“His and Hers,” a new gripping thriller on Netflix, presents a compelling narrative, but its mystery falls a little flat compared to its character dynamics.
The limited series follows television reporter Anna Andrews (Tessa Thompson), who has just returned from an extended leave of absence, and her estranged husband, detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), who split after the death of their infant daughter. When a murder in their hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia leads to Anna’s return, they clash as the mystery of the murder reopens old wounds and brings to light some skeletons in Anna’s past.
California-born Thompson does relatively well with her faux Southern twang, and though some characters’ Southern accents tend to fall flat, the leads both pull off the accents convincingly enough.
The chemistry between the leads is interesting; you can see why they were married but also understand why they are no longer together. Through the investigation, they got back together, as expected, and I found myself rooting for the couple more than I thought I would.
The supporting cast’s performance is also noteworthy: Anna’s editor, Jim Pruss (Mike Pniewski), and Anna’s mother, Alice Andrews (Crystal Fox), deliver layered portrayals that add depth and warmth, fostering appreciation for their craft. Zoe Harper (Marin Ireland) also stands out as a compelling, if unreliable, single mother to Jack’s young niece. However, her over-the-top Southern accent does distract. It is a bit of a nitpick, but I personally cannot stand when a character’s accent sounds like it is straight out of a cartoon.
The soundtrack is very well done, and it enhances the overall atmosphere. In thrillers, directors too often utilize sharp violins to build tension, but “His and Hers” avoids this in a way that I really enjoy. The music subtly supports the suspense without becoming overwhelming, which made me as a viewer feel more confident in the show's craftsmanship. However, every episode ends with a song, to a point that it becomes somewhat predictable, so it might have been nice to switch it up from time to time.
The show also can’t seem to decide whether it wants voice-over, as Anna delivers monologues only at the start of every episode. In my opinion, you should either use voice-over throughout or not at all, for these voice-overs could have been cut from the narrative and nothing else would have changed.
The lighting is also very hit-or-miss; I often had to turn up the brightness on my screen to see what was happening. Many dark scenes are poorly lit, and it affects visual clarity and atmosphere. Better lighting could help viewers feel more immersed and less distracted by visual flaws.
The mystery is alright, but I question if the plot is complex enough to keep viewers guessing, as the conclusion leaves much to be desired, and the show doesn’t leave a lot of room for the audience to figure out what is going on. The story never gives the audience enough of a reason to doubt our two leads, and the several twists of the tale come far too late in the narrative to really pull the weight the narrative expects.
Overall, it is a relatively mediocre show. If you enjoy thrillers, it’s a pretty engaging series if you are willing to meet it where it’s at. It’s not a must watch, but if the premise seems compelling to you, you are sure to have a fun time with it.
