# The One
**The One** is a British science fiction drama television series created and written by Howard Overman for Netflix, based on [John Marrs](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-marrs-author)' 2017 novel of the same name. It is set in a near-future world where a DNA test can identify a person's perfect romantic partner, the one person they are genetically predisposed to fall passionately in love with, and follows the rise of a company that sells that service as a matchmaking product.[1](https://www.vinefx.com/work/the-one) • [2](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80199029) The eight-episode first season premiered globally on Netflix on 12 March 2021 and was not renewed.[3](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one) • [4](https://epguides.com/One_2021/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premise | A DNA test, requiring only a hair sample, finds the one person you are genetically predisposed to fall passionately in love with[2](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80199029) |
| Source | Adapted from John Marrs' 2017 novel of the same name[1](https://www.vinefx.com/work/the-one) |
| Creator | Howard Overman, creator of *Misfits*; executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy for Urban Myth Films, in association with STUDIOCANAL[3](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one) |
| Release | 8 episodes, all on Netflix, 12 March 2021; TV-MA rating[3](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one) • [5](https://www.netflix.com/title/80199029?src=tudum) |
| Lead cast | Hannah Ware as Rebecca Webb, CEO and founder of MatchDNA; Dimitri Leonidas as co-founder James Whiting; Zoë Tapper as Detective Inspector Kate Saunders[3](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13879466/fullcredits/) |
| Reception | Metacritic metascore 51 (mixed or average); Rotten Tomatoes 39% Tomatometer and 53% Popcornmeter; IMDb 6.6/10[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-one-2021/critic-reviews/) • [8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_one) • [9](https://flixpatrol.com/title/the-one-2021/) |
| Status | Cancelled/ended after one season[4](https://epguides.com/One_2021/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and story
The series is set "five minutes in the future," in a world where a DNA test can find your perfect partner, and asks what happens when a hair sample is all it takes to find that person. Netflix's synopsis frames the central question as whether anyone, however good their current relationship, can resist wondering if someone better is out there.[2](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80199029)
The story centers on Rebecca Webb (Hannah Ware), the ambitious and impulsive CEO and founder of MatchDNA, a company that pairs people with their soulmates based on DNA samples. She co-founded the company with James Whiting ([Dimitri Leonidas](https://www.edgepedia.org/dimitri-leonidas)), her best friend, who abruptly departed at the height of the company's success for reasons only she knows.[3](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one) The first episode establishes the show's structure as a thriller: as business booms at the DNA-based matchmaking service, Rebecca seems unstoppable, until a body is found in the Thames.[5](https://www.netflix.com/title/80199029?src=tudum)
Around this murder investigation, the season follows several couples affected by the technology. Hannah (Lois Chimimba) is besotted with her journalist husband Mark (Eric Kofi-Abrefa) but haunted by the fear that he will leave her for a MatchDNA partner; [Pallavi Sharda](https://www.edgepedia.org/pallavi-sharda) plays Megan, a charismatic new acquaintance of Hannah's. [Zoë Tapper](https://www.edgepedia.org/zoe-tapper) plays Kate, a straightforward and sceptical Detective Inspector at the [Metropolitan Police](https://www.edgepedia.org/metropolitan-police), paired with Gregg Chillin as Detective Sergeant Nick. The supporting cast includes Amir El-Masry as Ben, a friend of James and Rebecca; Stephen Campbell Moore as Damian, a MatchDNA investor; Wilf Scolding as Ethan, Rebecca's partner; and Diarmaid Murtagh as Connor, Rebecca's head of security.[3](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one)
## Production
Netflix ordered the adaptation from the UK-based production company Urban Myth Films, with Howard Overman, known for creating *Misfits*, developing it.[10](https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1008721-netflix-orders-adaptation-of-sci-fi-novel-the-one) Filming began in January 2019 and took place across the UK in locations including Bristol, Cardiff, and Newport.[11](https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/is-the-one-based-on-a-real-app) Episodes were directed by Jeremy Lovering and Catherine Morshead (three each) and Brady Hood (two).[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13879466/fullcredits/)
**Visual effects.** Vine FX worked as the sole vendor, delivering 250 VFX shots. Much of the action takes place at the fictional MatchDNA headquarters, whose main office was built on a studio stage with huge windows covered by greenscreens; the team recreated the interior of the Central St Martins Atrium in London using photogrammetry, building a true-to-scale 3D model in Maya to produce convincing glass reflections. Other work included crowd replication for the opening TED-style talk, augmenting plates shot in Wales with a London cityscape at night integrating [Canary Wharf](https://www.edgepedia.org/canary-wharf), placing The One logo across London locations, and digitally adding a knife blade to the final episode's murder scene.[1](https://www.vinefx.com/work/the-one)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed. The season holds a Metacritic metascore of 51, based on 9 critic reviews classified as one positive, seven mixed, and one negative.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-one-2021/critic-reviews/) On Rotten Tomatoes it holds 39% on the Tomatometer from 18 reviews and 53% on the Popcornmeter from more than 100 ratings.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_one) IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.[9](https://flixpatrol.com/title/the-one-2021/)
Reviewers noted how familiar the premise was. The Guardian's review observed that DNA-matched romance had recently appeared in Amazon's six-part anthology series *Soulmates*, Netflix's French import *Osmosis*, and the *Black Mirror* episode "Hang the DJ," and argued that *The One* set aside the larger social questions of its premise in favor of a conventional murder mystery.[12](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/12/the-one-review-netflix-review) A Collider review was more positive, calling the season solid and crediting the strength of its "what if" premise.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-one-2021/critic-reviews/)
The series ended after one season; epguides lists its status as canceled/ended, with all eight episodes released on 12 March 2021.[4](https://epguides.com/One_2021/)
## References
1. [The One, Vine FX (VFX case study)](https://www.vinefx.com/work/the-one)
2. [The One, Netflix Media Center](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80199029)
3. [Cast and Launch Date Announced for 'The One', About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/cast-and-launch-date-announced-for-the-one)
4. [The One (a Titles & Air Dates Guide), epguides](https://epguides.com/One_2021/)
5. [Watch The One, Netflix Official Site](https://www.netflix.com/title/80199029?src=tudum)
6. [The One (TV Series 2021) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13879466/fullcredits/)
7. [The One (2021) critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-one-2021/critic-reviews/)
8. [The One, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_one)
9. [The One, FlixPatrol](https://flixpatrol.com/title/the-one-2021/)
10. [Netflix Orders Adaptation of Sci-Fi Novel The One, ComingSoon.net](https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1008721-netflix-orders-adaptation-of-sci-fi-novel-the-one)
11. [Is 'The One' Based On A Real App?, Bustle](https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/is-the-one-based-on-a-real-app)
12. [The One review – algorithm-themed thriller is TV by numbers, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/12/the-one-review-netflix-review)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Genre and subject-scripted series › Science fiction television series › Near-future tech and thriller series*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license