His & Hers Netflix Review: Where Nothing is Quite What it Seems

His & Hers is an American psychological thriller miniseries. Released on January 8, 2026, the production quickly climbed to the Global Top 1 spot. It is based on the hit novel by British author Alice Feeney.

The miniseries was directed by William Oldroyd, who is known for the 2016 film Lady Macbeth. The show was created and written by Bill Dubuque and Dee Johnson. It was produced by actress Jessica Chastain, known for It Chapter Two, who acquired the rights to Feeney's book through her production company, Freckle Films.

The project also features a collaboration with Tessa Thompson, who stars in the cast. Kristen Campo and Kelly Carmichael also joined the production team. The ensemble cast includes Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Sunita Mani, Crystal Fox, Marin Ireland, and Rebecca Rittenhouse.

Synopsis

Anna Andrews is a journalist facing a difficult period in both her career and her marriage. She returns to her hometown to cover a brutal murder, only to find that the detective in charge of the case is Jack Harper, her ex-husband. As the investigation continues, his and her versions of the events begin to diverge in dangerous ways. It soon becomes clear that both are hiding dark secrets that make them prime suspects.

Official Trailer

His & Hers became one of the most impactful psychological thrillers of 2020. Its success elevated Alice Feeney to the status of the "Queen of Twists." The book received a warm reception from both the general public and literary critics.

The plot is set in a small and isolated town where everyone knows each other and old secrets are closely guarded. The story begins with the discovery of a woman's body in the local woods.

The novel is narrated by a former couple. Anna Andrews is a struggling TV journalist who returns home to cover the crime, while Jack Harper is the detective handling the case. As Anna battles alcoholism and past trauma, Jack realizes his personal connection to the victim makes him a leading suspect.

The narrative includes the perspective of the killer alongside the accounts of the protagonists. Feeney uses past trauma and bullying as the driving force of the plot, linking the scars of youth to the visceral violence of the present.

The author is famous for her fast-paced storytelling and her use of unreliable narrators. Outlets such as The Guardian have praised the sophisticated, puzzle-like structure of her work. She turns a standard crime story into a disturbing study of memory and revenge.

Feeney worked at the BBC in London for 15 years. Her experience as a reporter and producer is evident in her authentic portrayal of newsroom culture and the relentless hunt for a scoop.

Feeney is known for plots where nobody is who they appear to be. She has a unique style that she brings to other hits like Rock Paper Scissors. Netflix has also acquired the rights to that novel, which is currently in the early stages of production with no set release date.

While the adaptation keeps the central twist, it makes significant changes to the setting, the tone, and the ultimate fate of several characters.

Location and Atmosphere

The book is set in England and moves between London and the small village of Blackdown. It maintains a dark, depressing, and claustrophobic atmosphere. In contrast, the series moves the action to the United States. The plot takes place between Atlanta and the rural town of Dahlonega, Georgia, using a visual style that feels more like a traditional police thriller.

The Identity of Lexy

In the book, Catherine Kelly uses the obvious nickname Cat Jones. In the series, her pseudonym is Lexy Jones. This change was a deliberate strategy by the production to better hide the protagonist's identity. It helps preserve the mystery by preventing the audience from making an immediate connection to the name Catherine.

The Traumatic Teenage Event

In the original story, Anna flees immediately after the attack to rebuild her life away from the trauma. The series flips this dynamic. Catherine is the one who flees the scene and abandons her friend. This change was intended to intensify the resentment felt by Alice, Anna’s mother, providing a stronger motivation for her revenge against Catherine.

Richard’s Fate

Richard dies a brutal death in the book. However, the series chooses to spare him. The character ends the story in prison instead. The producers made this choice to focus more on the emotional drama rather than the graphic violence found in the original source material.

Anna’s Family Past

In the Netflix adaptation, Anna’s father is rarely mentioned. This simplifies Alice’s motivations, focusing her entirely on protecting her daughter and seeking revenge. The book goes much deeper into this history, revealing that Alice actually murdered her husband to end a cycle of abuse.

Narrative and Pacing

The book is divided into three perspectives: Jack, Anna, and the killer. This results in a slow-paced, psychological narrative. The series moves much faster and focuses on the conflict between the ex-spouses. The adaptation also swaps the subjective ending of the book for a more direct resolution, using flashbacks and a letter to explain the mystery to the viewers.

His & Hers feels very different from other Netflix productions. The narrative constantly toys with our perception. Just when you think you have identified the killer, the show drops a new piece of information that makes you question everything.

The series gripped me in an unexpected way. I was most intrigued by the mental game of "he said, she said." The audience becomes a detective alongside the characters, but there is always a sense of doubt. The journalist and the detective meant to solve the crime are actually the ones with the most skeletons in their closets. It is both frustrating and addictive.

The performances by Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal are incredible. You can truly feel the pain and resentment that defines their trauma-filled relationship. Their chemistry is not romantic in a traditional sense. Instead, it is a heavy tension that fits perfectly in a small town where everyone seems to dislike each other in silence.

The ending is a massive surprise. After the final episode, I spent ten minutes just staring at the wall while trying to process what happened. Some of the twists might be hard to accept for more rational viewers. I also felt that some supporting characters were a bit shallow, seemingly existing only to make the script's shock factor work.

Ultimately, the most memorable part isn't just the identity of the killer. It is the uncomfortable moral debate about how far someone would go to protect those they love. It is a bitter ending with no heroes, showcasing a very dark complicity between characters. I finished the series wanting to recommend it to everyone.

The reception has been a bit of a roller coaster. While it is a huge hit for Netflix in terms of viewership, the ending has divided both critics and fans.

Rotten Tomatoes: 66% Critic Score and 61% Audience Score.

IMDb: 7.3/10 from 18,000 reviews.

Letterboxd: 3.7/5 stars from 22,000 reviews.

If you are looking for a show to binge-watch over a single weekend, His & Hers is an excellent choice. The production succeeds by putting Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal in a state of constant tension, which elevates this psychological thriller.

The script condenses many heavy themes to fit into six episodes, but the result is a compelling plot that keeps the audience hungry for answers. I would give this series a 9/10, and it definitely deserves your attention.

The bold ending may cause some debate. However, that audacity, combined with the layers of misleading perspectives, makes this one of the most essential Netflix titles of the year so far.

Until next time!