Fans of Netflix’s One Day have jokingly thanked the book’s original author, David Nicholls, for “making the family cry” after it was revealed he wrote the script for the penultimate episode.
The streaming giant revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that Nicholls, who wrote the novel in 2009, had taken on episode 13, leaving fans heartbroken.
When fans got to the final installments of the they’ll love it, they’ll love it story between college friends Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall), they took to social media in tears saying they’ll “never get it.” about the end.
In episode 13, the couple, who have been in a relationship for three years after spending more than a decade circling the notion of romance, argue when Emma expresses frustration that she is struggling to get pregnant.
They agree to meet later that day to view the house while searching for a suitable space for a large family, but on the way to the visit, Emma falls from her bike and tragically dies.
The penultimate episode of One Day on Netflix, which left viewers ’emotionally destroyed’, was written by the novel’s author, David Nicholls.
Now, Netflix has revealed that it was original author David Nicholls who helped bring the heartbreaking episode to life.
The streaming service’s UK and Ireland account tweeted: “Fun fact: episode 13 of #OneDayNetflix (yes, that episode) was written by the original author.”
He added a quote from Nicholls himself, who said: ‘The great gift was having the actors in their place, having watched them and heard their voices and intonations: a fusion of writing for Em, Dex, Ambika and Leo. Just happiness.’
In the penultimate episode of the series, Emma (Ambika Mod, pictured) and Dexter discuss fertility before tragedy strikes.
The book’s original author, David Nicholls (pictured), said it was a “great gift” to work with Mod and Woodall on the episode.
In response to the reveal, fans praised the book’s original author for writing such a heartbreaking episode that left them in a “puddle of tears.”
One person joked: “Well I’m an emotional wreck so I’d say you did a great job.”
Another said: ‘I hope David is ready to pay my therapy bills, because after episode 13 I was in a puddle of tears!’
‘I felt very anxious watching that whole episode. It was brilliantly done. The last one is the one that really broke me though,” one person wrote, to which Nicholls himself responded, “Yeah, 14 is awesome.” I think Nicole (Taylor, the series’ head writer) wrote something great.” .
Viewers of the series took to X, formerly Twitter, to joke that Nicholls’ writing had left them “emotionally destroyed”.
Viewers praised the “beautiful” episode while joking that Nicholls was “to blame” for leaving them in tears.
One joked: ‘Thank you for making my whole family cry, I really appreciate it!’
The series follows the friendship of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, visiting them on St. Swithin’s Day, July 15, every year from 1988 to 2007.
They meet for the first time at their graduation party at Edinburgh University and spend the night together, but do not have sex.
The couple decide to be friends and remain incredibly close, but as the years go by, viewers are desperate for the characters to realize that they are madly in love and become united forever.
Viewers were devastated in episode 13 when Emma suddenly dies, three years after the couple finally entered into a relationship, and in the 14th and final episode, Dexter struggles to cope with his grief.
Ahead of the series’ release, Nicholls revealed his writing process for the 2009 novel in Sunday weather.
He revealed that he was at a point in his career where he had “stumbled as a screenwriter” by not renewing some of his series, and this led him to explore fiction.
But after writing two novels, Starter for Ten and The Understudy, he wasn’t sure where to go next when exploring his third novel.
Inspiration came when he had the opportunity to adapt Tess of the d’Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy, a tragic story based on destiny in which heartbreaking events seem written in the stars for the character of the same name, leaving the reader wondering, “if only.”
He revealed that he is “proud and grateful” for the reception of the novel and is aware that it is the most famous of his six books.
“When people occasionally say, ‘I enjoyed your book,’ I know which book they’re referring to,” he said.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Nicholls also said that he never wanted to write the script for the entire series.
‘I spent a lot of time with it. I felt like I needed a new set of eyes, but it’s been a blessing,” she said.