Do you think we're rushing in to this?

Starting my trip down The Guardian's Top 50 TV Shows of 2024

#3 : One Day 

Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall breathed new life into David Nicholls’s bestselling novel, which follows an unlikely university friendship that, over two decades, finally becomes a relationship. Mod and Woodall quietly sizzled as Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, and the frustration became almost unbearable as we urged them to “get it on already!” But their long journey was what made the eventual payoff so great, and we loved watching them become the adults – and lovers – they grew to be. Of course, though fans of the book knew it was coming, <spoiler>. A love story for the ages – made even better by a banging 90s soundtrack.

Skipping over Shōgun (#1 here and in Empire) and Baby Reindeer (#2 here, #15 in Empire) brings us to this and I've read the book (which I liked), seen the film (who knew that giving Anne Hathaway a Yorkshire accent wouldn't work? But I'm not sure I knew Jodie Whittaker played Tillie) and I've caught the first episode of this. And I liked it, but never watched any more - until now! I've heard good things about it though so was pleased I was made to finish it.

As the film showed, a story so tightly tied into two people is going to live or die by the casting, so let's start with Emma (Ambika Mod, who we've previously met in this) and Dexter (Leo Woodall, who I watched in Prime Target this year but I doubt we're going to meet it on any list - he's probably better known by most from season 2 of The White Lotus). Fortunately, they're both great in this and carry the show effortlessly.

Ambika certainly seems to have the easier job because Emma is a much more likeable and normal character - but I imagine that could easily make things trickier to "keep her real". But she doesn't seem phased by it in the slightest because she's very likeable and relatable and (to my uncultured ear) she pulls off a pretty decent Yorkshire accent as well. Leo has a very different challenge with Dexter because, at times, he's a massively unlikeable arsehole - but there's enough hints of "little boy lost" in there to evoke some sympathy and you just hope that things are gonna change (go on, guess if they do!). Except in episode 7, when he's just a massively unlikeable arsehole - he might hit Emma with a few home truths, but his delivery isn't exactly subtle.

The chemistry between the two of them is really good because the two characters have very different relationships across the show with their characters being fundamentally different people whilst maturing (or regressing) at different rates, but you always feels like there's something there, even when they obviously don't like each other very much. And they take a break from each other for a bit in the middle which adds a bit of interest as to when they're going to get back together (OK - it's not exactly edge-of-the-seat stuff).

Essie Davies also deserves praise as Dexter's mum - it's not a huge role, but she's nicely brittle as a parent who loves her only son but is devastatingly disappointed with him (with good reason) - "I think you have it in you to be a fine young man - exceptional even. I always have. But you're not there yet, Dexter - you're a long way off". Tim McInnerny also does a good line in disappointment as his dad, but he's a lot more shouty about it. Johnny Weldon also gets a name check for his portrayal of Ian, but boy was he annoying.

I don't remember enough of the book to know how faithful this adaptation is, but it works really well as a drama so it doesn't really matter how many liberties they've taken (although people would be up in arms if they didn't use the "one day" structure, I guess). It's an interesting choice to make most years a 30 minute episode (you see so few 30 minute things that aren't straight comedy these days) but it works really well. However, it did feel a bit rushed towards the end (which I can't go into without being very spoiler-y) but the last episode worked very well for me. It's also beautifully filmed across a large number of locations, often outdoors with a good eye for the retro details - they certainly threw a load of money at this but it's been well spent.

And finally, as The Guardian says, the soundtrack is indeed very good with a load of songs being used - it must have taken a lot of planning and arrangement (and money!). One minor niggle (courtesy of the lovely Mrs Reed, but I agree with her) is that they don't really make any effort to age Dexter - which is very obvious in the flashbacks in the final episode but it's not like it ruins the whole thing!

I thought this was done really well and liked it a lot - I'm surprised Empire didn't include it on their list, but they did give it fours stars and particularly praised the central pair of actors. If you're looking for something that's engaging but not hard work, then this is a strong recommendation from me.