How rare is it to find full-fledged romantic shows these days? My memory fails me to remember any such series from the past few months.
But to our respite, a new British creation called One Day has premiered on Netflix. It is based on David Nicholls’ novel of the same name.
There are fourteen episodes (yes, you read that right) with a combined runtime of over six hours.
Is the nostalgic, bittersweet, and intimate show worth your time? Find out in my review.
One Day Synopsis
Boy and girl meet, but unlike the cliché, they don’t fall in love but friendship (almost). Set in the era when distant communication used to be a task, One Day is roughly two decades packed into fourteen episodes.
The show is created by Nicole Taylor. Molly Manners, Kate Hewitt, John Hardwick, and Luke Snellin direct it with Leo Woodall (Dexter) and Ambika Mod (Emma) in starring roles.
Also part of the show are Essie Davis (Alison), Tim McInnerny (Stephen), Amber Grappy (Tilly), Jonny Weldon (Ian), Eleanor Tomlinson, and Brendan Quinn, among others.
What Works for One Day?
It is a classic case of sitting down to watch a series and wanting to stay that way forever; a serene, sober, yet nostalgically wild experience.
One Day follows two young people who meet randomly (as we all do) on the last day of graduation. They spend the night together and become good friends.
They part ways (as we all do) and somehow, manage to meet once a day each year.
The series is a very sweet rendering of friendship, life, and whatever that’s in between. Obviously, it benefits from widely acclaimed source material.
Still, I have seen shows mishandling literary works a lot of times. One Day doesn’t do that. It keeps things in perspective, exactly how you’d want them to be.
The beautiful cinematography complements an authentically lively journey of two individuals, covering the yearly evolution of humanity.
From landline phones and transport to computers, laptops, and other equipment, nostalgia remains a permanent part of One Day.
And those are just the minor things. The bonhomie two best friends share, their style of expression, and the hidden valves of companionship they keep desiring.
I think all of us, at some point or the other, have experienced the elemental and deep impact of such feelings, which is why One Day succeeds in creating a sensational distortion inside your heart.
The pain of having someone and never having them truly makes you want to tear up.
Moreover, the story has a deep restraining attitude, thanks to the writing, which works as a lever to keep even the slightest traces of pompousness away.
One Day’s screenplay rests on authenticity, just pure natural instincts. It is one of those rare shows that seem bad if watched at any speed more than 1x.
The genuine speed of play, of love, of romance, of friendship is outstanding.
Furthermore, the music keeps you involved in a nice blend of friendship and romance. Out of the dozen songs that play out, my personal favorite was Sonnet by The Verve.
The British show’s extremely brilliant grasp on emotions, innocence, and conversations will be remembered for a long time, at least by me.
How are the Performances?
Leo Woodall portrays Dexter and provides him with the right amount of freedom. He lives on the screen with style and substance.
His facial tendency to show fragility during emotional scenes has integrity to it. Leo is casual when needed, serious within the next moment, and his act also comes with stupendous improvisations.
The way he manages the screen with a mix of mesmerizing charm and subtle unrestrained mystique wins over the audience.
Ambika Mod dazzles as Emma. She is sweet with a perfectly introverted demeanor. Her laid-back, natural acting is smooth and satiable.
There is this thing she does with her eyes that not many actors can do but is a part of feminine existence in real life.
This intrinsic ability of Ambika to maintain the legitimacy of the world outside of fiction is a major attraction in One Day.
Essie Davis and Tim McInnerny are two sweethearts. They don’t have a continuing presence in the narrative but whatever time they get, the duo leaves a massive impact.
It is strange how in a 14-episode-long show, you remember certain characters for their vastness and not their quota of screen time.
Another actor who stands out is Jonny Weldon. He plays Ian in One Day in the uncanniest manner. His expressions are sharp and dialogue delivery is positively crazy.
In other words, Weldon adds a unique flavor to the series.
What Doesn’t Work for One Day?
It isn’t my habit to specifically search for flaws. But I think the series slips a bit towards the end when it should have naturally risen further although it does recover within time.
The rest of the aspects are superbly laid out in a show that reminds us of what cinema actually feels like.
Stream or Skip?
It’s a must-watch, guys. Don’t think twice before going for it.