Behind Her Eyes

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
Behind Her Eyes Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Nudity, language, spooky visuals in seductive mystery.

Netflix Drama 2021
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age 16+

Based on 4 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Behind Her Eyes is a mystery series about a single mom who connects romantically with her married boss. It explores the fallout of that connection, which goes in utterly unexpected directions. Violence is not gory or bloody, but characters are in mortal danger frequently, often from supernatural forces. There are sudden deaths and deadly plots, and viewers will see scary visuals, including images from dreams and dead bodies. Sexual content is also mature, with lengthy sex scenes and some nudity from the side (and a look at nude male buttocks), as well as rhythmic motions and moans and groans. Infidelity plays a party in storylines. A character is a heroin addict, and there's a fatal drug overdose. Characters also smoke cigarettes and drink until they're giggly and relaxed. One character prescribes psychotropic medication to another and watches her take it as if he's forcing it on her. Language includes "f--k," "f--king," "s--t," and "dick." Characters are complicated and not to be trusted; some have supernatural powers that make them threatening and to be feared.

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What's the Story?

As London-set drama BEHIND HER EYES begins, Louise (Simona Brown) is trying to revive her social life three years after the divorce that left her a single mom to 7-year-old son Adam (Tyler Howitt) when she meets handsome Scottish stranger David (Tom Bateman) by chance at a bar. Sparks fly... the two share a kiss... and he breaks it off to flee into the night. Louise chalks it up to a strange evening, until she discovers to her horror that David's the new psychiatrist at her firm, and she's to be his secretary. Even worse, there's a Mrs. David, the serene and seemingly unflappable Adele (Eve Hewson), who has no knowledge of Louise and David's connection, and has a lifetime of secrets of her own. Suddenly, the three are on an unstoppable course towards a fate none of them anticipated.

Is It Any Good?

Seductive and compelling, this mystery series boasts interesting characters, expertly doled out twists, and lots of intrigue. Louise isn't the kind of woman who generally anchors a mystery series. She's a single mom but not a victim or a a symbol; she blunders into romantic complications without inviting viewers' judgment; she has a regular-person job and relatable flaws. In fact, the couple she gets entangled with in the pilot of Behind Her Eyes seem like more typical mystery-show foils. There's the gorgeous wife, drifting around in elegant white loungewear, with a past full of secrets, and her handsome psychiatrist husband (who seems reluctant to show her affection) has prescribed her a pantry full of medication, and he has secrets of his own.

But Behind Her Eyes has a few secrets up its own sleeves, and if you think you know where the story's going after a couple of episodes, ready yourself for some truly surprising twists. Because what this show is really wrestling with is the malleability of memory and emotions, while teasing viewers with themes of infidelity, identity, and betrayal. Behind Her Eyes keeps viewers wondering which of the characters can really be trusted, and if they're telling the truth to each other or even to themselves. Well-acted, gorgeously shot, and simmering with dread, Behind Her Eyes is a gripping prestige drama that will bring to mind other recent mysteries like Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects, in the best possible ways.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about adapting books into TV series. What are some examples of successful and unsuccessful adaptations? Which is usually better: book or TV show? If you've read Sarah Pinborough's 2017 novel of the same name, what do you think of this adaptation? Is it faithful to the original story? If not, do the changes serve the show?

  • Are any of the characters in Behind Her Eyes admirable? Are they intended to be? Who are we meant to root for/sympathize with, if anyone?

  • Behind Her Eyes relies heavily on dream sequences and flashbacks for its storytelling. How reliable is the information we get in these sequences? How does your perception of what you've seen change having watched more of the series? Are there points being made about memory and the lingering effects of trauma?

TV Details

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