This One Day ending explained article contains major spoilers for the conclusion of the series.
One Day is yet another smash hit to arrive on Netflix. Prior to its release, few people were talking about it. But now, it seems everyone is obsessed (and heartbroken) with the decades-long relationship between young lovers Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley.
After meeting at their university graduation ball in Edinburgh on 15 July 1988, they begin a friendship and on-off relationship (sort of).
Each episode catches up with Emma and Dexter on the next 15 July. Their lives take radically different paths, with both experiencing success and tragedy.
But, whatever happens, their roads always lead back to each other. So, what happened at the end of the limited series? After 14 episodes, did Dexter and Emma finally get together and did it work out for them?
How does One Day end?
One Day’s ending begins with the conclusion of episode 12. When Dexter comes to Paris to see Emma, it is revealed she has a new boyfriend.
A heartbroken Dexter stays behind at Emma’s apartment while she goes out to dinner with her boyfriend. However, Emma leaves the dinner and returns home to Dexter where they finally begin their relationship.
Episode 13 starts off in 2000, and the pair are living together in London. They purchase a coffee shop for Dexter to operate using some of his deceased mother’s money.
By 2002, they are trying for a baby and Dexter is running the coffee shop while Emma continues her career as an author.
It is revealed that they have sold their apartment and are searching for a new house. At the end of the episode, Dexter heads to the property viewing to meet Emma – she has been swimming at the local pool.
As she rides her bike to meet Dexter, she is tragically hit by a car and dies.
Episode 14 – the final episode – begins in 2003. Dexter is shown to be struggling immensely with Emma’s death and has returned to alcoholism.
In a drunken stupor, he visits a strip club. After being rude and aggressive towards one of the women, he is beaten up by bouncers. He goes to Sylvie’s house, where she helps clean him up.
He then goes to stay at his father’s house, who briefly shares some heartfelt advice with Dexter.
By 2004, Dexter is slowly recovering from Emma’s death but is still struggling to come to terms with it. He gets a surprise visit from their friends and family (including Emma’s ex-boyfriend Ian), who stay with him for the afternoon and share kind words and advice.
Eventually, they leave and Dexter spends the evening sitting in a room with boxes of Emma’s belongings. He imagines having a conversation with Emma and reflects on their memories together.
One Day ending explained
The final portion of the episode skips ahead to 2007. Dexter has returned to Edinburgh with his father and daughter and visits the location of their graduation ball.
He goes to see Emma’s old student house and remembers their first night together. Dexter then decides to climb Arthur’s Seat, the hill that he and Emma walked up during their first date 19 years earlier.
Taking his daughter with him, Dexter reaches the top and remembers the conversations he had with Emma during their walk all those years ago.
As he walks down, he reflects on a conversation he had with Emma at the foot of the hill. She told Dexter that she didn’t want to be a footnote in the story of his life.
This clearly resonates with Dexter, whose entire life now revolves around Emma’s memory.
The final scene in the series shows Dexter revisiting the steps where he chased after Emma after she met his parents. In episode one, the scene ended with an awkward goodbye after they exchanged phone numbers.
However, it is revealed in a flashback at the end of episode 14 that Dexter actually kissed Emma after they said goodbye. This confirms that there was far more attraction between the pair than was initially implied.
Ultimately, One Day’s ending is not complicated or overly drawn out. But it delivers an impactful and highly emotional conclusion that viewers are sure to remember.
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