perfect couple netflix nicole kidman : Netflix latest miniseries, The Perfect Couple, boasts an A-list cast, including Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber, and an intriguing murder mystery set against the backdrop of the ultra-rich. Yet, despite all the fanfare, I’m considering giving this one a pass. Why? It all comes down to one simple reason: we already know how it will unfold.
The “Rich People Are Evil” Trope: Overdone and Predictable
From the trailer alone, it’s clear that The Perfect Couple leans heavily on the well-worn trope of morally bankrupt wealthy characters. Nicole Kidman Greer Garrison Winbury and Liev Schreiber Tag Winbury seem to perfectly fit this mold, leading the charge in yet another storyline that paints the rich as heartless villains. This isn’t a new concept, and honestly, it starting to feel lazy. The idea of wealthy elites being inherently corrupt has been done to death in shows like Revenge—remember four uneven seasons of that?
Now, I’m not wealthy by any means, so why does this bother me? Because stereotypes, no matter the target, aren’t interesting or innovative. We’re in 2024, and we’ve heard the same narrative over and over again. The Perfect Couple appears to take this tired approach, and it just not compelling enough for me.
A Homage to ‘Revenge’ – But Do We Really Need a Remake?
If the Netflix promo featuring the cast walking moodily along the beach is anything to go by, The Perfect Couple is very much in the vein of Revenge—another story about the mega-wealthy, filled with scandal, betrayal, and murder. And while Knives Out managed to refresh the genre by placing a humble outsider at the heart of the story, The Perfect Couple doesn’t seem to have the same ambition. The trailer teases the usual dynamic of “insiders” versus “outsiders,” which feels like more of the same, complete with predictable dialogue and relationships.
A Lack of Creativity Is the Biggest Offender
The biggest frustration with The Perfect Couple is the missed opportunity for innovation. It not that the “wealthy elite” trope can’t work, but it needs a creative twist to make it feel fresh. These easy-to-write, one-dimensional characters leave little room for complexity or surprise, and that where this show seems to falter. At this point, we’re not reinventing the wheel in storytelling, but we can at least add some new layers to it. Think of it like a remix—it still the same song, but done well, it can feel like a whole new track.
Plot Twist: Could I Change My Mind?
That said, I reserve the right to have a change of heart. With the weekend comes reviews, and while they haven’t sold me completely, I’m always open to indulging in a guilty pleasure. (This coming from someone who sat through A Family Affair). Maybe The Perfect Couple will surprise me, and we’ll end up being, well, the perfect couple after all.
If You Like The Perfect Couple, You May Also Enjoy:
- The Chalet 🏔🚠: Stream this Netflix series about average folks who find themselves thrust into a murder mystery during a weekend getaway.
- Two Summers 🏖: Another intriguing whodunit—though without a death—that revolves around a group of friends dealing with a dark secret from a summer they shared in their youth. (Trigger warning for survivors of sexual assault.)
In the end, The Perfect Couple may be yet another series that thrives on the familiar, but for those craving something new, the search continues.
