The Secret is Out and It is Nothing Special
Introduction
I’ve always found limited series to be a treat, as the runtime of a few episodes with a clear-cut beginning and end provide a more digestible experience than the endless seasons of your average TV show, while still having much more time to develop an intricate plot and characters than a feature film. Behind Her Eyes is one of Netflix’s latest productions in this category, with its mysterious premise and unsettling promotional material having already attracted many viewers, myself included. With creator Steve Lightfoot behind the camera, known for producing many popular and well-received shows such as Narcos, Hannibal and Marvel’s The Punisher, there is light at the end of the tunnel for this latest instalment in his portfolio.
Premise and Setting
Set in the hustle and bustle of modern-day London, Behind Her Eyes is the story of Louise, played by Simona Brown, a young divorced mother whose life has plateaued into a stale routine of taking her kid to school, working at her desk job, and smoking cigarettes on her terrace looking into the sunset – daydreaming about meeting a partner who might bring some excitement into her life. This is when her path randomly crosses with that of the charming David and his wife Adele, who have recently moved into the city, seemingly running from a troubled past and looking for a fresh start. Louise and David end up having an affair, which would be ethically questionable if not due to the fact that the married couple are clearly in a toxic relationship (the causes which are unclear to begin with), with Louise being the only outlet David has to any resemblance of a happy existence.
The central mystery of the entire show is essentially the reason behind why David and Adele’s relationship is downright creepy. On the surface, they are perfect for each other: they met at a young age, are madly in love (or at least, used to be), are wealthy and have all the ingredients needed for true happiness. But it’s clear that there’s something deeply unsettling under the whole facade (or should I say, Behind Her Eyes). We soon realize that David shows signs of being a controlling, abusive husband – but at the same time, Adele seems to be holding a strangely deep psychological hold on him. They hate each other, but can’t seem to let go.
The above mostly happens in the first episode, and it might sound like your typical romantic thriller – or in any case, nothing you haven’t heard of before. However, the way in which the series pans out (and especially the ending) is downright bizarre. The series weaves in and out of certain genres and themes as it explores its mystery, introducing some elements which will either completely draw in the viewer, or put them off. Sadly, I admit to being part of the latter
Characters and Performances
The greatest redeeming quality of Behind Her Eyes is undoubtedly the quality of the performances of our three main leads. While Brown plays quite the standard protagonist, albeit with talent, Tom Bateman and Eve Hewson as the new creepy couple in town absolutely dominate the stage. Bateman does a great job of reflecting the interior struggle of a husband battling with his emotions and rationale. His rough, gritty and deep Scottish voice is highly memorable and works really well with his character: a man with a dark past, who’s constantly warning Louise to stay out of trouble and to stop digging too deep.
Hewson as Adele manages to equal, or even surpass, the efforts of Bateman. Her character is definitely the most mysterious and intriguing of them all. Her glacial stare, innocent voice, charcoal black hair juxtaposed with the clean, clinical look of their posh mansion, make for a truly fascinating character overall. In fact, the title is a reflection of this tingling sensation the viewer will get of there being something “not quite right” with her.
The main focus on the show are the intricacies between their three relationships. David and Louise are having an affair, but at the same time Adele and Louise are spending leisure time together, unbeknownst to David. The lies and backstabbing makes for a crescendo of mounting pressure, which viewers are just waiting to watch explode.
Plot and Themes
What Behind Her Eyes does so well is set up a very intriguing thriller, with some really interesting characters, and does a great job of holding one’s attention for the entire duration. It didn’t really feel “slow” at any point, a word which usually translates to having a weak narrative drive. But as it moved along, it slowly degraded into something reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s most embarrassing work coupled with a failed attempt at a Jordan Peele style screenplay.
The issues arise somewhere in the middle of the series, when a certain plot element is shoe-horned in which destabilizes the entire status-quo of the show. It enters territory which wasn’t clearly alluded to in previous episodes, making it all but impossible for even the keenest of viewers to have any idea of what is going on, or where the plot is even going.
One could make an argument that the viewer did not “sign up” for that experience once they ventured a couple of episodes into the series. What starts out as a grounded, romantic thriller transforms into something reminiscent of new-age hogwash. After watching the whole show, and looking at it from a god’s eye perspective, I came to the realization that the whole mystery – or “twist” if you will – did not even necessitate such a far-fetched and outlandish resolution or explanation.
As a fellow filmmaker myself, I understand that it’s perfectly acceptable to want to subvert expectations. Actually, that is the core of every great story. However, what Behind Her Eyes does isn’t subvert, but pervert. Any keen screenwriter will tell you that every great mystery is a battle between viewer and writer. But in this case, it’s not on a level playing field. With that said, it’s difficult to communicate the core of the problem with this show without spoiling it, so I would invite anyone to judge it for themselves and maybe come back to this review to truly understand what I mean.
Conclusion
Behind Her Eyes is probably the epitome of a mixed bag: the performances on screen will definitely stick with you for weeks after finishing the series, as certain plot and filmmaking devices show signs of true well-intended craft and expertise. Nonetheless, it all falls apart as it gradually leads towards its saggy conclusion, presenting some really mind-boggling twists and plot elements that are completely unnecessary and clearly the work of overly adventurous writers who needed to be put on a leash. One is left only to wonder whether a more pragmatic approach would have been better, or would have even done justice to the engaging premise and fascinating character work.
