Published by Mason Oldridge, 12 September 2024
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Netflix’s new murder-mystery thriller has some big names in its cast list but the latest novel adaptation from the streaming giant has its imperfections like the titular couple.
The middle child of the wealthy Winbury family is getting married but things don’t go to plan as the maid of honour’s body washes up to shore on the morning of the wedding.
The suspect list is a long one as there are secrets aplenty. Greer has a secret brother tied to the Turkish mafia. Tag has been having an affair with Merritt, who is pregnant by him. Amelia and Shooter have feelings for each other. Thomas is having an affair with Isabel. Despite all the motives and secretive behaviour, the series struggles with pacing as the investigation is a slow burn. Shooter is arrested earlier on in the series and the secrets gradually spill out but it isn’t until the last episode when things speed up as one arrest triggers a chain of others.
However, the secret which almost runs as a separate subplot is how Greer and Tag are publicised as ‘the perfect couple’ despite all the lies and deceit. It is an interesting aside how their personal life is marketed to the media this way for Greer’s book launch. Furthermore, following Tag’s drunken stagecrashing, the publicists work quickly to forge a narrative about Tag being an alcoholic and going to rehab, to which the family applaud Tag’s statement rehearsal. Although this may be some clever social commentary, the anti-capitalistic message that the wealthy are morally corrupt is a somewhat overused statement.
Nevertheless, the ending doesn’t disappoint as we learn Abby drugged and drowned Merritt as the birth of her child would’ve delayed the release of her husband’s $2.5 million trust fund by eighteen years.
Overall, the series ultimately delivers on a satisfactory conclusion, though be prepared to go into the series with some patience.
6/10
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