Netflix’s adaptation of the bestselling psychological thriller starts out on steady footing, but quickly loses its way.
Following off the success of Bridgerton, the next bestseller to be spun into Netflix gold is Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes, a book that was so aggressively marketed around its super-secret third act twist that early readers were encouraged to use the hashtag #WTFthatending. They aren’t kidding. WTF that ending, indeed.
We meet Lousie (played by the stunning Simona Brown), a single mom getting ready for a rare night out. When she gets stood up, she makes the most of the night by flirting with a tall, handsome Scotsman (Tom Bateman) who wears a perpetually hangdog expression almost as well as he wears his expensive suit. Their connection is immediate, though most of that comes down to Louise’s innate warmth and likability. The evening ends abruptly after a kiss, and they part ways without exchanging digits, or even names. More the worse for Louise, who finds out the following day that the handsome stranger is named David, and he’s her new boss. Also, he’s married.
As Louise and David struggle to fight their attraction, it quickly becomes clear that there’s something off about David’s relationship with his wife, Adele (Eve Hewson). David simmers with antagonism when he’s alone with Adele and a sense that she’s made them uproot their lives on more than one occasion. David is more of a warden than a husband, keeping Adele medicated to the eyeballs (or so he believes). For her part, there’s something eerily Stepford about Adele, a need to please and love David that borders on sadistic. David’s loathing for Adele is barely concealed, even in mixed company. Rather than having the backbone to object or, you know, leave, Adele simpers and smiles and takes David’s coldness in turn.
For her part, there’s something eerily Stepford about Adele, a need to please and love David that borders on sadistic.
Things are further complicated when Adele befriends Louise, and the two become close without David’s knowledge. “They’re both happier with me than they are with each other,” Louise confides to one of her friends, and that does seem to be the case. Louise softens David’s hard edges and makes Adele’s cold strangeness feel enchanting and intoxicating. Adele uses her friendship with Louise to sow seeds of distrust in David. David reveals Adele’s troubled past and her time in an institution. Louise, still smarting from her divorce and feeling unfulfilled, finds something she’d been missing in both husband and wife. By the third episode, the three have become so entangled in each other’s lives it’s hard to know who to root for.
If these were the sum parts of Behind Her Eyes, it would make for riveting television. But, out of nowhere, a fantastical element is thrown in halfway through the six-part series. By then, you’re so engrossed in this messy love triangle you either have to go with it or check out completely. Undoubtedly, some viewers will be riveted by this absurdly supernatural element in an otherwise by-the-numbers psychological thriller, but the outlandish third act and its purposefully bleak ending will leave others feeling cold.
Perhaps if creator Steve Lightfoot had kept the series a little more succinct, this might have worked better, but at six episodes it feels overstuffed to the point of being bloated. While Adele’s flashbacks give some much-needed context, some of them come across as obvious filler. Had this series had only three episodes, the fantasy elements could be more easily forgiven. Hewson and Brown give standout performances, along with Robert Aramayo, who plays Adele’s troubled friend Rob in flashbacks. But no amount of great acting or professional design can substitute for a premise that falls flat halfway through. Ultimately, Behind Her Eyes has a lot of style to offer, but not much substance.
Behind Her Eyes premieres on Netflix February 17th.
Behind Her Eyes Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Maybe you’ve just seen Oppenheimer and have the strongest urge to marathon—or more fun yet, rank!—all of Christopher Nolan’s films. Or maybe you’re one of the few who haven’t seen Interstellar yet. If you are, then you should change that immediately; the dystopian epic is one of Nolan’s best, and with that incredible twist in ... Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
One of the major concerns people have before cutting the cord is potentially losing access to live sports. But the great thing about live TV streaming services is that you never lose that access. Minus the contracts and complications of cable, these streaming services connect you to a host of live channels, including ESPN. So ... How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
It’s no coincidence that many of today’s biggest comedians found their footing on Comedy Central: the channel is a bastion of emerging comic talents. It served as a playground for people like Nathan Fielder (Fielder For You), Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Tim Robinson (Detroiters), and Dave Chappelle (Chappelle’s Show) before they shot ... How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial