to each other, even if you don’t know how long it will last — especially if you don’t know the tragic ending going in.

Another thing this show does perfectly is create multi-dimensional, realistic, downright-unlikeable-at-times protagonists. Dexter has a horribly addictive personality, and gets caught up in his ego and fame to escape dealing with his issues and insecurities; Emma can be pretentious and judgmental and sits on her high horse to avoid confronting her fears of her future. They’re not very kind for half the series, but they’re ultimately each other’s biggest supporters, literally forcing each other to be better people many times. It’s irresistibly binge-watchable once you get past the third-or-so episode, and I was irrevocably in love by the finale.

Leo Woodall deserves to be a leading man in infinitely more romcoms. I can’t believe he’s only a recent breakout with the charisma he naturally exudes on screen; he has the gaze of a real yearner that you can’t unlock with any amount of practice ,and it’s absolutely perfect. Ambika Mod is also so compelling and gives a hugely grounded performance; she’s my favorite part of many episodes. Emma feels absolutely real, and all of the praise she’s gotten is even more deserved when you consider it’s her first leading role.

Their chemistry has to be one of the best I’ve seen on television in recent years, because you can’t help but root for them even when their characters make it difficult to understand whether a relationship would be the best thing for them. You have to devote a day to finishing the entire series in one go, and then you’ll understand. I regret that it took me so long to sit down and do just that, and that it took longer still to formulate some thoughts. I’ll leave with you some anecdotes directly from my Notes app:

Finally seeing them together again in e7 is crazy
Leo Woodall is seducing me through the screen
Really good spine in e10 *Edit: Not sure what this means. What is spine?*
WATERLOO SUNSET NEEDLE DROP!
Ambika Mod’s face communicates so much. Best expressions ever.
“WE GREW UP TOGETHER” bawling my eyes out actually
I knew the ending because of Twitter but I still teared up when that car hit her and had to rewind three times to process.