'His and Hers' builds a chilling murder mystery - then turns everything upside down

The adulation around Netflix’s new thriller “His & Hers” has been inescapable on social media. With the start of a new year, viewers are naturally drawn to trending offerings.

Like the rest of the curious binge-watchers, I watched the six-part series. I certainly enjoyed it. However, I didn't feel it should be compared to "Behind Her Eyes", which, for me, remains the ultimate benchmark for a truly twisted offering.

Let’s get into Dee Johnson’s adaptation of the 2020 Alice Feeney novel of the same name.

The story is a layered narrative, kicking off with a murder that connects to a high school friendship marred by festering issues of bullying, entitlement and social disparities.

In Dahlonega, a small town in Georgia, a woman’s body lies sprawled across her red sports car while the rain pelts down. The victim is Rachel (Jamie Tisdale), the high society wife of Clyde Duffie (Chris Bauer), who was known to be philandering. 

Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal) of the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office is spearheading the investigation. Upon receiving a call from his new partner, Priya Patel (Sunita Mani), Harper proceeds to the scene.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Anna (Tessa Thompson), a former news anchor, decides to end her year-long seclusion and return to work. Her retreat was prompted by the loss of her daughter to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Upon her return, she finds her former post has been filled by Lexy Jones (Rebecca Rittenhouse). Anna negotiates with her former boss to allow her to cover the murder case in Dahlonega.

Returning to a town that harbours many painful memories isn’t easy, but Anna is determined to get her life back on track and, in completing this assignment, she also gets closure as she knew the victim. 

Working closely with cameraman Richard Jones (Pablo Schreiber), who also happens to be Lexy’s husband, isn’t difficult for Anna.

As much as she is a professional, she also settles a score with her nemesis by having a brief fling with him. 

Coverage of the murder takes another turn when Helen Wang (Poppy Liu), a close friend of Rachel and also the headmistress at St. Hilary’s Girls School, is found murdered. The body is discovered by Anna, who claims that she had a meeting with her. 

Jack is focused on Clyde as the primary suspect in the initial murder. However, his partner, Priya, begins to suspect a larger connection, noticing a specific friendship bracelet worn by multiple women in the town.

As the story plays out, several things become clear. Jack is unsettled by Anna’s return. They haven’t really dealt with the death of their daughter, which impacted their marriage. He has since moved in with his alcoholic sister Zoe Harper (Marin Ireland), helping raise her toddler daughter Meg (Ellie Rose Sawyer).

A small town, inevitably, holds its secrets, and this one is no exception. Jack is hiding a critical fact: he was intimate with the first victim on the very night she was murdered.

Then there is Alice Andrews (Crystal Fox), Anna’s mother, who appears to have Alzheimer's. Despite random sightings late at night, where she appears completely disoriented, she has very lucid moments when interacting with Anna, Jack and other people the rest of the time. 

Armchair detectives will naturally begin to connect the dots early on. However, the discovery of a third body elevates these cases beyond the superficial, revealing a deeper, more complex mystery.

Anna is central to it all and, when she finds herself in a precarious situation, she calls Jack for help. Just when viewers believe the case has been closed, a shocking confession letter introduces an unexpected twist.

Thompson delivers a truly magical performance, encompassing a wide spectrum of emotions: from a grieving mother and angry wife to a concerned daughter and an ambitious career woman.

Bernthal delivers a compelling performance as a detective grappling with a difficult situation - caught between a rock and a hard place. Despite this, his character is driven by altruistic intentions, balanced by the complexities of a jealous husband, a concerned son-in-law, and a supportive, doting uncle.

The wild card performances are handled marvellously by Bauer, Schreiber and Rittenhouse. 

The cinematography successfully conveys the claustrophobic feel of a small town, emphasising that in such a place, secrets are quickly exposed.

Overall, “His & Hers” certainly leaves viewers stewing in their emotions and anxiety. It’s a great watch, but it has its own benchmark in the history of twisty thrillers. 

Rating: **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.