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

669 replies

Netaporter · 07/02/2024 03:33

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.

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15
grafittiartist · 16/02/2024 07:42

Loved it! Couldn't stop watching!

TiaSeeya · 16/02/2024 07:46

I’ve read the book, but it wasn’t a big favourite especially and I only just remembered it (the end).

I think the chemistry thing being conflated with being Hollywoodesque and immediate isn’t right. There’s a spectrum! I’ve seen plenty of dramas etc where attraction builds over time and there are still moments of electrical charge, it doesn’t have to happen at the start and it doesn’t have to be overdone in a Hollywood way. What I honestly saw in the Netflix series was Ambika looking either depressed or very slightly doe eyed, and Leo flailing around when his life was failing. Even the scene in Paris, which should have been a breathtaking heart thumping wow, felt like a damp squib.

IwishIcouldfinishabook · 16/02/2024 08:11

TiaSeeya · 16/02/2024 07:46

I’ve read the book, but it wasn’t a big favourite especially and I only just remembered it (the end).

I think the chemistry thing being conflated with being Hollywoodesque and immediate isn’t right. There’s a spectrum! I’ve seen plenty of dramas etc where attraction builds over time and there are still moments of electrical charge, it doesn’t have to happen at the start and it doesn’t have to be overdone in a Hollywood way. What I honestly saw in the Netflix series was Ambika looking either depressed or very slightly doe eyed, and Leo flailing around when his life was failing. Even the scene in Paris, which should have been a breathtaking heart thumping wow, felt like a damp squib.

See, I saw it completely differently. I do think most of that is Leo's acting- he's outstanding . I thought there were periods where you saw that electricity when they were in Greece and he was rubbing suncream into her back, the wedding scene in the maze, when Emma left him in the flat and went off with the French guy. I think the sex scene actually broke the spell for me.

TiaSeeya · 16/02/2024 08:39

Greece didn’t work for me. I found the look when suncreaming cringe and obvious. All of Greece felt like a missed opportunity, adaptation-wise. It didn’t capture the feeling of being abroad at that time, of Greece, at all.

The most believable scene with them both in was the Quaglino’s one, that was brilliantly done. Apart from the camera not following him into the loos, which was frustrating.

For me, the best scenes overall weren’t ones with Emma in. The scenes with Sylvie’s parents, Moriarty game; the scenes with Dex’s parents; the last episode - for me, they were the best.

AskingQuestionsAgain · 16/02/2024 11:32

Superlambaanana · 16/02/2024 06:25

I wonder if the divide here is between:

  • People who've read the book and seen the film - mostly not liking the series casting
  • People who were new to the story - mostly loving the series casting.
  • People who felt no chemistry missing the point that it wasn't meant to be movie style steamy.

I was new to the story and loved the series actors, but I had no mental image to compare them to. Honestly they were mesmerising in my opinion.

The fact that it's an unlikely pairing is the point! Dexter is supposed to be more sexually confident while Emma is more intellectually confident, so the 'chemistry' is meant to be a bit awkward and non-Hollywoodesque. It's more about curious magnetism and that's why it's more enduring than run of the mill limerance.

I don't fall into those camps, I read the book years and years ago and barely remember it and don't have images in my head of who the characters are supposed to be. I felt there was no chemistry (initially) but know the story so know it's not supposed to be steamy.

I know that the unlikely pairing is the point but in my opinion they pushed this too far, so far that you couldn't see any reason for them to be friends, any points of connection at all (in the earlier episodes). All we saw was her putting him down or being sarcastic or pulling funny faces at things he said. There were a lot of shots of her making a disbelieving or disapproving face after he'd said something, the kind of look you'd give about an annoying colleague, not someone you're fond of.

The chemistry between them developed later in the series, but to make the series overall believable they needed to weave in some points of connection in the earlier episodes, something to show why they were close friends and staying in touch with each other. The friendship just didn't make sense in the earlier episodes, I didn't believe in it. Later in the series the chemistry was lovely, so that proved it wasn't the combination of actors, more the writing, direction and acting in the earlier episodes. They overdid the 'they're so different' element, so it pushed it into not being a believable friendship.

Amaouttahere · 16/02/2024 11:59

Pretty sure the coldness of Emma was down to direction and writing, because you saw in later episodes that she was much happier and could be warm.
I was listening to them both being interviewed on a podcast and interestingly they said they shot a lot for the Primrose Hill scenes in episode 3, double the amount of material which had to be edited down. So maybe that editing has excluded much of that friendship banter.

IwishIcouldfinishabook · 16/02/2024 12:06

TiaSeeya · 16/02/2024 08:39

Greece didn’t work for me. I found the look when suncreaming cringe and obvious. All of Greece felt like a missed opportunity, adaptation-wise. It didn’t capture the feeling of being abroad at that time, of Greece, at all.

The most believable scene with them both in was the Quaglino’s one, that was brilliantly done. Apart from the camera not following him into the loos, which was frustrating.

For me, the best scenes overall weren’t ones with Emma in. The scenes with Sylvie’s parents, Moriarty game; the scenes with Dex’s parents; the last episode - for me, they were the best.

Just goes to show how hard it is to appeal to different people. I hated that Moriarty scene. I thought Sylvia's parents were almost panto villain awful, and the brothers were dreadful.As I said, I can't remember the book, apart from the end, so maybe they were meant to be horrific!

