Director(s): Jeremy Lovering (4-6), Catherine Morshead (1-3), Brady Hood (7 & 8)

Cast: Hannah Ware, Zoë Tapper, Lois Chimimba, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, & Amir El-Masry

* * *

So…I came across this series by surprise. At first, I thought it was going to be this full fledged sci-fi/dystopian-esque type of series, which is right up my alley. However, I was pulled into something totally different…interesting…and pretty creative, fundamentally. 

Would I say I feel satisfied? You know, yeah. I think I am. I enjoyed the idea this story. It’s not the same level of excitement that I had with #Lupin series on Netflix, or even #Bright (I really did enjoy #Bright), but there was enough creativity and dramatic entertainment that left me interested in what a possible season 2 will look like (although I have a strong feeling that if it is given the green light it won’t be as good, and will possibly veer more into some messy love affair plot…but maybe it proves me wrong).

* * *

Below are my grades for key components in #TheOne that I find to be key in any story/series—Theme, Plot, Pacing, and Character Arc/Development. 

Additionally, I’ve decided to add 2 separate entertainment factor scales to help you determine whether or not the series is something you’d be interested in taking time out of your weekend, evening, or day to watch—a scale based on general public interest, and one based on film enthusiast interest. The scale range consists of: Worth the Watch, Interesting Enough (if looking for something new to start), & Don’t Rush.

I have also added a few non-spoiling thoughts, wonderings, and comments as I watched the film to help give some rationale for my grades and entertainment scale.

* * *

Theme: A

Plot: B

Pacing: A-

Character Arc/Development: A-

General Entertainment Factor: Worth the Watch

Film Enthusiast Entertainment Factor: Interesting Enough

* * *

 Takeaways: 

1. Firstly, can we talk about the FASHIONS these women villains be rocking? Can we!? I mean, first you had Marla Grayson’s wardrobe in #ICareAlot, and now Rebecca Webb! YEEEESSSS! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

2. I mean…in all actuality, this concept would be creepily cool if it were real. I think I’d do it….but I’d respect boundaries because it’s not THAT serious… 🤔🤷🏾‍♂️

3. You know what, Lois Chimimba’s character Hannah…👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. Her character annoyed me SO much which is a testament to a good delivery. 👍🏾👍🏾

4. Sophia’s storyline was UGH! It was so unnecessary, and truly messed up the flow of the story for me. 🤦🏾‍♂️👎🏾

5. Oh, okay Ethan… … … 👀👀

6. Baby, listen. Fabio… … … 😩😍

7. And you know what, just to finish this off: Ben Naser, James, and Mark when in his coat… 😩😩😍😍😜

8. There was something that might’ve been off about the flashback aspect of the plot around episodes 3 and 4…the order of events sort of messed me up a bit. 🤷🏾‍♂️🥴

9. Woooooooooow! Really, Nick!? 😳

10. OOOOO Meghan is SO petty and messy for that. 🤣

11. For some reason, the music used with this series was very hit or miss… it just felt odd with the overall genre of the series at times. 🥴🤷🏾‍♂️

12. Episodes 7 and 8… not my fave of the series…there’s some good aspects of it, but the Sophia and Sebastian thing just gets too carried away for no reason… ESPECIALLY the Sebastian thing. 🤦🏾‍♂️👎🏾

13. OH, and that Sebastian thing! Like REALLY!? 👀😳🤨

14. However, episode 8 does a “decent” job in explaining that… I thought it had something to do with maybe a “surprise obvious” twist… Unless that’s what all those fancy, geneticist terms meant… 🤔🤔

15. Now how did they all of a sudden get back cool…just that fast? Really? 🤨

16. Kate was on that ass, though! 🤣That moment in the stalls… 👀🤣

17. You know, it was a little predictable and bland, but I’ll accept “David’s” response. 🤷🏾‍♂️

18. YEEEESSSS for phyiscal disability representation in a main role. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

19. There was something about Charlotte’s character that I loved…she definitely wasn’t utilized to her full potential for me. 😔

20. The only good thing about Sophia’s existence is how her match relayed the message of “Born This Way.”👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

21. HOOOOOWEVER, these matches were too conventionally/conventially-adjacent attractive for me. Where was that representation? 🤨🤦🏾‍♂️

22. Also, that “threat” towards the politician… doesn’t work well with the plot, and could’ve/should’ve went a different way than it did… I mean she basically exposed a glitch and form of arbitrariness in the system…🤨🥴🤷🏾‍♂️😩

23. The ending… … 👀👀👀

24. Rebecca’s character was also meant to drive a part of the theme that focused on this idea of “playing God” to some degree. However, there was also supposed to be this “ruthless” element to her privilege and access that was made apparent on many occasions, but had not real follow through…just a bark with no bite, and #IonLikeDat…🥴🤷🏾‍♂️

* * *

Overall, #TheOne is a pretty creative take on what the future of living in a world of Tinder, Grindr, Match.com, eHarmony, etc. could look like. I will say, a part of me felt like writers tried to do the Japanese plot style, but missed the mark with Sophia’s character—that is possibly my biggest disappointment with this series. Cohesion, people. COHESION!