Netflix's His & Hers Review: Elevated Thriller

Netflix's latest offering, His & Hers, features Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal as an estranged couple investigating a murder in the American South. The series, based on a novel by Alice Feeney, utilizes a Southern gothic atmosphere to elevate the material beyond a standard whodunnit. While the plot initially follows a familiar trajectory—bodies pile up and secrets are revealed—the show distinguishes itself with a complex character study of grief and trauma.

The narrative centers on Anna, a news anchor, and Jack, a detective, both reeling from the loss of their child. Their reunion during a murder investigation forces them to confront their shared history. The series is noted for its atmospheric use of cicadas, which underscores the setting's tension. Ultimately, the show subverts expectations with a final-episode twist that recontextualizes the entire narrative, revealing the killer's motivation as a twisted act of maternal protection.

His & Hers establishes its tone immediately through its setting in Dahlonega, Georgia. The series relies heavily on the auditory landscape of the American South, specifically the sound of cicadas. This detail is described as a "light, echoing hum" that signifies summer and creates an atmosphere of both dread and possibility. The sound is omnipresent when characters step outside, reinforcing the show's relentless Southern gothic nature.

The setting serves as more than just a backdrop; it influences the pacing and mood of the investigation. The series contrasts the languid days of the South with the high-stakes tension of a murder mystery. This atmospheric choice helps the show stand out among Netflix's "conveyor belt of glossy murder mysteries," providing a textured environment that supports the emotional weight of the story.

The series is led by Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal, who portray Anna and Jack, respectively. Their performances are central to the show's success, with every shared scene described as crackling with "yearning, grief, and a million layers of personal history." Thompson portrays a mother balancing profound sorrow with professional ambition, while Bernthal plays a detective "teetering on the brink."

Bernthal's performance is noted for its use of a subtle Southern accent, a detail often overlooked in similar productions. The dynamic between the leads drives the narrative forward. Although the plot involves standard mystery tropes—such as Jack's affair with the murder victim and subsequent poor decisions to hide his involvement—the actors elevate the material. The showrunners, Dee Johnson and William Oldroyd, guide the series past a "paint-by-numbers" approach to focus on the couple's fractured relationship.

The narrative of His & Hers initially appears to follow a conventional mystery structure. The central question regarding the murder of Rachel Hopkins is resolved relatively early, leading viewers to believe that Lexi (formerly Catherine), an outcast bullied by Anna and her friends in high school, is the killer acting out of revenge. However, the series contains a final episode that completely upends this conclusion.

In a flash-forward one year later, the show reveals that Alice, Anna's mother, is the true murderer. Alice faked signs of dementia to conceal her actions. Her motivation stems from viewing a video tape of Anna being raped as a teenager, which prompted her to hunt down the girls who did nothing to stop it. Alice explains her actions as a means to help her daughter: "Killing Rachel brought you home. Killing Helen kept you here. Killing Zoe gave you the family you lost." This twist reframes the series as a macabre meditation on motherhood, where Alice sacrifices her morality to give Anna the life she never had.