Well, if there is one thing that this episode of One Day proves is that sex is different for everyone. That and some people are just not good at it. Like really not good at it. It’s one of those things that you really come face to face with her.
It’s a year later.
July 15, 1989.
Dexter is in Rome and Emma hasn’t left England. Two extremely different lives but somehow it all fits. They fit. They may not know it, but we all see it. We being the viewers. And hey, if you don’t see it then well, I’d suggest Warby Parker. They make good glasses.
But to me, even more important than the ship of it all is the way that I know that this show will rip me to shreds and I am going to welcome that. I am going to welcome that because I know that these characters are characters that I love, can grow with, and feel a connection to. I know that for me these characters are ones that remind me that it’s good to relate to someone. It’s good to let people in. It’s good to be alive.
And it’s okay to have your own little secrets about how the world works and who you let inside your world.
Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod continue to shine in a series that is rivaling the likes of emotion that Normal People brought out of us. They are about to destroy me and I am ready to let them.
DEXTER
Dexter is living in Rome as a teacher. Yes, this is something that I don’t think that I could have ever seen him as, but here we are. He seems to be umm… not caring what anyone thinks and instead is living his life of privilege and being protected from the world.
I actually somewhat feel bad for Dexter, because he’s really just not sure how to be. He’s painfully awkward and he feels like he’s this good man, but he also feels like he’s rested so many years on his parents being able to bail him out of anything and everything. It’s kind of as if he doesn’t know how to move forward.
Or to grow up.
His parents have come to Rome to see him and I think for Dexter, that brings him a little bit of comfort. His Mom is his rock. She’s the person that he feels the most comfortable with. They seem to be the most alike.
While the episode unfolds and we watch them spend the day together – her wanting to know what is going on with him, what his plans are – you feel a sense of comfort and a sense of avoidance from him. He doesn’t want to hear about plans. He doesn’t want to hear about relationships. He just wants to be.
But that’s the thing Dex. What do you want to be? What do you want to do? Maybe that’s the million dollar question in life, what a person wants to be or wants to do. Maybe we all have to go through a million obstacles to get to that point where we figure it out.
But also, Dex doesn’t seem to be taken seriously when he says what he wants to do. He wants to try his hand at photo journalism, but his Mom seems to think that he’s joking. His Mom is worried about his lack of drive, which hey, we all are.
One thing that she never has to worry about his loyalty and love for her. When he sees her visibly distracted, he asks her what is going on. She admits that there was something that she wanted to talk to him about, but tells him that it can wait until the next day.
Mom, things like this don’t stand. They don’t stand because well, we need to know right then in there. Pet peeve in my anxiety filled life is when someone says that we’ll talk later, because who knows if later will ever come.
EMMA
Emma doesn’t seem to be having the best of times right when the show opens. Now, I am all for giving instruction, but if a woman has to draw you a road map, well, boy, there may be no help for you.
None.
Yet, I somehow feel for Emma, because she’s lost. She’s having an awkward sexual encounter in the back of a van with Gary, a man she knew from University. They are all part of a theater troupe now – Sledgehammer. It happens to be a giant red flag for me that the van or whatever looks like it was a wanna be Scooby Doo van. But, I guess that is neither here nor there. Even bigger red flag is Gary.
Right as Emma’s knees are about to buckle, they are interuppted and the troupe is ready to go. They are off to Heartwood Community Primary School, where they are putting on a performance about the Suffragettes, and lets just say when I thought I was bored with this whole part of it, well, these poor primary school kids look worse off than I feel at this moment.
The whole troupe seems really awkward and TBH, I wanna yell at Emma and tell her that she’s better than that. She doesn’t want to be an actress, she’s lowering her standards by even dealing with Gary, and well, she’s gotta pull her shit together. I kinda love that it’s getting a package from her Mom with a postcard from Dex (that says absolutely nothing) that makes her decide that she wants more. She needs more.
Emma wants to make a difference in the world and I respect that about her. What I want to see her do is make a difference for herself first. It’s so sad to watch her go through all of these moments and things where she’s just existing and obviously delusional because she’s letting Gary touch her. His hair cut alone should teach her that.
I stood up on my couch and clapped when Emma realized that she really needed to do more and more meant London. I can’t wait to see Tilly and Emma back together, living their best lives.
Or you know, just really living. Either way, London here we come.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Dex is oozing charm. So much charm that it’s kinda like how are women not falling at his feet.
- Emma not wanting to sing and tired of the pressure is all of us.
- Dex’s Mom is endearing but wanting to know about your kids sex life? No.
- Dex and Emma letter writing is everything. Those were the days.
- I really need to know what Dex’s Mom was gonna say.
One Day is streaming now on Netflix.