‘Behind Her Eyes:’ A captivating Netflix series
April 25, 2021
“Behind Her Eyes” is a 6-part Netflix original series directed by Erik Richter Strand that captivates audiences from the very first episode. It’s a psychological thriller that follows the story of Louise Barnsley, a single mother who is a secretary at a psychologist’s office in London. Here are the reasons the show is so good:
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The Plot
“Behind Her Eyes” was adapted from the book written by Sarah Pinborough. It was the perfect story to tell in just 6 episodes and included several plot twists that had me absolutely shocked.
If you like mysteries, psychological thrillers and a bit of fantasy, this show is for you. Louise is a single-mother living in London. One night, she goes out to meet a guy, but he ends up blowing her off. Another man at the bar, David, ends up talking to her and they hit it off. At the end of the evening, they are about to kiss when David pulls away. The next day, Louise discovers he’s the new psychologist working in his office, and she’s now his secretary.
We find out David has a wife, and Louise eventually becomes her friend while continuing a romantic relationship with David. Drama unfolds as Louise becomes a third person in David and Adele’s relationship.
Another aspect of the show is dreaming and night terrors. Louise suffers from night terrors that cause her not to be able to sleep. After meeting Adele, she tells her that there is a way to unlock a door within the night terror and get to a dream that she can fully control. What Adele doesn’t share is that beyond the second dream, there is a way to come out of your body and have your consciousness flow in the real world.
The show mixes romance with fantasy and mystery, and is truly a compelling drama.
The Cast
The cast of the series was what sold the show. Each actor/actress portrayed the character they were playing in a way that made them feel real. The Research Catalogue wrote that “as far back as the ancient Greeks, actors were believed to be in some way possessed by the roles they performed. Some, like Plato, even felt that due to this kind of sorcery actors ought not to be part of his new Republic. (Roach 1993: 137)”
SPOILER ALERT! I’m about the reveal something that happens towards the end of the show… so if you don’t want to know, skip to the next section!
I’m always amazed when actors can jump between characters, and thats what happens in this series. Viewers discover that while Adele sleeps, her consciousness can leave her body and she can go any place, as long as she’s been there before. When two people leave their bodies at the same time, they can enter the other person’s body and become them. That being said, it’s revealed that Rob ad Adele tried it out at one point, and once he became Adele he killed Adele’s consciousness in his old body. That means that the whole time, Adele was actually Rob, and Eve Hewson did a phenomenal job encompassing that.
The Shots
The shots in the series were BEAUTIFUL! Take a look at some of my favorites below:
When it comes to crafting the perfect shot, there is a lot that goes into it. Alyssa Maio wrote on Studio Binder that “shot composition is more than arranging scene elements in a camera frame. It is an art that combines those elements to advance the story, reveal character and create emotion.” Every shot is a composition. “Composition refers to the way elements of a scene are arranged in a camera frame. Shot composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements to convey an intended message.”
Breaking down the first shot shown above of Adele, there’s a lot that goes into it.
In this still from the series, Adele is placed in the center of the frame and at a high angle. Viewers are looking up at her, showing that she is in some sort of position of power. There is this gentle glow of light that lights her upper body and part of her face. But, there are also shadows on her face and on the knife she’s holding. There is a curious feel to the shot, Adele seems to be thinking. And the way that the shot is composed suggests that she might be having dark thoughts. She seems trapped. It’s shots like these that tell viewers more than just what’s being said or blatantly shown. As you watch a show, know that everything within a frame was put or not put there for a reason.
If you’re looking for something new to watch and get addicted to, “Behind Her Eyes” might be for you!
