One Day - series adaptation on Netflix, starts Feb 8th

[Netaporter]

Anyone fancy a watch thread? Loved the book by David Nicholls, loved the film, but it’s never really gained a strong following for some reason? The series stars Ambika Mod (This is going to hurt) as Emma and Leo Woodall (The white Lotus) as Dexter.

I didn't really bat an eyelid at Emma's ethnicity. I absolutely loved watching this. I ended up binging on it in one day. I've not read the book and vaguely recall the movie so felt like I was watching with fresh eyes. I think the idea is that an unlikely couple become friends and so at first the chemistry is shaky and then when they get together it warms up so much more.

I haven't read the book but just finished the series having binged in a day. It was a brilliant watch, such a good concept, perfectly cast. A joy to watch. It took me through a breadth of emotions: happiness, awkwardness, frustration, sadness and of course, reminds me that life is too short, if you love someone - TELL THEM!

It could have all been so different!

Binged it and loved it. However, agree they would never have got together in the first place, he was too Hooray Henry to go for Emma in the 80s and then she was so irritating that first night he'd have seen her as too much effort.
I loved the book and actually liked the film. Thought this was great but felt Emma was v difficult to read - for most of the series, even when happy she didn't look it. Ian was totally miscast. Dex was lovely but he's not a very attractive actor and I always imagined Dex to be gorgeous. And Tilly's character was lovely but too built up and too nice.

They really made Tilly bland in this adaptation. I much preferred the character in the film, and the actress (Jodie Whittaker).

Not attractive?!?!?!

Felix from Saltburn would've been better as Dex imo.

Leo Woodall is crazily hot and the camera loves him.

I had been looking forward to his immensely and told my young adult DC to look out for it. Disappointingly I found the first episode incredibly bland and dull.

I didn't relate to either of the characters - Emma is believable but Dex is so drippy and puppy-dog like, not sexy at all, and has none of the public school swagger he should. As PP have said, a Felix Catton type character from Saltburn would have worked much better.

And my DH and I both agreed that the period detail was poor; DH is an exact contemporary of Emma and Dexter and I am just a handful of years younger - we both went to a traditional university - and yet this episode didn't speak to us at all. Even the music choices seemed contrived and artificially inserted.

I only just realised he’s the guy from Whie Lotus

I think Leo Woodall is an actor to watch… his acting was incredible throughout and the final episode was amazing.

What I loved was how the characters evolved as they grew up. It was really believable to see them becoming quite different to how they were when they were younger.

It’s unusual for you to see a character change their mannerisms and way that they talk in a series stretched over decades. Firefly Lane did this quite poorly IMO (although Heigel carried that series and outshone her co-stars).

It’s much more relatable and realistic to show the character evolving - who is the same at 21 v 37? You will have changed a lot and the leads performances captured this really well.

Episode 5 is just amazing. DH and I both really love it. DH getting very emotional. He hasn't read the book, nor seent he film, so for him it is all new. DD is also really enjoying it, having read the book and seen the film, she also thinks it is fab, so appealling to all the different generations. It is exactly my era, and I haven't seen anything out of place, or out of line. I knew A LOT of Dex's in my time, and some Emma's. I disagree with others that they haven't got the era right, it is right for me and my experience.

Also spotted one of local train stations in this episode. Always interesting to spot the locations.

Leo Woodall not attractive???? !!!!!

I spent a good deal of time fanning myself.

Thanks for the recommendations

Finished it today and loved it so much.
Standout episodes for me are the hungover visit to his dying mum. Also liked the one where Emma shagged her boss then had the heart to heart with Ian in their flat. You could see at that point she was really down on her luck but instead of giving up and getting pissed she channeled that energy into writing her novel.

Loved the visit to Sylvies parents. Absolutely hilarious and quite eye opening to see how their relationship changed with marriage and a baby.

Leo was amazing as Dexter, absolutely stunning to look at and the end episodes were heartbreaking. His mannerisms actually reminded me of an old flame I had in my college and uni years who I often think of as the one who got away. Which made it even more poignant to watch.

I had the same experience watching with my DH lots of sad sighing. 🥹 I absolutely loved this and I thought the actors were tremendous. Best thing Netflix has done in ages. As other posters have said it’s been so refreshing to have a drama series that isn’t a psychological thriller.

This lap because I've read the book and watched the movie I know what happens and things

Not remotely attractive to me, reminded me of that bloke from Westlife who was married to Kerry Katona - not keen on blonde watery eyed men. That guy @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor mentioned, he would have been perfect imo.

Another one who actually shouted "oh no!" At that scene while reading the book.

Watched first four and enjoying it more than the film. The Emma in this is very good but not sure about the chemistry between them at the moment. Iain is very good, much twerpier than the version in the film and much more how I imagined him. He's so not funny and it's really well done.

Whoops, you are absolutely right. Sorry.
(similar posho vibe, as you say.)

I haven't read the book nor have I seen the film so I had no idea about "that scene". I loved the series but "that scene" (desperately trying to avoid spoilers for those still watching) felt like such a cop out I'm actually annoyed about it 😂

Still marvelling at the quality of the acting, the production design and the brilliant soundtrack.

I disagree about Dex. I was at uni at the same time and I don’t remember that exaggerated swagger from posh private school boys. Most were from the Home Counties and lived in big houses rather than huge estates. Dex’s reaction to Silvie’s family was indicative of his very middle class background. They were a whole different level. The Felix character would have been right at home.
Maybe the ones from aristocratic background but those made up a very tiny percentage. Most of the posh boys had been educated in single sex schools and were rather shy around women but oozed confidence in a mixed group.
I remember a student from Eton in halls being rather out of his depth. A perfect gentleman but the arrogance was born of shyness rather than entitlement.
As a Yorkshire woman I could relate to Emma’s bluntness. It often got me in to trouble. Northerners say the first thing that comes into their head, I have found that when people pause before commenting they are not always completely honest in their answer.
I do remember the formal dinners, balls and black tie events. I remember that feeling of it being the end of an era. Having said that I was at Uni for 5 years and shared a house with the same people for four of those years. We still get together annually for a weekend of fun including black tie dinner.

Yes absolutely agree. Felix from Saltburn is upper class, like Sylvie’s parents. Whereas Dex is very much upper middle which is why he felt so Less Than with them.

So Felix as a character would have been all wrong.

So Felix as a character would have been all wrong

Of course as the character Felix would've been wrong, I said the actor would've been better as Dex imo.

I thought the music choices throughout were great. I watched with subtitles on and the lyrics often fitted exactly with what was going on. I was at Uni just after the characters and I definitely recognise both the characters and the music.
There were a lot good-looking, slightly arrogant floppy haired blokes like Dexter around. They weren't super posh but were upper middle class like him.

And you’re basing that purely on looks then?