The Netflix limited series "His & Hers," based on Alice Feeney's 2020 novel of the same name, premiered on January 8. The series, which relocates its narrative from England to Dahlonega, Georgia, centers on a murder investigation involving an estranged married couple, a detective and a news anchor, who uncover interconnected past events and family secrets following the discovery of a local woman's body.
Series Overview and Production
"His & Hers" is a limited television series, reported as consisting of either five or six episodes. William Oldroyd, who also developed the series, directed multiple episodes, with Anja Marquardt also credited as a director. Dee Johnson and William Oldroyd served as showrunners, and Jessica Chastain is listed as a producer.
The series features a principal cast including Tessa Thompson as Anna Andrews, a former Atlanta news anchor, and Jon Bernthal as Jack Harper, a lead police detective. Other cast members include Pablo Schreiber as Richard, Crystal Fox as Alice, Sunita Mani as Priya, Rebecca Rittenhouse as Catherine, Chris Bauer as Clyde, Marin Ireland as Zoe, and Jamie Tisdale as Rachel Hopkins. Oldroyd's prior directorial work includes the 2016 film "Lady Macbeth."
Narrative and Plot
The plot is set in Dahlonega, a town near Atlanta, Georgia, and begins with the discovery of Rachel Hopkins, found deceased with multiple stab wounds on a car bonnet in a wooded area. Detective Jack Harper leads the investigation in his hometown. Simultaneously, Anna Andrews, who has returned to Dahlonega after a period of absence following a personal tragedy, seeks to cover the story for a news scoop.
Anna and Jack are revealed to be estranged spouses who are both coping with the prior death of their daughter. The narrative establishes that both had previous associations with the murder victim, Rachel Hopkins. As the investigation progresses, additional bodies are discovered, and past secrets are revealed through a series of flashbacks. The series discloses that Jack had an affair with the murder victim and was present with her on the night of her death, which subsequently compromises his involvement in the investigation. Anna is accompanied by cameraman Richard, whose relationship with her develops throughout the series. Other characters include Jack's sister, Zoe, and Anna's mother, Alice, who is initially presented as experiencing memory loss.
Central Mystery and Resolution
The central mystery focuses on the identity of Rachel Hopkins' killer. The narrative initially presents Catherine, also known as Lexi, as a potential perpetrator. Lexi is depicted as a former outcast from a high school group that included Rachel, Anna, Jack’s sister Zoe, and Helen. The adult members of this group become victims in a series of murders.
The series finale identifies Alice, Anna's mother, as the perpetrator. Alice is revealed to have faked dementia as a cover for her actions. Her motivations are presented as stemming from the discovery of a video tape depicting Anna being raped as a teenager, an event the other victims allegedly failed to prevent or were involved in. Alice states her actions were intended to bring Anna home, keep her there, and provide her with a family following the accidental death of Anna and Jack's daughter, for which Alice was also responsible.
Themes and Narrative Style
"His & Hers" explores themes related to parental protection, the emotional impact of grief, and the consequences of hidden family secrets. The series employs an ambiguous voiceover narration and maintains a standard omniscient perspective, focusing on Anna and Jack's individual storylines. This approach differs from the source material's reported structure, which presented events from dual subjective perspectives. The narrative incorporates multiple plot twists. The series features a glossy aesthetic and lighting.