A grand mansion on a remote island. A wealthy family gathered for a joyous occasion. But the celebration comes to a screeching halt when a sudden murder occurs, and an outside detective is called in to solve the case. Sound familiar? Netflix's latest miniseries The Perfect Couple seems like an attempt to create their very own The White Lotus. But does it succeed in delivering the same intrigue and sharp satire?
The six-part series is based on Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling novel and follows the Winbury family, who live on an exclusive Massachusetts island. At the centre of the story is Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman), a famous and successful romance novelist, and her husband, Tag (Liev Schreiber). Their son, Benji (Billy Howle), is about to marry Amelia (Eve Hewson), a woman from a much less privileged background. The wedding is set to be a grand affair, but when one of the guests is found dead the morning of the ceremony, the celebration quickly turns into a murder investigation.
What follows is a typical whodunit setup where everyone is a suspect. The list includes Benji's brothers, Thomas (Jack Reynor) and Will (Sam Nivola), Thomas's wife, Abby (Dakota Fanning), and Benji's best friend, Shooter (Ishaan Khatter). Most suspect of all are the family's matriarch and patriarch, Greer and Tag, whose seemingly perfect lives are revealed to be far more complicated than they appear.
The Perfect Couple is mildly entertaining at best. While it does a decent job of building suspense, it ultimately doesn't elevate itself beyond the familiar territory of murder mysteries. Each episode offers the obligatory misdirection, trying to make the audience believe that everyone has a hidden motive or dark secret, but the twists and the final reveal feel underwhelming. The way the case is solved lacks the sharpness or creativity of more successful whodunits.
Nicole Kidman as Greer Garrison Winbury.
The show's detective duo -- a classic "outsider" paired with a local cop -- offers some interesting moments, but they never quite reach the iconic status of sleuths like Benoit Blanc from Knives Out (2019). The interplay between the two leads to occasional debates about the best way to handle the investigation, which adds some depth to their dynamic but doesn't do enough to elevate the overall mystery.
Despite its star-studded cast, including the always-commanding Nicole Kidman, the series surprisingly focuses more on Amelia, the bride-to-be, than on Kidman's Greer. The family drama, particularly the interactions between the various eccentric and resentful characters, is the show's strongest asset. Watching these wealthy, morally ambiguous individuals clash with each other is both juicy and amusing, offering just enough intrigue to keep viewers hooked.
However, the character motivations are disappointingly straightforward. None of the suspects have a particularly complex backstory, and the series does little to subvert the traditional murder mystery formula. It's clear The Perfect Couple isn't aspiring to the level of dark social commentary seen in The White Lotus or even Kidman's own Big Little Lies. Instead, it's content with being light, soapy escapism.
There are other flaws that make the series less engaging than it could be. Several plot points remain unresolved by the end, and some supporting characters come across as too sarcastic or simply unlikable. The performances, while serviceable, fail to stand out. Even Kidman, who typically shines in ensemble dramas, feels underused here. There's also a glaring oversight: none of the characters ever request a lawyer during the investigation, which strains credibility in a series that's supposed to be rooted in a tense criminal investigation.
Despite these shortcomings, The Perfect Couple manages to hold the viewer's attention through its first three episodes. The early pacing is strong, and the intrigue surrounding the murder is enough to make you want to keep watching. But as the series progresses, it loses steam.
The tension dissipates, and the final episodes fail to deliver the satisfying punch that the initial buildup promised. Still, the intrigue lingers just enough to make the show an enjoyable, if ultimately forgettable, experience.
In the end, The Perfect Couple offers quick, easy entertainment. It doesn't demand much from its audience, and for some viewers, that might be exactly what they're looking for. However, for those who crave a more thoughtful or provocative take on the murder mystery genre, this series is unlikely to leave a lasting impression. If you're a fan of shows like The White Lotus or Big Little Lies, you might want to look elsewhere for a more gripping and substantial experience.
- The Perfect Couple
- Starring Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson
- Created by Jenna Lamia
- Now streaming on Netflix
