Another Netflix original series, based on the 2017 novel by Sarah Pinborough, which draws you in and keeps you guessing. If you like psychological thrillers, then you will love this. Behind Her Eyes is only 6 episodes long, but boy, has Netflix packed in loads of entertainment! A few laughs, a lot of suspicion, and some adrenaline pumping anxiety.

Behind Her Eyes Synopsis

A single mother enters a world of twisted mind games when she begins an affair with her psychiatrist boss while secretly befriending his mysterious wife.

Staring Simona Brown, Eve Hewson, and Tom Bateman

Behind Her Eyes begins on a night out with Louise and a random encounter which leads to a kiss. Who would believe that the two would end up being the married boss and the single parent assistant! As the series continues, we find out that things are not great at home with David, but there are some inconsistencies that bother Louise. Another chance encounter sees Louise accidently befriending David’s wife, Adele. What is really going on? Will Louise ever find out the truth?

Is there ever a good reason for infidelity?

The series dives deep into the psychology in relationships, from control to outright lies. Behind Her Eyes not only focuses on romantic relationships; it also explores friendships, professional relationships, and family ties. We see how separated parents can affect the child, how boundaries at work can be blurred, and the stress romance can have on platonic friendships.

The main ‘cheater’ is David who crosses the professional threshold when he starts an affair with Louise. There are scenes where the viewer will think David is the monster and his lovely wife is being abused. There are others where we see the wife acting strange and we may think she has mental health issues. Then we see evidence that maybe the wife is the abuser and David has simply grown to resent her but, for reasons unknown, cannot leave. Louise is firmly stuck in the middle, and whatever is going on, neither married party seem to want to end this relationship. 

The Behind Her Eyes Characters

The series focuses firmly on the 3 main characters: Louise, David, and Adele. All three have a good depth to them with many layers. There are a few other characters who make a regular appearance, with only 1 really having a significant role in the story. Rob, who is an old friend of Adele, and he appears in most of her flashbacks. We are given the sense something went on between David, Adele, and Rob, but it is not until near the end when we find out what.

I liked all 3 main characters, immediately, as they are familiar and convincingly draw you along their journey. There is a strangeness to Rob from the beginning, and I never got rid of that feeling throughout. We get regular flashbacks from the main 3, which helps us to gather more information about who they are and their journey to the present day. The series is like a well-executed jigsaw puzzle and with each episode we get a little bit more of the picture.

Is there something supernatural going on?

If you read the description, you will see the genre as ‘supernatural thriller’. This element takes a while to be drawn out (I was praying it was not going to be alien related!) which adds to the mystery of what is going on. The big reveal reminded me of scenes from Disney’s Brave, but if you ignore a few CGI eye-rolling moments, then the rest is enjoyable (I feel the point could have been made without this added feature, but it is there, and I had to ignore it).

Is it worth the watch?

Yes, 100% you should watch this series. It is full of drama, suspense, agony, hope, and love. I love how the ‘answers’ come in the last episodes; I think there is nothing worse than a series that lets you know what is going on at the beginning. The series builds steadily, with the characters slowly revealing their true selves.

Since there’s no sequel to the Behind Her Eyes book, and it’s a ‘limited’ series, a second series looks unlikely. However, with the ending leaving a series of unanswered questions, watch this space!

Love psychological thrillers and supernatural horrors? Check out my film recommendations here.

Prefer a true-crime series? Check out my review of The Pembrokeshire Murders.