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The Perfect Couple Review: Nicole Kidman Shines in a Delightfully Absurd Murder Mystery

It’s impossible to resist binge-watching The Perfect Couple, Netflix’s latest hit detective drama. Set against the extravagant wedding in Nantucket, Massachusetts, this six-part series is full- of murder, mystery, and oozes opulence; intrigue abounds in every top-tier performance required. Fronted by Nicole Kidman, the show will drag viewers into an elite world of generational wealth, family secrets, and dark motives-all wrapped up in the allure of a seaside paradise.

The Perfect Couple

A Feast for the Eyes

One of the first things one notices about The Perfect Couple is its only magnificent beauty: from a 4,000-bedroom mansion standing cliffside over that pristine stretch of coastline, right through to its characters’ immaculate cashmere knits, this series is just eye candy. Every frame is speckled with the lifestyle most can only dream of-a world where all that wealth and privilege have buffered families like the Winburys from the unwelcome harsh realities of life. The house in itself is a character unto itself in this, an ultramodern mansion nestled right on the coast-emblematic of the power and legacy that drives the very engine of the show.

Kidman and Schreiber: The “Perfect” Couple

Right at the center of this intricate web are the titular “perfect couple“: Greer Garrison Winbury, played by Nicole Kidman, and her husband Tag, played by Liev Schreiber. To all outward appearances, they are a marriage that is picture perfect, really high society, but in all great mysteries, things are never as they seem. The wealth is old and expansive, the problems understandable—albeit wrapped in the silk of fifth-generational affluence. The romantic novelist Greer is on edge with her son Benji getting ready to marry Amelia, a woman really not worthy of entering the dynasty of Winbury.

Kidman is excellent here, bringing her trademark elegance to her character’s ice-queen exterior. Greer oversees every minor detail of the wedding with military-like precision, masking her disdain for Amelia behind impeccable etiquette. Schreiber’s Tag is an interesting counterbalance; he’s loose but similarly closed-off, with secrets of his own.

A Stellar Ensemble Cast

Headlining the venture may be Kidman, but truly outstanding is the ensemble cast that populates The Perfect Couple with weight and tension in equal measure. Jack Reynor‘s turn as Thomas, the eldest son of Greer and Tag, proves particularly stellar-his own motives and machinations driving much of the story-while Dakota Fanning, as Thomas’s pregnant wife Abby, steals every scene she’s in with her sharp, biting dialogue. Abby’s social-climbing instincts and the way she slices people down without ever losing her smile make her a standout.

Meghann Fahy plays the role of the maid of honor, Merritt Monaco, who lives a highly hedonistic lifestyle, adding to the chaos as this wedding weekend unravels. Mix it all with the charming but untrustworthy best man, Shooter, played by Ishaan Khattar, and you will get a cast of each character capable of murder in his or her right.

Murder, Secrets, and Luxury

As the story unfolds, it is clear that almost anyone attending this wedding has something to hide, and more than a few have motives for murder. Tensions get to a full boil in spectacular fashion, culminating in a murder that sends shockwaves through the seemingly perfect weekend. Secrets of secret affairs, bitter family grudges-there is no lack of suspects. The Perfect Couple adeptly juggles viewer expectations by dropping small hints and red herrings at just the right time.

The pacing is impeccable; just when you think you figured it out, the show takes yet another turn. The murder mystery is strongly interconnected with the family drama and tensions tugged between the ultra-rich and those serving them. As in any good whodunit, it’s not only the crime but the secrets the characters are desperate to keep buried that make it so gripping.

The Real Star: Detective Nikki Henry

While Kidman and the mansion are the apparent stars at the outset, it is Donna Lynne Champlin in the role of Detective Nikki Henry who really steals the show. Quick-witted, dry, and no-nonsense, she cuts refreshingly through the absurdly rich men and women she’s surrounded by. Champlin’s performance is a study in restraint; her face can often say in one moment what others cannot say in an entire monologue. The more she is involved with the case, the more disdainful she shows to the Winburys and their privilege, though at the same time, she never lets her personal feelings clash with her professionalism.

One interesting layer to the investigation is Nikki’s dynamic with the local police chief, Dan, played by Michael Beach. Dan is more than a bit cozy with the Winburys because of their financial gifts to the town, so he often clashes with Nikki, who is all about no-nonsense. Their interactions are subtle but full of tension, adding another layer to a class divide that permeates the show.

The Perfect Couple

Luxurious Drama Meets Absurd Delight

The Perfect Couple masterfully walks a tightrope between high drama and self-aware absurdity. The show knows exactly what it is—a super luxury murder mystery with a plot thick with intrigue and scandal, and it revels in its own excess. It’s a nod to shows like Big Little Lies and The Undoing, but manages to carve out its own space simply by virtue of being so unapologetically fun.

Of course, the rich are clueless, and of course, the murder mystery is as ridiculous as you would want it to be, but that is the fun. The penmanship from Jenna Lamia, adapting Elin Hilderbrand‘s bestseller, perfectly balances satire and thriller. Sparkling dialogue and twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat.

A Ridiculously Good Time

All in all, The Perfect Couple is an almost flawless concoction of mystery, high life, and fun. It is light in tone and yet delivers on all fronts: acting, pace, and intrigue. The six-episode format ensures the story stays tight, and by the time the credits roll, you’ll be more than satisfied with the wild ride.

Be it murder mysteries, overly extra weddings, or Nicole Kidman herself, The Perfect Couple will have you at the first episode. If you are looking forward to something amazingly absurd to binge-watch, look no further for your next obsession. Just lean back, relax, and enjoy the view-mansion and all the chaos unfolding.

The Perfect Couple is now streaming on Netflix.

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