One of Nantucket's wealthiest families is eager to welcome Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) into the family. Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman), the renowned novelist who will be her mother-in-law despite her disapproval, has gone to great lengths to arrange what appears to be the most extravagant wedding of the season—that is, until a corpse is discovered on the beach. As secrets emerge, the real-life investigation resembles a scene from one of Greer's novels. Everyone is suddenly under scrutiny.

It takes a lot of patience to wait for the third season of The White Lotus, and the wait is probably for another year. Imagine a series about rich privilege and how it will never wear off anywhere in the world. The Perfect Couple shares similarities, yet it's not about strangers coming together under one roof, but rather about familiar strangers coming together and uncovering their hidden secrets. 

The grand white wedding weekend of Benji Winbury (Billy Howle) and Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) sets the scene for the series. Benji is the middle son of Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman) and Tag Winbury (Liev Schreiber), who is a painter and head-over-heels in love with his fiancée. On the other hand, Amelia is a commoner who tries her level best to fit into this family, who look at her like an outsider with a conditional welcoming approach. 

When there's a wedding with cultural differences, there's bound to be drama. However, with Kidman at the helm, The Perfect Couple's drama quickly delves into the realm of murder mysteries. Like I mentioned in The White Lotus Season 3, there's another show that awaits a third installment—that is, Big Little Lies, featuring the veteran actor. To sum up, The Perfect Couple is an amalgamation of both series that have become fan favourites.

Over time, we have observed a shift in sensitivity among individuals, and even the news of death seems to have less impact on some. In the series, a murder occurs amid the elaborate preparations for the wedding, and it takes a considerable amount of time to reveal the identity of the victim. Six episodes, each lasting nearly an hour, span the series, providing us with more insights into the star-studded obnoxious characters, for whom death is as routine as a scheduled brunch every two weeks.

The Perfect Couple has no qualms about displaying white privilege, and at times, we observe that most characters who join the Winbury family are required to sign an NDA (no disclosure agreement) about anything and everything. This means that missing persons, deaths, or financial scams are just the norm in the family. 

The series takes its time to reveal the flaws in each character, highlighting their potential for murder with a blatant approach. However, in the process, the series devolves into a situational comedy, with revelations about a few characters so implausible that they cease to be amusing. The writer's deft handling of revelations makes the question of who is not a murderer predictable. Eliminating suspects is a captivating game that viewers engage in while watching a series. Despite our best efforts to approach a murder mystery objectively, we often adopt a detective's mindset and attempt to identify the culprit before the series concludes.

The Perfect Couple is a binge-worthy series that will captivate you for up to six hours as you unravel the mystery. Well, I am not revealing the murderer as well as the victim who succumbed to whatever weird reason the murder takes place. However, it's somewhat predictable and disheartening to witness the demise of a promising character, especially when the narrative revolves around it.

The series boasts a talented ensemble cast, which includes Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Jack Reynor, Ishaan Khatter, Meghann Fahy, Sam Nivola, Michael Beach, Donna Lynne Champlin, and Mia Isaac, with Liev Schreiber. Before I forget, there's also Isabelle Adjani, who will take you by surprise given the legend that she is.

However, everyone receives a solo shine moment, and this opportunity only benefits a select few. Kidman and Schreiber consistently shine, which is not surprising given their respective statures. Fanning and Fahy also get their moments to steal the show, but it only comes when the series nears its conclusion. Meanwhile, Khatter secures a prominent role despite having a relatively minimal impact. The actor's performance is commendable, but that's about it for a show like this.

Hewson plays the bride in the series and serves as the Winbury family's point of view, but she doesn't exude much main character energy, and her character arcs are largely predictable.

The Perfect Couple is based on the book of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, which was apparently a bestselling novel. I hope to see this book-to-screen adaptation succeed, as not every creator can achieve the same level of gloss and intrigue as the novel. Despite the comic approach bordering on annoyance, The Perfect Couple remains intact in its translation.

However, the series does shine with its imperfections, as murder mysteries are reaching a dead end on the screen, and there should be a start to revive the genre. 

The Perfect Couple weaves a tangled web of intrigue, blending high-society drama with a murder mystery that feels both fresh and formulaic. While it dazzles with its star-studded cast and lush setting, the series occasionally stumbles over its own excesses and predictable twists. Despite its flaws, it delivers enough suspense and scandal to keep viewers hooked, making it a binge-worthy diversion.

Read Also: The Perfect Couple review: Nicole Kidman is sharp, Ishaan Khatter smooth in this page-turning murder mystery