One Day (2024) is a one of a kind story. Released in February of last year, and based on David Nicholls’ 2009 novel, it takes us through the lives of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, charting their graduation all the way up to their mid-30s. Its main characters could not be any more dissimilar, and yet I’m sure we’ve all come across an iteration of them both at a certain point at Cambridge; Emma, Leeds-born, passionate in her political protest, and fiercely independent, forms an unlikely connection with Dexter, a privileged Londoner, renowned for his flirtatious and reckless nature.

“It is not just an exploration into two people falling in love, but it’s also an ode to the decades and stages of life that we’ve all already experienced or may come to experience”

There are plenty of coming-of-age TV shows out there, ranging from the silly awkwardness of The Inbetweeners (2008) to the gloomy heartache of Normal People (2020). But, for me, what makes One Day more unique than most is its capturing of all of these coming-of-age themes, in snapshots of its characters across a long period of time. In following Emma and Dexter every year from 1988 to 2007, whether together or separate, we are able to track how each life experience has shaped them. It is not just an exploration into two people falling in love, but it’s also an ode to the decades and stages of life that we’ve all already experienced or may come to experience. It sparks nostalgia in a broad spectrum of generations, with music and outfits appreciated by those growing up in the 80s and the 2000s alike.

This format of time jumping is useful in many ways. We see Dexter and Emma go through periods of grief and changes in their careers and relationships. One episode in particular sticks out, which covers Dexter’s emotional breakdown in the wake of his mother’s illness, through scenes of quiet tension. As Dexter arrives late and hungover at his family home, to see his mother frail and resigned, delicately perched on a sunchair, we see him carry her up the stairs to rest, already struggling under the weight of a looming adulthood. In this moment, Dexter is no longer the wild and free teen, supported by the stability of a complete family and popularity amongst his peers, as seen in the first episode. One Day is full of these subtle yet powerful shifts. In fact, the show begins with Emma and Dexter’s first encounter at their graduation ball; what seems in the moment to be a frivolous night spent debating their respective futures in the dim, smoky ambience of Emma’s room becomes an integral point in their life trajectories. We are made ever aware of how quickly our lives can be uprooted, even with regards to aspects we once thought would be constant and unchanging. And yet at the same time, One Day also shows us how quickly life can be uplifted by positive forces.

“I found it beautifully refreshing to see an interracial couple displayed on screen, especially a South Asian woman that I could identify with”

It is equally important to note the changes made to One Day as a TV adaptation. The power of Ambika Mod, a British-Asian actress, as the lead character of Emma Morley cannot be understated. I found it beautifully refreshing to see an interracial couple displayed on screen, especially a South Asian woman that I could identify with. Whilst the show briefly touches on her South Asian identity, it is not used as the central conflict in the relationship, rather it is a subtle layer to Emma’s character. In an interview with Reign, Ambika herself says, on the increased representation of brown women onscreen, “I hope for lots of young brown girls, One Day will be a symbol that you deserve to be loved […] and you can go after what you want […] you don’t have to be just one thing.” One Day is special not only in formatting its story like a nostalgic photo album, but also in its diverse representation, in which women of colour can take up space without over-explaining their deservedness.

The moral core of One Day is encapsulated by a passage from Great Expectations, recited by Emma in a maid of honour speech:

“Imagine one selected day struck out of your life, and think how different its course would have been. Think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you but for the formation of the first link on that memorable day.”

In the depths of Lent term, as we all navigate different trajectories in our Cambridge lives, whether in our first or final year, I implore you, to watch (or rewatch) One Day. If you do, you’ll end your procrastinating binge-watch in thoughtful ponderance, and learn to take every opportunity whilst you can!

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