THE ONE is a new Netflix series with a Sci-Fi and Crime plot. From DNA match-making to murder, there’s plenty to work with. Some elements work quite well while others feel strangely forced. I suspect this series will have both fans and haters. Read our The One series review here!

THE ONE is a new Netflix series with a Sci-Fi plot focused on match-making by DNA. Once you have a match with someone, you’re bound to fall in love with them, when you meet. This is definitely an interesting concept that has plenty going for it. While I don’t really buy it during the first episode, I definitely start falling for this concept during the next episodes.

Then there’s the crime plot focused on the murder, which is directly tied to the company behind the DNA matchmaking. It’s called “The One” (what else?) and it is business.

Continue reading our The One series review below and find season 1 on Netflix.

Match-making by DNA

I really like the basic concept of The One. I mean, DNA match-making sounds as scary as it does impressive. Right now, many people meet online. Either in a setting where it’s their minds and hearts that connect or a simple hook-up that turns into something more.

Obviously, a big part of explaining this whole match-making by DNA has to do with privacy and the “you’re ruining marriage” accusation. However, you do still have to take part as with any other dating service. It’s not like some Divergent-style world, where everyone is forced to have their DNA checked and find their match. This is a rather important detail!

Of course, this doesn’t keep people in lackluster marriages or mediocre relationships from signing up. Nor does it keep anyone from wanting to “just see” if maybe there’s someone better suited for them. It might sound simple enough but it makes for a rather dark and grim look into the future.

Well, except for those people who are single and finally do find their match!

The One: Season 1 – Netflix Review

Predictable in some unfortunate ways

The issues I had with The One had a lot to do with the production style. It looked very low-budget at times and had a strange (and by that I mean awful) lighting at times. Especially during episode 1, there are scenes where the production level feels very far away from any other Netflix series.

Then comes the plot developments that feel either very predictable or incredibly forced. Far too often, both these issues are part of why the story doesn’t feel very organic.

Hannah Ware (Oldboy) plays the lead character, Rebecca, who is the mastermind behind the company. Well, in all ways that truly matter when it comes to the business side of things, anyway.

Rebecca comes across as cool, calm, and collected but there is a lot underneath that veneer-like surface. This begins coming out during episodes 2 and 3 – especially the latter – and Hannah Ware delivers a strong performance. It feels organic and real even when the storyline isn’t quite as believable.

Another key character is Kate, the police detective investigating the murder in this series. Kate is portrayed by Zoë Tapper who we have already seen great things from in the zombie horror-drama Zoo (2018) and the Nightflyers series. Overall, there are many characters that you will become familiar with. Some of them irritating as all hell, while others are quite lovely.

Watch Season 1 of The One on Netflix!

Howard Overman is the creator of The One on Netflix and he has a very impressive track record when it comes to creating TV series. Previously, Howard Overman has created the TV series Misfits (2009-2013) and more recently War of the Worlds (2019-). Of course, this also means the expectations for a series by him are quite high.

With such specific and intense topics as DNA matchmaking and a murder mystery, there is plenty of storyline elements to get you hooked. Yet, I found episode 1 to be very weak. Both in terms of production quality, acting, and storyline. It was just an overall feeling and watching something that wasn’t quite done. With episode 2 and then episode 3, this got much better!

Still, during almost every episode there is at least one plot device or storyline that feels strangely forced. And while I don’t want to spoil anything, I did get pretty damn blown away (in a terrible way) by the “new and worse” version of the “bury your gays”-trope. Even this isn’t as simple as it sounds. Overall, I suspect this series will have both fans and haters. I’m still on the fence!

The One: Season 1 is out on Netflix from March 12, 2021.

Details

Directors: Jeremy Lovering, Catherine Morshead, Brady Hood
Writer: Howard Overman
Stars: Hannah Ware, Zoë Tapper, Gregg Chillin, Amir El-Masry, Stephen Campbell Moore, Olivia Chenery, Lois Chimimba, Albano Jerónimo, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Dimitri Leonidas, Diarmaid Murtagh, Jana Pérez

Plot

One simple mouth swab is all it takes. A quick DNA test to find your perfect partner, the one you’re genetically made for. A decade after scientists discover everyone has a gene they share with just one other person, millions have taken the test, desperate to find true love. Now, five more people meet their Match. But even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking and deadlier than others.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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