What Is the Story About?
In the Netflix limited series His & Hers, Tessa Thompson stars as Anna Andrews, a reclusive Atlanta news anchor, and Jon Bernthal as Jack Harper, a small-town detective. The estranged couple is reunited when a brutal murder occurs in their hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia.
Anna returns to the field to cover the case, hoping to reclaim her career from a younger rival. However, the investigation becomes a high-stakes game of cat and mouse as both Anna and Jack realise they have deep, secret connections to the victim.
As more women from their past are targeted, the two begin to suspect each other of the crimes. This mystery thriller explores the dark side of marriage and grief, culminating in a shocking twist involving Anna’s mother and a long-buried trauma from their high school years.
Performances?
The leading duo, Jon Bernthal (Jack Harper) and Tessa Thompson (Anna Andrews), deliver one of their most incredible performances to date in His & Hers. Bernthal’s performance begins seamlessly, marked by his commanding presence and vein-popping intensity. Still, as the episodes progress, we see a more vulnerable, tender side of him, something we have rarely seen in his past projects.
Bernthal displays some traits of his famous character from HBO’s miniseries We Own This City in the first episode. But once we discover how deeply flawed his character is and the mistakes he makes, his transition from a confident and charming detective to someone desperate, secretive, pushy, and willing to hide the truth by whatever means necessary becomes compelling to watch.
Thompson steals the show in this latest Netflix miniseries. She delivers a magnetic and introspective performance. On the surface, she effortlessly, calmly, and confidently maintains a hardened, almost bitter exterior.
This helps her mask the rage and grief associated with her young daughter’s passing. The manner in which she shifts from a traumatised victim of abuse into a calculated manipulator is a sight to behold.
Analysis
Sometimes, logic gets thrown out of the window in the newest Netflix limited series, His & Hers (created by William Oldroyd and Dee Johnson), yet it remains a stylishly filmed, glossy, and addictive Southern Gothic mystery thriller, thanks in no small part to its powerhouse leads.
One of the elements that stands out in the show is the opening title sequence. Instead of giving the sequence a proper musical theme and 1 to 1:30 minutes of screen time, the credits appear during the proceedings in a pretty cool way. In fact, the manner in which the series opens, with the image of a dead body lying on a car in a forest on a rainy, thunderous night, is a great way to grab viewers’ attention from the very beginning.
The dual-perspective approach to the show’s narrative structure works well, as we see Anna and Jack trying to solve the murder case on their own, while frequently clashing over their almost broken marriage, dead child, and rocky married life. As a reporter, Anna repeatedly questions Jack about the proceedings and possible leads related to the murder, while Jack tries to manage everything around her. These scenes are compelling to watch.
Another important element that manages to hold our attention is that every lead character in the series, especially Anna and Jack, is deeply flawed. As the series progresses, we discover both the strengths and shortcomings of the leading duo.
They even take steps and display a “willing to do whatever is necessary” side to hide their disturbing secrets, which keeps us hooked throughout the series. This not only sustains our investment but also successfully creates intrigue around Anna and Jack.
Apart from their intense argument sequences, we also see calm, warm-hearted, and loving moments between the two, particularly in the flashbacks, which play an important role in showcasing the outstanding chemistry between Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson.
Although the dialogue can feel clichéd and lazy at times, and the series occasionally veers into melodrama. Another issue that prevents the show from becoming a high-quality show is its heavy focus on the characters, at the expense of atmospheric world-building and establishing a stronger “small-town” feel.
But the twists arrive at just the right moments, keeping the overall momentum intact. Speaking of twists, they are placed and executed well throughout the show. We witness plenty of revelations surfacing in the finale, which feels slightly rushed but remains highly engaging and entertaining. Many of the clues are hidden in plain sight, yet a large section of viewers is likely to forget or overlook them.
Also, His & Hers is well-paced. The six 45-minute episodes are clearly designed for bingeing. The show doesn’t waste much time and keeps us hooked, thanks to its short, punchy episodes, much like the original source material by Alice Feeney.
Midway through the series, we see Bernthal’s Jack employing several sneaky tactics to keep himself off the list of suspects, including sweet-talking his niece into giving a mouth swab to help him evade DNA testing by his police department. These moments go a long way in shedding Bernthal’s real-life macho persona and help viewers connect more strongly with his character.
