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.

To me Sylvie and Dex look very ill matched. She seems much older abd bigger than him, only 4 years in RL I think.

Yes

Completely agree re the difference between middle class and upper middle class. The Moriarty scene was perfect.

I think the most successful aspect of this mini-series is its depiction of English social classes. Emma, Ian, Tilly, Dexter, Sylvie, they were all perfectly pitched. Scrabbling for money in your 20s and working in a restaurant; European tour after graduation; looking down at/loving the career in media; how Dexter's parents spoke to him; the absolutely 100% perfect way Dexter responded to Ian saying he'd come up from Taunton in the last episode and how Ian responded to Dexter's response. They were all utterly credible, still current and real.

It's difficult to describe to a foreigner how someone like Dexter can have a friend like Emma and a wife like Sylvie, but how Emma would never have a friend like Sylvie. Sylvie has nothing to redeem her to Emma, and frankly Dexter only has a little more - but he has enough in common with Emma/ lacks the class gap for other stuff (humour, self-deprecation, shared interests within financial grasp etc) to be enough.

This was my era , graduated one year ahead, knew lots of Dexters and lots of Emma’s, when I first read the book it was almost as if he was writing about people I knew, I think they really nailed the late eighties and nineties. I loved the book ( was actually reading in a public place and let out a yell of shock) . I also think David Nichols absolutely nailed the class nuances of the time. Tilly’s wedding was the absolute image of so many post uni weddings, the random mixture of people.

Loved Tim McInery as Dexter’s dad , this Emma was a bit more awkward than the Emma in the book for me , but that’s just how I imagined it . Ian was even more cringey but I agree about the scene at the end with Dexter .

I hated hated hated the film and nearly didn’t watch this but I think they’ve done a pretty good job and admit I sobbed through the last episode 😳

Binged this as I loved the book. This is exactly the time I was also at university so my coming of age era really. Soundtrack could have been a lot better but it hit the mark here and there. Clothing/hair all seemed a bit off to me.

Leo Woodall was completely superb - what a talent. And I loved Tim McInnerney as his father - another terrific actor. Whilst I thought that Ambika Mod was ok, I could not warm to her portrayal of lovely Emma and did not believe in their relationship at all. I think she is probably a very good actor but was miscast in this.

That said, I did love it and it made me quite nostalgic at times and a bit teary at the end.

Also agree that the class issue was very well presented here - so difficult to do well.

I loved the book and still recall the moment and where I was at the time - reading it, when she was on her bike and…….well, you know if you’ve read it.

I was aghast!!

The film was dire, totally rubbish.

I really want to watch the series but am reluctant to.

Watch it maddie but just know that Emma is all wrong.

Just finished binging the series. I loved the book and absolutely hated the film. I loved this series, they were both perfect. Frustrating and imperfect people.
Off to read the book again

This is my 3rd post on this topic.I wasn't sure to begin with but I finished it today and omg I bawled my eyes out, even though I knew the ending. He was phenomenal and I totally totally loved her. It was so beautifully filmed. Casting was fab. The soundtrack is so good. Well done all involved. A sensitive, beautiful piece of work.

I'm half way through and it's mostly very enjoyable, but I'm cringing in the scenes when it's just Dexter and Emma.

Just finished it and although knew what was going to happen, bawled my eyes out. I thought Leo Woodall so excellent, I just can’t get out of my head that it was the wrong match and Emma could’ve been played better/in a different way..something, I don’t know, which is a real shame

Emma has all the charisma of a piece of broccoli, as played in this version.

I'm halfway through episode four and just don't see any chemistry between them AT ALL!

They did better in ep one when they were flirting/kissing etc, but once that ep was over the chemistry died completely. Emma comes across as grouchy, harsh and a bit mean to him. I can't see why he'd want her as a friend, let alone a lover!

An attractive player like him wouldn't be interested in her looks either. I can't see what's holding his interest in her. She puts him down all the time and her comments to him imply she thinks he's a bit shallow, so why is she interested in him?

I'm not sure if I'll watch the rest, it's cringeworthy and I can't believe in the pairing so it's hard to care. Bad casting.

The pairing is so wrong, such a shame, it just feels awkward and not right, they made her character too serious and dull, in comparison, he’s dreamy and laid back, he’s a fantastic actor

I thought Emma did have a great, dry sense of humour which showed more after the first couple of episodes. I thought she was brilliant in the episode where she shags Mr Godalming and rows with Ian, and the Sledgehammer theatre group episode with that awful director. Nevertheless I found it hard to believe someone like Dexter would have a long term friendship with her as she was so chippy with him in the first episode. If she had made him laugh when they met I could understand it more.

I have to say I agree with pp who said she isn't traditionally attractive but does have a sort of unusual beauty that gradually becomes more obvious as the series goes on. And Dexter is drawn to her regardless of her looks, it's her personality he likes.

Is he attracted to her because she criticises his shallowness in the same way his mother does?

No, it’s not her personality that (implausibly) draws him in.

@westisbest1982 What is it then?

What is it then?

Her looks (first episode when he sees her partying).

They clearly enjoy each other’s company and are sexually attracted to each other, like any romantic couple. They are excited to see / hear from other throughout. I think their relationship is very believable.

Yes, they challenge each other about their decisions/ direction in life and they seem to welcome it. Their attraction to each other becomes clearer as the series goes on.

Loved this so much

didn’t see Emma’s attractiveness in the first few episode but actually as the episodes go on (possibly the one where she directs the school play and definitely the wedding onwards) I actually thought she was really stroking looking- could totally see it.

yes unconventional - but that’s what she is meant to be

loved it though -the soundtrack, made me nostalgic, the production- beautiful

and to the pp up top who said Leo isn’t attractive - quite honestly I think he is one of the most attractive guys I have ever seen - and I don’t even like blonde men usually

I think I will watch it again soon

*striking looking

Personally I didn’t think she was really Emma in the first few episodes (based on the book)

but after a few episodes she was definitely Emma for me and I can’t imagine a different Emma now