Ed Sheeran teams up with Adolescence’s Philip Barantini for this hour-long Netflix special – but those hoping for candid personal revelations will be disappointed
A guitar-wielding Ed Sheeran takes fans on a musical journey through both New York and his back-catalogue in Netflix’s One Shot – with the help of Adolescence director Phillip Barantini.
The award-winning director, who is best known for producing singularly-shot projects, follows pop icon Ed across New York as he surprises unsuspecting, over-excited fans ahead of an upcoming gig.
The hour-long special, shot in real-time, sees Ed leave show rehearsals at New York’s Manhattan Centre to “go about the town for a little bit” in the hour before his gig.
The 34-year-old dad doesn’t give his voice a breakout, however, with him breaking out into song at rooftop parties, helping a fan with his proposal, crooning at cab drivers and thrilling subway passengers with his chart-topping singles.
From his 2011 breakout hit The A Team and crowd-pleaser Sing, to newer tracks like Galway Girl and Azizam, Ed dives through his discography with just his guitar, his impressive pipes and occasional help from selfie-seeking New Yorkers.
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He’s even given a lift at one point by regular collaborator Camilla Cabello, who picks him up in a four-by-four and feigns surprise with the unconvincing line: “What are you doing in New York?” They duet Ed’s 2015 tune Photograph with Camilla behind the wheel in a scene reminiscent of Carpool Karaoke (which comes as no surprise considering James Corden producer Ben Winston worked on the film).
While One Shot showcases Barantini’s impressive cinematography skills and Ed’s playful performances, those hoping for insights into the Brit Award winner’s life will be left disappointed.
Rather than a follow-up to his candid 2023 docuseries The Sum of It All, One Shot is essentially a very long music video. Ed briefly chats about his calamitous proposal to now-wife Cherry Seaborn while striding through the city, revealing that he got down on one knee in their kitchen after rain dampened his original plans.
He later invites Camilla round for spag bol, telling her that daughters Lyra, five, and Jupiter, three, “will be so excited” to see her. But otherwise, Ed sticks mainly to serenading and fist-bumping his fans.
For hard-core lovers of Sheeran’s ever-growing collection, One Shot is a must-watch if you fancy a dance down memory lane. Plus, it’s much cheaper than paying today’s tour ticket prices.
Those not too bothered by the British pop prince may find themselves switching over fairly quickly – although it’s worth tuning in to admire Barantini’s hypnotic, film-making skills. Much like Adolescence, One Shot will leave viewers scratching their heads as to how certain shots they pulled off the one-take wonder.
One Shot with Ed Sheeran is available to stream on Netflix.
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