From the second I saw the promo teaser for One Day, I knew I was going to love this series.
One Day follows Emma and Dexter, two people who meet on graduation night and are left inexplicably connected. The pair meet on July 15th, and each subsequent episode takes place on July 15th of the following year.
I thought this was a brilliant way to tell Emma and Dexter’s story – although there were moments when I definitely wanted to know exactly what had happened and how it happened between one year and the next, I thought this was a great way to show the passage of time and demonstrate the ebbs and flows in Emma and Dexter’s relationship.
From what I’d heard of the show, I knew this was going to be a story that was going to stick with me and I was so nervous to dive into it. The icing on the cake before I started the series was when a writer that I really look up to posted this tweet:
There are very few things that Carina Mackenzie posts that I disagree with, so this simultaneously terrified me and was also the final push I needed to start the show.
The casting for Emma and Dex was absolutely perfect. You could FEEL the chemistry on the screen, and if there’s one thing you should know about me it’s that I’m a hopeless romantic. I love love. I love romance. Give me any love story and I’m going to devour it.
Now I’ll be honest: this wasn’t the love story I was expecting, but it was a love story that felt real. Emma and Dexter have an undeniable connection throughout the series and there were so many times I found myself balling my hands into fists and silently begging the characters to just grow up, be honest with each other, and GET TOGETHER.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but their story really did end up being on of the most satisfyingly heartbreaking romances I’ve watched unfold. Their story shows you the importance of time and how crucial it is to appreciate the time and the people we have with us. It shows you how special it is to love. It helps you see how beautiful human connection is and growing with, not away from, people.
And now, because this story is all I’m capable of thinking about anymore(!!!!), it’s time to read the book!
If you’re on the fence about watching this series, take the leap (but have your tissues ready!). You won’t regret it.
Check out the trailer below. And if you have anything you want to add about the series, drop a comment!
A couple spoiler-y notes!
If you haven’t finished the series, I’d suggest not continuing!
- WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE END OF THE SERIES
- Can I just say how proud I am of Dexter?
- Throughout the entire series, he and Emma were incredibly dynamic characters, even despite his fair share of hot mess moments on the show. From his use of drugs and alcohol, to how he treated Emma, to dealing with his mom’s death, to handling a divorce and being a father, and finally, dealing Emma’s death –Dexter grew SO. MUCH.
- As a viewer, there was obvious heartbreak in Emma’s death, but seeing the way Dex dealt with it – from hysteric sobs at his parent’s house (this absolutely broke my heart), to drinking too much, to spending the anniversary of Emma’s death with his friends and family, and finally, to revisiting the places he visited with Emma… My heart broke and mended itself a million times over. I was crying sad tears mixed with a feeling of such empowerment for Dex, mixed again with sadness.
- The ending of this series was done so incredibly well – you felt every single emotion Dexter did – and the only way I think it could’ve been done better (which would have unfortunately completely negated the meaning of the series) would have been if Emma had grown old with Dex and their future children.
- Can I just say how proud I am of Dexter?
- I can’t take credit for this one, I watched a TikTok about this, but the symbolism of the rain hit me so hard
- July 15th is St. Swithin’s Day and they say various times throughout the series that if it rains on July 15th, then it’s going to rain for the rest of the summer. I didn’t really think too much of this, and when I watched the series, what happened went completely over my head.
- Until the 13th episode of the series (aka, many, many July 15ths after their initial meeting) it’s never rained. The first, and only time, it rains is when Emma gets in her accident. Although Emma and Dexter have their fair share of ups and downs from one July 15th to the next, the worst thing that happens to the two of them happens on the one July 15th when it rained. I think this is so meaningful.
- And, not a spoiler, but the filming locations and settings on this series were BEAUTIFUL
Anchored Musings 