Superlambaanana · 16/02/2024 12:23

@AskingQuestionsAgain I do see your point. And there are feminist theme issues which are probably worth exploring.

He didn't push for sex, but most men would have then (perhaps many still would) and have felt legitimately (in the age) annoyed at not getting it.

Had it been the other way around - she wanted sex, he wanted to talk, it would have been less believable of course because we like things to stick to norms.

She wasn't gushy over him and we find that hard to believe. How dare she not laugh at his jokes and screw up her face at him saying stupid things?!

Can men and women ever really be friends because the sex - or lack of it - makes the friendship fake, false or dysfunctional.

It certainly got me thinking about these things. But I batted most of them away because I found the story and filming quite beautiful.

StarTwirl · 16/02/2024 12:41

It could have been bloody brilliant but it's just not because bloody Emma is completely shit in it

She has no spark or charisma and ruins the whole marvellous point of the book / series

TiaSeeya · 16/02/2024 13:15

IwishIcouldfinishabook · 16/02/2024 12:06

Just goes to show how hard it is to appeal to different people. I hated that Moriarty scene. I thought Sylvia's parents were almost panto villain awful, and the brothers were dreadful.As I said, I can't remember the book, apart from the end, so maybe they were meant to be horrific!

Show quote history

Yes - all the scenes I picked as favourites are awful in their own way, but the adaptation and acting in them is excellent. IMO.

RosieAway · 16/02/2024 13:20

Adored it. Both leads were fabulous, I thought their chemistry was palpable. Completely in love with Leo Woodall as a result and feeling deeply nostalgic about all my old haunts - Paris, Belsize Park, Hampstead etc and an ex who looks a little similar to LW whom I had an on/off thing with but could never get our timing right. Bawled my eyes out and can’t stop thinking about it! Currently listening to the soundtrack on Spotify.

itsmyp4rty · 16/02/2024 13:24

I'm loving it but still have a few episodes left so haven't read the replies just in case. Desperate now to read the book.

Metallicant · 16/02/2024 13:25

I don’t fall into any of the three camps either.

Haven’t seen the film.
read the book, but thought it was fine and nothing more
think the Netflix series is fine but nothing more

I seem to be a lone voice thinking Emma was better acted than Dexter.

SmokedPaprikaPuffs · 16/02/2024 21:21

I've read the book, seen the film and just finished the series. I have to say the series is the only one out of all 3 that has physically made me cry, and I knew what was coming.

Bearpawk · 16/02/2024 22:14

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor I'm watching Jack and Alice !
I can't understand why it's got such bad reviews -yes it's a bit unbelievable but I'm finding Andrea Risebrough absolutely mesmerising as usual.

Tenegrief · 16/02/2024 22:47

Just finished. I read the book years ago (quite liked it, but perhaps not as much as I was expecting to based on the effusive recommendations I was getting at the time). Saw the film too and thought it missed a trick in places. I liked this adaptation a lot - the actors were great across the board, although it was a bit painfully slow in places. I was really taken aback by how much the last episode got to me... I was absolutely sobbing (this is fairly unusual for me 😅). I really think they nailed that one... I genuinely felt empathetically in pain while watching it.

teatimefortiger · 16/02/2024 23:54

I've just finished the last episode and I loved it! I thought the cast were great, I liked the short episodes, it felt to me like no episode was a drag and going on to long, and it was an all round easy watch with a great story.

Delatron · 17/02/2024 00:49

I think so much was said when nothing was being said - if you know what I mean. But I am a hopeless romantic.

The times that they were just lying there in comfortable silence together..

cocavino · 17/02/2024 04:01

I'm on episode 5 now and I can't believe how not posh Leo Woodall seems.

The sets and costumes aren't that 80s/90s
Looking forward to picking this up later

Premiumdarkmode · 17/02/2024 07:09

Just finished it.

i started off wondering why he would be attracted to her because she was so snarky and condescending and ended wondering why she would be with him because he was such a needy dick.

I did have a turnaround though about 4 episodes from the end though and it did make me cry although not sure why she needed be killed off. That’s quite a 90s ending though I suppose.

loved the soundtrack and the scene in the club (pre going to him mums) really took me back to 90s London.

overall did enjoy it and think Leo Woodall is amazing. I did like her too but I hate to say it but I don’t think they’re in the same league (acting wise) and it showed.

Premiumdarkmode · 17/02/2024 07:10

Going to watch Normal People now as not watched that and loved the book.

periodiclabel · 17/02/2024 09:09

Love the comments questioning if the ending was necessary. Yes, it’s sort of rules because it is the end of the book!

TiaSeeya · 17/02/2024 09:18

periodiclabel · 17/02/2024 09:09

Love the comments questioning if the ending was necessary. Yes, it’s sort of rules because it is the end of the book!

Yes! Lol also I don’t get how it’s a bit of a 90s end?

is it that everything these days has to be sunshine n roses?

HaverStockHere · 17/02/2024 09:39

Premiumdarkmode · 17/02/2024 07:10

Going to watch Normal People now as not watched that and loved the book.

I thought Normal People perfectly encapsulated the sort of claustrophobic emotional feeling of the book

Something sadly One Day tries me fails at sadly

HaverStockHere · 17/02/2024 09:44

I think to carry off the role of Emma you need to be naturally charming and charismatic and have a wry grin whilst being self deprecating and blunt

That's how I saw Emma in the book anyway as being gorgeous without realising it with a wry sexy grin whilst saying what she did which the only reason why a boy like Dexter would fall for her