His & Hers: for twist lovers (review)

A fun little treasure hunt, despite big strings and obnoxious characters. Watch on Netflix.

Jon Bernthal nods. He swings mechanically from right to left foot, with that characteristic caged lion attitude that has made his reputation. He puts his hypersensitive little steps and his permanent intensity at the service of a labyrinthine investigation, located in Dahlonega, in the stifling heat of the Atlanta suburbs, where the body of a young woman, with stab wounds, was found in the forest. Detective Jack Harper is on the case. Except that Jack Harper slept with the victim a few hours before. Oops ! And then his wife, Anna, arrives in town to cover the story: she works for the local television station. A long-toothed reporter, she had been missing for months after the brutal death of their daughter. But Anna returns, determined to relaunch her career, even if it means spoiling her cop husband’s investigations… especially since Anna also knew the victim well.

You will have understood: His & Hers – currently watching on Netflix – is this kind of thriller that lives and dies by the twist. The script feeds itself with juicy revelations. Everyone has something to hide in this small town steeped in lies, and we quickly see where this adaptation of a 2020 thriller by Alice Feeney wants to take us: the twists and turns follow one another and the game consists of guessing who is the killer who is terrorizing Dahlonega.

The device is decidedly fun during the first four or five episodes, which perfectly set the scene and the pretenses. We let ourselves be led along without displeasure. The choreography is fun. But the song isn’t quite worth it. Everything collapses somewhat with the sixth final episode: an outrageous conclusion full of inconsistencies, plot devices and a final twist that has a hard time making us dance.

Especially since beyond the revelations, the series is populated by odious characters – and even a little stupid. Poor Jon Bernthal gives substance to an investigator as bestial as he is clumsy. In front of him, Tessa Thompson never ceases to line up the smirks in front of the camera. So much so that the melodrama dimension that His & Hers tries to impose leaves you completely unmoved. Not everyone can Knives Out.

His & Hers, six-episode mini-series, available on Netflix since January 8.