Themes of romance, relationships, and second chances are explored.
Positive Role Models
a little
Emma is sure of what she wants and her beliefs, but sometimes sits in self-doubt. Dexter is easygoing and casual, but some situations leave him overthinking. They both keep an open mind about each other and appreciate each other's differences. Above all else, they're trying to navigate new chapters in their lives the best they can.
Diverse Representations
a little
One of the main leads is a British actress of Indian descent. Her best friend is Black. The team behind the series, including some of the writers, directors, and the creator, all have past works that focus on complex female leads.
Parents need to know that One Day is a romantic drama series based on the novel of the same name by David Nicholls. It traces the intertwined lives and romance between two people across two decades. Characters frequently make out, and have sex with some sensitive body parts shown. There's partial nudity and an emphasis on romance and sex. Cursing includes repetitive use of "bloody" and "f--k." Characters frequently smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, often to excess.
This is honestly a great series. A lot of sexual themes and one of the main characters struggles with addiction, I would say it is not suitable for children under 15. Beautiful storyline, I cannot express enough how well scripted each epidode is. Rollercoaster of emotions, be prepared to get emotional
What's the Story?
ONE DAY follows the intertwined budding adult lives and romance between two recent university graduates across two decades. Emma (Ambika Mod), a sharp English major, and Dexter (Leo Woodall), a campus playboy, meet on their graduation night from the University of Edinburgh. Attraction sparks between them, but reality quickly gets in the way, and they go their separate ways the day after. Throughout the years, Emma and Dexter try to navigate the growing pains of adulthood. But somehow they always cross paths on one day each year.
This series takes us through an emotional romantic journey through the decades. One Day is steady, charming, and intense. Fans of other adaptations will find the performances of Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod to be intimate and captivating. The sexual content, language, smoking, and drinking make this suitable for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how time affects the relationship between Emma and Dexter in One Day. How does their relationship change over the course of the series? What causes these changes? Are there any moments that stood out to you?
Have you read the novel this series is based on? What about the movie? Did it make you like the show more, or less? Which version do you usually prefer? Does it enhance your enjoyment to have read the book or watched the movie first?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
