Nicole Kidman, seated centre, and Liev Schreiber, standing second right, are the lead stars in the Netflix murder mystery where a cast of wedding guests and murder suspects score an exclusive invite to the six-episode adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s bestseller The Perfect Couple. Photos: Supplied.
The Perfect Couple is not without imperfections. Inescapable banality keeps the Netflix mini-series from being above reproach because curious intrigue, some interesting performances and stunning vistas draw us to watching this seaside murder mystery.
An ensemble cast including Oscar-winning Australian actress Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson and Dakota Fanning have a set of motivations, but their individual traits contribute to the group dynamics and story as a whole.
It’s time to meet some of the main players who have RSVP’d to a wedding invitation. The Perfect Couple follows Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson, Bad Sisters), who is marrying into one of the wealthiest families in Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA. The stage is set. The wedding will be held at Summerland, the Winbury family’s historic seaside estate on Nantucket. This was where they had previously gathered for the couple’s poolside engagement soiree last year. The property has been in Tag Winbury’s family for five generations. It’s just too good to be true. This huge house is right on the water — an extraordinary landscape setting. It’s impressive, looks beautiful, is elegant and — very expensive!
The groom’s mother, Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman, The Hours, Babygirl, The Northman) is a famous novelist, who spares no expense on the high-society wedding. Liev Schreiber (Spotlight, Asteroid City, Pawn Sacrifice) is Tag Winbury, Greer’s husband.
Amelia is marrying Benji Winbury (Billy Howle, The Serpent), one of the three sons. Abby Stokes Winbury (Dakota Fanning, I Am Sam) is the pregnant wife of Benji’s older brother Thomas (Jack Reynor, The Peripheral). Sam Nivola (Eileen) plays Will Winbury, Benji’s younger brother. Meghann Fahy (One Life to Live) plays Merritt Monaco, Amelia’s maid of honour.
Amelia and Benji’s marriage was meant to be the ‘wedding of the year’ — at least, that’s what the mother of the groom desired. However, it took a fatal turn. The nuptials are over before the ceremony even starts, due to the untimely demise of one of the guests. On the eve of the ceremony, the bride’s best friend Merritt is found dead, washed up on the beach of the Winbury residence. Champagne dreams evaporate quickly and are replaced by seeds of suspicion. Everyone becomes a suspect. Michael Beach (ER) is Dan Carter, Nantucket’s police chief, who along with colleagues soon discovers that just about every single person on the guest list has secrets. The question is, whose was worth killing over?
Based on Elin Hilderbrand’s 2018 New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, there’s another character who scored an exclusive invite to the six-episode adaptation. Indian actor Ishaan Khatter (Dhadak, A Suitable Boy) takes on the role as Shooter Dival, Benji’s best man. Dival is portrayed as an honorary member of the Winbury family, adding another layer to the convoluted web of relationships in the series. In an intriguing move, the show casts Dival as the groom’s childhood friend despite the character being white in Hilderbrand’s novel.
Emmy and Oscar winner Susanne Bier (Bird Box, The Undoing, The Night Manager) directs and executive produces the series alongside showrunner Jenna Lamia (Good Girls). Lamia rates the thriller with multiple love stories embedded in the narrative as “juicy, elegant, tense and a little bit sensual.”
The show weaves an intricate tale of secrecy and elite conspiracy. Every episode ends with shock revelations that turn out to be progressively unbelievable. While The Perfect Couple lacks sentimental intensity, plotline tautness and incisive wit, a hurried ending results in some irresolute storylines. Hence, it’s inevitable that comparisons will be made against the success of Big Little Lies and The White Lotus.
Nothing is as it seems since Bier takes creative license to craft a story where there’s a lot of interweaving in the storyline. They’re all different characters and they’re all intertwined in different ways, but there’s a sense of humour when you least expect it; for example, what happens now with the five-tier cake now there’s no wedding?
Subtle performances come from Nicole Kidman and Eve Hewson, while focus is placed on power and privilege through incisive societal critiques and magnificent visuals.
Best of all, it’s Nicole who illuminates us by saying: “Even the best of liars get very tired juggling … too much. All of it’s too overwhelming … and they snap. It’s glamourous, intriguing, it’s mysterious.”
It’s a world we want to get lost in. Or do we really?
The Perfect Couple, directed by Susanne Bier, is streaming on Netflix.
