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.

Agree on all of this. I utterly loved this series.

I loved it and can’t understand how people thought it was boring! I didn’t see Emma as dour- she was a bit chippy (but then she is from Leeds). It’s all about the contrast - Dex is used to vacuous, gorgeous dull women who sleep with him immediately. Emma is intelligent and challenging (also beautiful in a different way).

Thought Amika’s accent was good (and I’m from Leeds!!). She grew on me and by the end I thought she was perfect for the role. I do agree that it was strange we didn’t get to know her family. I can’t inhale the actress who played Tilly being Emma - though she was perfect as Tilly. And

This felt more about Dex’s story. Needless to say Leo was amazing in this and one to watch. I had far more sympathy for him in the series than I did in the book.

I can’t imagine not inhale!

I posted up thread about how Leo's looks and mannerisms reminded me of an old flame I had at uni. And yes I have been sneakily stalking him since watching.

You've nailed it when you said there was something about that period in our lives when everything seemed possible and exciting. It wasn't always an easy time. Uncertainty and fear about the future, too much alcohol and a lot of relationships and friendships that didn't stand the test of time. But I'll always look back on that time and the people I shared it with fondly. So it was nice to be transported back there with this story.

Ambika reminds me a lot of Tamsin Greig who quite often has that ‘distinctly unimpressed’ look on her face.
Emma definitely mellowed and her face relaxed over the ‘years’ of the series. So at the end she was funny and sardonic but warm and loving.

Dex was lovely and I would have definitely liked him as a pal I also fancied back in the day. And I didn’t feel like that in the book or the film.

I watched it and thought it was superb. Both actors were amazing with so much chemistry and glad they cast them. Bawled my eyes at the end. Article below sums it up well, it's been a major hit for netflix and can see why. Might even be the first TV series I watch again. Already have the soundtrack on amazon music.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/14/how-we-fell-head-over-heels-for-tv-romcoms-one-day-starstruck

I disagree that people were bed hopping all the time, and that Dex would not have stuck with Emma. I went to university at that time at a similar place to Edinburgh and there was a lot more talk about sex than actually doing it. In general there wasn't that much promiscuity, more serial monogamy. There wasn't the hook up culture that there is now. I think Emma's desire to 'talk' was partly what intrigued Dex, she actually wanted to get to know him not just have sex with him, most of Dex's type had been to single sex schools and it would have been a novelty to not be pursued. My dh went to a co ed school and I will be honest; the fact that he saw me (the product of single sex schools) as person to get to know and not just a 'girl' was a novelty and very attractive.

I also think that in that era there were still only 15% going to university, just getting there felt like an achievement and a door into a whole new world, it felt like an adventure. Obviously there were still big groups who stuck together but there was a lot of fraying around the edges and as has been said before, Dex was not upper class more comfortable upper middle, his Dad was 'in business'. I know plenty of Emmas married to Dex's in class terms and vice versa. As someone with children at similar universities today I would say it is much more moncultural now than it ever was in our day, universities are larger and its much easier to stick with who you know than in the eighties were you sort of got thrown together more. In that sense it was more of a melting pot, there was no social media or mobiles, you were completely cut off from home and most people never went home to live again.It really did feel like a whole new life.

And whether you liked the series or not I would seriously recommend the book, even this series seems shallow in comparison, theres so much more in the book, the characters are so much more rounded .

Does anyone know what time/channel the film is on tonight? I want to compare (have seen the film, but forgotten lots of it)

Film4 at 18:40!

I'm watching it now, Tracy Chapman instead of Joan Armatrading, a PP was right! 😂

I'm enjoying it so far, at least they have a spark between them.

Just started watching..gosh, so different in the restaurant scene, is it the acting, the those you can’t, teach, line was delivered in a much more hurtful way by Leo W, I think he’s a fantastic actor. The acting is much better in the Netflix episodes

A million percent agree.

Watching the film. It's not a patch on the Netflix Series in my opinion.

But maybe because it feels dated somehow.
The acting is so much better in the series esp the Dexter character.
And I preferred the interpretation from the book too.

Film was fine but much preferred the series. I think there was just so much more time to develop the characters.
Hoping to watch all again with my daughter if she’ll let me. 😂

I agree. Watching the film after the TV series, I didn't really like the film as much. Anne Harhaways accent is ropey!

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor they tried to get fast car for the series but it's V difficult to license.
I did love that Joan Armstrong track around then though. It was definitely having a bit of a resurgence in the late 90s all the way through to the early 00s.

Just starting the series, I loved the film never understood why it didn't gain a following.

I love Jim Sturgess's Dex, just nailed the character, and Rafe Spall and it's genuine chemistry between the leads so I'll probably struggle with a fresh cast!

Also it genuinely evoked 90s era so I hope the new series does that - first ep seemed a bit anachronistic in the the dialogue, people didn't talk like we do in the 2020s in the 80s.

Interesting, that makes sense about license!

Loved the series. Binged watched and felt a bit lost afterwards. I watched the film and found it disappointing. I have bought the book to read. Loved a lady of south Asian origin being cast in the main role. Totally forgot Leo was in the White Lotus.

Listening to the soundtrack on Spotify- it’s ace!

Feeling a bit emotional and nostalgic… back to the 90s when I was bright eyed and bushy tailed! So many memories

Lilac Wine 💜

I posted on this thread earlier about the lack of chemistry between Dex and Em, I was at episode 4 then. I wasn't going to watch the rest but did, and am now glad I persisted.

The chemistry between them is much better towards the end of the series, as is the writing.

It won me over in the end, but as I nearly stopped watching I can't say they did a good job throughout the whole series. When I posted previously I thought the casting was off, but now I've seen that chemistry between them in the later episodes I now think it must be the writing, acting or direction (or a combination of those) that was off in the earlier parts of the series.

It's a shame they didn't show more evidence of the chemistry from the start. They pushed the characters too far apart, Dex too much of a playboy and Em too judgemental and snipey - I know they do this to show the character arc and changes, but at the start it was impossible to see why they were attracted to each other and were persisting with what looked like a lame, unsuitable friendship.

But yes, pretty good in the last few episodes and plenty of nostalgia.

Episode 4 here.

I think Leo as Dexter is excellent (and dreamy!). Love the cinematography and music.

But I don't get why they're friends.

Re the film- they did that Hollywood thing of taking a conventionally attractive woman, who would probably have been exactly Dexters type and giving her glasses and curly hair, as a signifier for unattractive or unconventional looks. As a woman with curly hair and glasses, it's annoying! I know Ambika also had curly hair and glasses at the start but I think she has also got a face that it attractive in an unconventional way, even after the glasses were taken off. I think her race and accent adds to the feeling that they are from such different backgrounds that their attraction and friendship is unlikely.