A woman lies bloodied and twitching on the hood of a car parked in a secluded wood, while another arrives home splattered with blood, desperately seeking wine and scrubbing at her hands before frantically clearing her apartment.
Netflix’s ‘His & Hers’ Delivers a Glossy, Twisty Thriller
The six-part adaptation of Alice Feeney’s bestseller offers a binge-worthy escape, prioritizing suspense over deep emotional exploration.
- “His & Hers,” based on the 2020 novel by Alice Feeney, premiered on Netflix.
- The series follows a murder investigation that unravels a web of secrets and betrayals within a small town.
- Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson lead the cast as estranged spouses caught in the center of the mystery.
- Additional works by Alice Feeney are in development, including adaptations of “Sometimes I Lie” and “Rock Paper Scissors.”
The new Netflix series “His & Hers” wastes no time establishing its central mystery: a woman’s brutal murder and the tangled relationships surrounding it. The series, a six-part adaptation of Alice Feeney’s 2020 bestselling novel of the same name, immediately hooks viewers with its dark premise and promises a twisty ride.
Jon Bernthal (“The Bear,” “We Own This City”) plays Jack Harper, the small-town detective leading the investigation. Tessa Thompson (“Westworld,” “Creed”) is Anna, a former TV news anchor determined to break the story and reclaim her professional standing after being replaced by a younger colleague while grieving a personal loss. She quickly inserts herself into the investigation, which takes place in her hometown, and enlists the help of her cameraman, Richard (Pablo Schreiber), who also happens to be the husband of her rival.
The narrative quickly reveals a significant complication: Jack and Anna are estranged husband and wife. Their personal history adds another layer of tension to the investigation, especially as Anna pursues a relationship with Richard. The victim, identified as Rachel Hopkins (Jamie Tisdale, with Isabelle Kusman portraying her as a teenager), is described by many, including Anna, as a relentlessly cruel individual during her school years—a reputation that extends into adulthood.
A Growing List of Suspects
As the investigation progresses, the list of suspects expands to include Anna herself, and, pointedly, Jack, who resists providing a cheek swab for DNA analysis. Rachel’s husband, Clyde (Chris Bauer), is also a person of interest, described as captivated by his wife’s “mercenary energy.” The series hints at numerous other potential suspects, including those who may have been victims of Rachel’s past behavior.
Further complicating matters are additional characters: Jack’s sister, Zoe (Marin Ireland), who struggles with alcoholism; and Anna’s aging mother, who is losing her memory but may hold a crucial piece of the puzzle. The series flirts with the trope of using dementia as a plot device, a narrative choice that remains to be seen whether it will be handled with sensitivity.
What makes a good thriller binge-worthy? A constant stream of twists, a willingness to embrace absurdity, and a script that, while not groundbreaking, keeps the story moving. “His & Hers” delivers on all fronts, offering a comfortably engaging viewing experience.
The series is now available on Netflix.
