Netflix’s “heartbreaking” new series has amazing Rotten Tomatoes score

A “heartbreaking” new series on Netflix has debuted to an amazing Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics and audiences alike agreeing it’s well worth watching. 

We’re only in the second month of 2024, and already Netflix has released an abundance of exciting new TV shows and movies, starting off strong with the latest Harlan Coben adaptation, Fool Me Once. 

This was swiftly followed by The Brothers Sun, Lift, Griselda, and American Nightmare. And the streamer also has some of its biggest shows making their return this year, from The Umbrella Academy and Cobra Kai to Squid Game and Emily in Paris. 

This week, Netflix dropped an exciting yet “heartbreaking” new series, and it’s receiving rave reviews across the board. 

Netflix’s One Day has amazing Rotten Tomatoes score

One Day, starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall in the adaptation of David Nicholls’ bestselling novel of the same name, has earned a whopping 90% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes since arriving on Netflix on February 8.

The 14-episode romance-drama has also been rated 77% from audiences, with many praising the show’s format, which sees each of the first 12 episodes revisiting Emma and Dexter’s story one year later – and the entire series covering 20 years of the characters’ lives in total. 

As per the official synopsis: “One Day tells the story of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew who, on 15th July 1988, the night of their graduation, speak for the very first time. The next morning, they go their separate ways but where will they be on this one ordinary day the next year, and the year after that, and every year that follows?

“Each episode finds Dex and Em, one year older, on this one particular date, as they grow and change, move together and apart, experience joy and heartbreak. One Day is a decades-spanning love story, based on the worldwide bestseller by David Nicholls.”

Although Nicholls’ book was adapted into a 2011 movie, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as Em and Dex, it only earned 35% from the critics. Writer Nathalia Aryani put it well when she said, “the story does not translate well onto the screen… In attempt to fit in as many years as possible, the result is almost like being read narratives about what they do.”

However, it’s a different story with Netflix’s version, which benefits from the lengthier timeframe and strong performances from Mod and Woodall. 

One viewer wrote: “Effortless chemistry that made me forget I was watching a drama and a story that takes you on a journey with two flawed characters so when you’re at the end and you’ve spent hours with these characters – it’s bittersweet. You love how far they’ve come and you’re heartbroken that it’s the end.”

As for the critics, AV Club said: “In spite of any bumps along the way, One Day is overall a satisfying, swoon-worthy ride.” Indiewire, which said One Day will “rip your heart out” (in a complimentary way), added: “One Day as a limited series leaves a much stronger impression than it ever could have as a film, minting Mod and Woodall’s chemistry, charm, and adaptability.”

All 14 episodes of One Day are available to stream on Netflix now.