July 15, 1993.
When it comes to One Day, I have realized that we have to watch people fall apart to put themselves back together. I think that as we watch each episode, we’re meant to see that nothing is easy. We’re meant to see that there are things that could be different if we just take a moment making choices.
I think we’re reminded that we need to tell ourselves the truth and tell others what they mean to us. Because if we don’t – if we just think that there is always tomorrow, we’re missing the point of life. There isn’t always tomorrow
But there are always learning moments.
And this episode is filled with learning moments for both of them (if they take them). But Dex and Emma seems to never see what’s right in front of them. Instead they are left in a round and round circle of bad choices.
Dex is very excited, as he’s hosting some TV show. For him – even though he’s done it before – it’s a big thing. He’s excited and of course he calls Emma and wants her there. The thing is though – Dex shows that he’s really not appreciating Emma by guilting her that she’s not there. He takes full advantage of the effect he has on Emma, and doesn’t seem to take into account that she has a life too.
What I believe that it is for Dexter, Emma is the only person that makes him feel like he’s done something right with his life. No matter what happens, she’s the person that is always there. Even when he doesn’t deserve it. However, he takes her for granted and as we’ve established before that’s what Dexter does to a lot of people.
But he also listens to too many people and is aching to be loved. When people think less of him than perfection, he takes it really hard. When he finds out that he’s been trashed in a paper, and then some guy comes in and gives him a hard time, he spirals. I think we all know when Dex spirals it’s going to affect a lot more people than just him.
But isn’t that most of us? We spiral and think that people think the worst in us because negativity sounds louder than the positivity in life. So for Dex, when all he hears is the negative, he projects it. He gets sh** faced and can’t manage to articulate a word on camera. He freezes and doesn’t seem to be able to form a word and when he actually manages to get one out, it’s boring. It’s weak. It’s not going to keep people interested.
Emma at the same time is at the school and her concert is well… going. She’s annoyed by Ian and his mere presence. I can’t blame her and I don’t think that any of us can. He’s just like… well she was settling and that’s just not what we do.
Emma has to talk Dex up and remind him that he’s someone all the time, but where is he there for her? He is always begging her to be there for him and he is – even when he knows that she has something important going on. Her play is important to her. She’s good at teaching. She’s good at being there for the parents. She’s good at being there for the students.
And Dex – in my opinion – hates that all of her attention isn’t on him all of the time.
Dex messes up and it’s very much expecting the only person that loves him unconditionally to drop everything and be there for him and well, it makes me hate him. It makes me hate him because he should be there for Emma too. And he’s not.
While I do feel bad that his hosting gig didn’t go well, I can’t get past his continued selfishness. I wish he was a better person for all of the people around him – at the very least.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Emma talking her student out of the bathroom and letting her know she’s going to do great was a highlight and a testament to how great of a teacher that she is
- Ian tries with the jam sandwiches and I appreciated that, but ewww
- Emma needs to stop settling
- The principal is kinda hot in a weird way
- I love Emma as a teacher
One Day is streaming now on Netflix.
