Netflix’s new thriller hailed ‘greatest show in a long time’ but horrifying twist leaves viewers sick
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
Netflix has become famous for its countless original series, with the thriller genre being a very popular one indeed.
Given the streaming platform's impressive rep, it's no wonder TV lovers race to sink their teeth into the next big programme, and that was exactly the case for His & Hers, which hit our screens last week (8 January).
The six-part glossy, and at times seriously raunchy, crime thriller stars The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal and Creed star Tessa Thompson as Detective Jack Harper and news anchor Anna Andrews, who are estranged spouses.
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The pair vie to solve a gruesome murder in which each believes the other is a prime suspect in their hometown of small-town Dahlonega, Georgia.
And, it goes without saying, there are some pretty major spoilers ahead.
Check out the official His & Hers trailer here:
Throughout the series, we're taken down many winding and, at times, purposefully misleading paths of who the real killer could be.
The murder mystery at the heart of His & Hers appears to be solved by the halfway mark of the dramatic finale.
Anna and Jack both know that the Atlanta TV anchor known as Lexy Jones is actually Catherine Kelly, the unpopular girl who was on the periphery of Anna’s high school friend group.
It seems it was Lexy who’s been killing her now-adult high-school tormentors - with Anna as her next target. Thanks to the quick shooting skills of Priya, Jack’s partner on the police force, Anna’s life is saved, and Lexy’s apparent homicidal schemes are foiled.
But one year later, Anna learns Lexy was never the murderer. After reading a letter from her mother, Alice, Anna realises that Alice had been the killer all along.
In the final 16 minutes of Episode 6, Alice admits she’s the murderer in a beyond unsettling confessional letter addressed to Anna.
In it, Alice acknowledges killing each of Anna’s former high school friends. First came Rachel, whom Alice murdered in the woods, not long after Anna discovered that Rachel was sleeping with Jack.
Then Alice killed Anna’s former friends Helen and Zoe, before framing Lexy as the murderer by planting evidence at her home.
Alice sees the murders, and the framing, as justice.
Throughout His & Hers, there are allusions to something horrible that happened on the night of Anna’s 16th birthday party. This was during a time when Anna, Rachel, Helen, and Zoe were inseparable.
Teen Anna, who was already dreaming of a future in media, took videos of everything that happened to her, good and bad.
Years after that fateful birthday, Anna suffers unimaginable loss when her baby, whose father is Jack, suddenly dies of crib death while in Alice’s care. Anna disappears to grieve, and Alice watches Anna’s old tapes to feel close to her daughter and to revisit a more innocent time.
This nostalgic journey comes to an abrupt halt when Alice watches the final tape, which reveals that Anna was sexually assaulted on her birthday. Teenage Rachel, Helen, and Zoe orchestrated the attack and then watched it happen, eerily singing 'Happy Birthday' to her while it was happening.
Teen Lexy, AKA Catherine Kelly, ran away after being assaulted herself, leaving Anna alone and vulnerable.
After catching the tape, Alice vows revenge against everyone involved.
The three men who assaulted the two teen girls, however, seemingly face no consequence.
Netflix viewers rushed to social media to share their shock after finding out who the real killer all along was in the final episode, as well as uncovering what really went down that traumatic night.
One X user penned: "Me choosing a new murder suspect every episode in His & Hers on Netflix just to be caught all the way off guard in the final few minutes. Whew, now that’s how you do a plot twist."
"His & Hers Netflix is the greatest show I have watched in a long time," gushed a second. "The plot twist was insane. I was catching my breath in every episode. Alice delivered the final blow, as I didn’t suspect her one bit. Maybe that’s why I ain’t a detective."
A third chimed in: "His & Hers got us sitting in silent recapping every scene after that final episode."
A fourth confessed: "His & Hers is a great watch on Netflix. I identified a new murder suspect in every episode, just to be caught all the way off guard, in the final few minutes."
Someone else wrote: "His & Hers ending was so bittersweet. Seeing what happened to Anna made me want to throw up I was so mad I almost hated I watched the show."
Another beamed: "His & Hers on @netflix is one of the best films I’ve seen in years. The final 30 minutes of the last episode hit me hard. Kudos to the director and cast for such a powerful finish."
And a final X user echoed: "His & Hers show on Netflix wassss so goodddd!!! I hate that I spoiled it for myself though, because that ending was shocking!"
His & Hers is currently available to stream on Netflix.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, Tyla Recommends, Social Media, Entertainment
Rhiannon Ingle