This review is spoiler free.
Behind her Eyes (2021) is a drama mystery mini-series, available on Netflix. The series is based off of Sarah Pinborough's novel of the same name. The novel was published in 2017 then developed into the mini-series in 2021 by creator Steve Lightfoot.
We follow single mum Louise, and her bizarre relationship between her boss and his wife. Despite being romantically involved with her boss, she continues a secretly blossoming relationship with his wife.
Six episodes allowed the narrative to remain concise. The pacing was good, and just when events began to settle, they picked up quickly and moved on, to keep you intrigued. Even in the first half of the series where it was setting up the narrative, it was always evoking emotions - anxiety, annoyance and creating lots of questions.
The mystery throughout the series kept me hooked. One episode, I would put my trust in one character and dislike another character, and then the next episode my mind would completely switch. It was a constant battle, and the best way to keep me interested.
The realism in the programme was pleasant. The characters, their circumstances, the set design, their personal goals. It was all really down to earth and realistic. It showed the mundane moments of their life without making it boring. There was this sense of routine throughout, that made the programme extremely relatable and realistic.
They did an excellent job of portraying mental illness. Some characters within the show had a history of mental health issues. It showed their perspective of their mental health and allowed you to empathise with them, instead of the usual portrayal of the mentally ill villain. This is also relevant with the fact that Louise and David worked in psychiatry - David being a psychiatrist. It showed how despite him being this doctor of psychiatry, he wasn't a perfect person. He still had as many flaws as anyone else. I feel like overall the show had a good way of portraying all people as equal, despite their position or their wealth - whether they lived in a flat or a mansion, they all suffered with the same issues.
My favourite character in the series was Rob, he was so adorable and his relationship with Adele was so enjoyable to watch. I feel all characters were really thoroughly written in a sense that they all had depth, they all had good qualities but lots of flaws. I was constantly questioning their choices and viewed them as people in the real world - wondering how I would respond if my friend told me they were in a situation like this.
Overall, it is a nice, short, enjoyable watch. I obviously don't want to go into too much detail and spoil anything for potential viewers. I feel as though it's definitely worth a watch, as it's a unique narrative, backed with thorough research and understanding of all the topics discussed.
Comments