There are times when His & Hers struggles to maintain a balance between melodrama and its grim, serious, trauma-driven tone, but it largely gets the job done by the time it concludes.
The addition of Sunita Mani is a welcome one. Initially, she appears somewhat amateurish, intimidated, and dumbfounded. However, once she begins to recognise Jack’s increasingly “strange” behaviour, she quickly finds her footing and never hesitates to do the right thing. During the series, we also hear her mention that children in India and their culture tend to care for their elderly parents rather than leave them, which is a thoughtful detail.
Overall, His & Hers is a perfect low-effort binge and a confident way for Netflix to kick off the year. Every episode ends on a hook that makes you want to hit “play” on the next one immediately. The twists keep you locked in, and the series benefits from high production values and a steady pace that never really drags, although some viewers may find the overall tone a little inconsistent.
Music and Other Departments?
His & Hers does a decent job of capturing the true feel of rural Georgia in terms of cinematography, successfully bringing out the muted, earthy tones of Dahlonega’s daylight scenes, which contrast effectively with the inky black nighttime sequences. However, the lighting appears slightly artificial and hollow in some moments.
The editing is propulsive, using rhythmic transitions and quick cuts to maintain a breezy pace. The fast-paced episodes also mirror the structure of Alice Feeney’s novel, making the series highly bingeable. The intercutting between past high-school traumas and the present-day investigation is handled with clarity.
The music is ever-present and effectively sets the mood, using creepy strings and low humming sounds to create a constant sense of impending dread. The sound design also incorporates elements such as cicadas, creaking floors, and heavy rain to enhance the eerie Southern atmosphere.
Although the overall Dahlonega setting occasionally feels more like a high-budget film set than a real, lived-in community, the Southern accents, while decent, lack the authentic grit found in shows such as Justified and Treme.
Other Artists?
Serving as Detective Jack Harper’s rookie partner, Sunita Mani (Priya) remains the show’s most morally upright character. Mani’s Priya appears professionally competent and level-headed, acting as an audience surrogate who questions and attempts to highlight the increasingly erratic and unethical behaviour of the leads, particularly the increasingly dubious actions of Jack, her partner. However, her best work emerges in the final episode.
Crystal Fox as Alice is the emotional soul of the show. As Anna’s mother, who is suffering from dementia, Fox delivers a nuanced and layered performance. She seamlessly oscillates between heartbreaking simplicity and clarity, and hazy confusion, making her the most sympathetic character in a town full of suspects.
Poppy Liu as Helen Wang takes a massive swing and successfully departs from her comedic roots in HBO’s Hacks to portray the dismissive, stern, and cold-hearted headmistress of an elite girls’ school.
Pablo Schreiber plays Anna’s cameraman, Richard, and brings a truly “punchable” energy to the role. His performance adds a sleazy, suspicious vibe that makes you question him throughout the investigation.
Rebecca Rittenhouse (Lexy) plays Anna’s younger, mean, and extremely jealous news rival. Rittenhouse steps into the role with ease and delivers plenty of malice, nastiness, and unapologetically “bitchy” energy (sorry for the language, folks!).
Chris Bauer as Clyde Duffie looks gritty and convincing in his role. However, an actor of his calibre deserved more screen time here. Just look at his performance in HBO’s classic The Wire. He remains underutilised in His & Hers, but whatever screen time he does get, he uses brilliantly, chewing up every scene and leaving no crumbs.
Highlights?
Powerhouse lead performances
Strong supporting cast
Engaging narrative structure
Binge-worthy pacing
Excellent chemistry
Well-timed twists
Drawbacks?
Clichéd and uninspired dialogue
Tonal inconsistency
Lack of “small-town” authenticity
Chris Bauer remains underutilised
Occasional appearance of artificial technical elements
Logic gaps
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, despite some shaky logic and lazy dialogue, the powerhouse performances from Bernthal and Thompson and brisk pacing make it a stylish and addictive thriller.
Will You Recommend It?
Yeah! It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a slick, engaging mystery that doesn’t waste any time.
His & Hers Netflix Web Series Review by Binged Bureau