‘One Day’ rave reviews could mean one big night at the Emmys
The 2011 film adaptation of David Nichols‘ novel “One Day” starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess was met with decidedly average notices at best. However, Netflix’s new adaptation has corrected that misstep and the limited series has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and acclaim from all corners.
This new editions showcases “This is Going to Hurt” breakout star Ambika Mod in the Hathaway role (Emma) while “The White Lotus'” Leo Woodall takes up the Sturgess mantle (Dexter). Emma and Dexter meet by chance on the night of graduating from university and the next day they part ways. However, their relationship then charts years as their fates are tied together. Both stars excel here and their chemistry propels the series to soaring heights while creator and writer Nicole Taylor, who wrote the 2018 Jessie Buckley movie “Wild Rose,” masterfully presides over proceedings, hence the rave reviews.
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Aramide Tinubu (Variety) called it a “beautiful and heartbreaking examination of 20 years of friendship.” She wrote: “‘One Day’ is an homage to friendship, and to those who add meaning to our lives. Though there are moments of romance, the show is no fairy tale. Instead, it presents the experience of being alive for precisely what it is, with all the magic and anxiety that come with it.”
Richard Lawson (Vanity Fair) explained: “Creator Nicole Taylor near-immediately establishes an enveloping mood of gently swooning romance, flecked with melancholy. We keenly feel the gears of time turning as recent University of Edinburgh graduates Dexter (Leo Woodall) and Emma (Ambika Mod) meet, flirt, hook up, and embark on what will prove to be a years-long relationship, both platonic and not. The show is courting us, just as Dexter is Emma, and it proves impossible to resist.”
Proma Khosla (Indie Wire) stated: “And through 14 episodes and 20 years and all those shades of something, ‘One Day’ as a limited series leaves a much stronger impression than it ever could have as a film, minting Mod and Woodall’s chemistry, charm, and adaptability. Though key moments in the narrative may stick with new viewers, even those well-versed in the tale will agree the central relationship has never been more powerful or memorable.”
Mary Kate Carr (AV Club) felt that “One Day” fits into a recent trend of online viewers wanting more swooning romance, writing: “Online, fans have been clamoring for romance, as evidenced by the BookTok phenomenon and the recent success of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s ‘Anyone But You.’ Now, ‘One Day’ is here to answer the call. The rom-com has slowly been clawing its way back in fits and starts, but if this show is anything to judge the genre by, the next generation is kickstarting a robust revival.”
And Beth Webb (Empire) summarized: “‘One Day’ has found gold in its leading duo, whose chemistry feels timeless and totally captivating. An outstanding showcase of talent.”
All this to say, “One Day” merits an astonishing 91% on Rotten Tomatoes at this time of writing. That is a score that is up there with the 2023 Emmy nominees (well, 2024, as the ceremony was delayed) in Best TV Movie or Limited Series, the category in which the program will be competing. “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (57%), “Daisy Jones and the Six” (69%), “Fleishman is in Trouble” (87%), and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (82%) all received lower scores with only winner “Beef” (98%) earning a higher Rotten Tomatoes grade. That is a strong suggestion that “One Day” has the chops to compete with the big boys this year.
“One Day” will undoubtedly do well at the TV BAFTAs. Mod’s previous project, the similarly comic-tragedy “This is Going to Hurt,” won four TV BAFTAs while Taylor won in 2018 for Best Mini-Series for “Three Girls” (shared with Philippa Lowthorpe, Simon Lewis, and Susan Hogg). The overwhelmingly positive reception to “One Day” combined with Woodall’s growing US presence thanks to his stint in “The White Lotus” could very well see the show’s creators and Netflix’s decision-makers give this special series a deserved Emmys campaign.
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