Behind Her Eyes

Behind Her Eyes is a captivating psychological thriller, based on the best-selling novel by Sarah Pinborough, that premiered on Netflix in 2021. The story presents an unusual love triangle embedded within a bed of mysteries that continues to thicken with each episode. Providing a mesmerising exploration of love, infatuation, secrets, betrayal, and a scarcely understood neuroscientific concept, this show promises to have audiences spellbound with intrigue.

From the outset, Behind Her Eyes pivots around three pivotal characters. You meet Louise Barnsley (Simona Brown), a single mother who works part-time in a psychiatric office. Louise leads quite a mundane life and, in a jolt of spontaneity, has a chance encounter one night with a man in a bar whom she later realises is her new boss, David Ferguson (Tom Bateman). David, a successful psychiatrist, is a charming, yet clearly troubled man with his own host of secrets. Just when it could not get any more complicated, Louise unexpectedly befriends David's enigmatic wife, Adele (Eve Hewson), without either being aware of the other's connection to David, setting the stage for an intense, secretive dynamic that will absorb you completely.

This visually stunning series explores various themes like marital discord, longing, the secret lives people lead, and an unexpectedly complex interpretation of dreams. The shifting perspectives between Louise and Adele add depth to the narrative and keep viewers teetering on the edge of their seats, trying to guess what will happen next.

The David-Adele and David-Louise relationships form the heart of this series. David and Adele's lives seem picture-perfect on the surface, but there is an unshakeable feeling that something is not quite right. The chemistry between David and Louise is palpable, and it paints an intense picture of an extramarital affair. On the other hand, Louise's fast friendship with Adele presents a contrasting purity that is tainted only by the shared secret surrounding David. These elements create a tantalising tangle web of fascination and fear, making you question which relationship will untangle first and at what cost.

Besides the relationship dynamics, this series presents an interesting study of dreams and nightmares and geometry, featuring prominently in the show’s story arc. Symbols and symbolism thread deeply throughout the series, inviting speculation into the shadowy corners of the psyche.

Performances by Simona Brown, Eve Hewson, and Tom Bateman pendulum between subtly understated to intensely emotional in measured, deliberate moments, painting an immensely complex landscape of human emotions. The development of each character is so meticulously fleshed out that they seem multidimensional, real, and sometimes even unnervingly relatable.

Staged in contemporary England, the scenic backdrops in the series add an extra facet to the overall visual appeal, ranging from the classy, urban metropolis to the tranquil, bewitching countryside. Striking cinematography, coupled with a captivating background score, enhances the mood, making this show a cinematic feast that complements the thrilling narrative.

The creators have adeptly maintained suspense throughout the six-part series. Intricately woven plotlines keep viewers engrossed in the narrative, ensuring there's always more than meets the eye. Tasteful doses of surprise and unpredictability keep the tension high, while flashback sequences provide depth, build characters, and form the underpinning for many plot points in the present day narrative.

Behind Her Eyes is the kind of series that will magnetise you into its world and then shock you. The ending, in particular, is bound to leave you thunderstruck, having probably never seen it coming, Ultimately, it's a show that stays with you long after the end credits roll.

In conclusion, Behind Her Eyes is gritty, haunting, and at times unnerving, but at its core, it’s a unique, psychological thriller like no other. It provides a suspenseful, disconcerting look into the complexities of relationships, adding a stirring mix of reality and surreal elements that keeps you hooked from start to end. Its noir charm and eerie plot will prove a treat for those intrigued by the mystical aspects of the human mind and the often unexplored areas of psychological thrillers.