Why Does 'One Day' on TV Hit Harder Than the Movie?

One Day2024

Honestly, I didn't expect much from the TV series "One Day" at first, and I was scratching my head about the casting of the lead—Emma, originally a white girl in the book by British author David Nicholls, is now played by British actress of Indian descent: Ambika Mod. It seems kinda tied to some politically correct stuff? But now, I must say I'm glad I didn't let my biases make me miss out on this gem. In fact, I believe it surpasses the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. 

"One Day" is all about Dexter, a charming player, and Emma, an ordinary yet intelligent girl. They come from totally different worlds, but after a brief encounter, they get tangled up in each other's lives. Over a span of 20 years from 1988 to 2007, they became like soulmates, sometimes together, sometimes apart, sharing the bitter and sweet, the highs and lows of life.  

First time I saw the movie was in 2018, back in my college days in a happy and healthy relationship, so I couldn't relate to the story at all. It was pretty clear that Dexter was just a shallow dude, and Emma was seeing him through her rose-colored glasses. How could they keep up this friendzone dance for 20 years?! Plus, Anne Hathaway was too darn pretty, which made the whole secret love thing less believable. And, also, the movie was so fast, almost like flipping through slides. 

But, fast forward six years, the new TV series answers all my questions and gives me new insights.  

The casting in the TV version is spot on. Ambika Mod has got this ordinary yet captivating vibe that brings Emma closer to female viewers and makes us buy into the story. Sure, in this era of misogyny, even gorgeous women can have doubts about themselves, but an average-looking girl (I mean, not the typical Hollywood beauty) in that role made it all the more believable and relatable. The thing is, no matter how many compliments she gets or how many people tell her how awesome she is, she still struggles with self-doubt.  

Ambika Mod wasn't even sure about taking the role at first. She told Elle magazine, "I think part of the reason why I just didn’t see myself playing that part was because insidiously and implicitly, that’s a message that I’ve been fed my entire life—that people who look like me aren’t romantic leads, that people who look like me aren’t the people who the male romantic lead will fall in love with." Crazy, right? She has got a degree in English Studies and some theatre experience, just like Emma in the book. But even with all that, she still second-guesses herself. Isn't that just like Emma? Like any regular girl among us? 

I'm totally into Emma, and I've got to give props to Dexter (played by the handsome Leo Woodall) too. Leo is kind of new on the scene, some might recall him from a minor role in the second season of "The White Lotus". But after "One Day," I dare say he'll make a big splash. I used to think Dexter was somewhat of a jerk, but now, thanks to Leo's portrayal, I see him in a different light. Whether it's the script changes or Leo's own take, the Dexter we see in the series is way more introspective and nuanced than I remembered. And that makes it a lot easier for audience to understand and empathize the character. Dexter is the kind of guy who is easy to judge, so making the audience connect with him? Quite a challenge for the actor. 

Take one of my favorite scenes, for example. Emma is lost after graduation, while Dexter is living it up, and they decide to take a vacation together. There’s this beach scene where Dexter is putting sunscreen on Emma. In the movie, he is all excited and teasing, treating her like a conquest. But in the TV series, he's like, shy? Realizing he is still into her. 

Besides the great casting, the TV series has a nice pace, unlike the movie which feels too rushed. I mean, the story covers twenty years, with each chapter showing a day in the lives of the duo. That's no small feat, considering how much content they had to work with. So, for an elusive story that spans as long as twenty years, a mini-series just fits better than squeezing it into one movie.  

Nicholls, the author of the novel and the executive producer of the TV adaptation, shares this sentiment to Esquire magazine, "In the film, the chapters, the days, become story beats that are part of a larger arc: links in the chain." "In a series, each chapter, each day is a story in itself, with a beginning, middle and an end. [It often has] its own style and tone; a solo piece, a romantic comedy, a darker drama, a farce, which is a terrific freedom for the screenwriters." 

And it works like a charm. I used to get so annoyed at how the story ended abruptly, I mean like, Emma and Dexter finally get together, and then, bam! (Trying not to spoil it for you.) But with the TV series spanning fourteen episodes, each with its own rhythm, it all just flows. Now I'm totally cool with the ending, knowing better of the deep expression—life is just unpredictable.