SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for all episodes of “The Perfect Couple.”
A quiet summer morning takes a dark turn when a body washes ashore on a Nantucket beach, unleashing panic within a prominent family. This dramatic moment marks the beginning of Netflix’s soapy drama series “The Perfect Couple,” which is based on the bestselling novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Showrunner Jenna Lamia, known for her work on “Good Girls,” brings the story to life, focusing on Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson). Her wedding day to Benji Winbury (Billy Howle) is shattered when she discovers the corpse of her maid of honor, Merritt Monaco (Meghann Fahy). As authorities investigate the couple and their families, it becomes evident that everyone in the wedding party—including Benji’s formidable mother Greer (Nicole Kidman) and his charming best friend, Shooter (Ishaan Khattar)—harbors secrets that threaten to unravel their carefully crafted lives.
The series premiered on Netflix on September 5, concluding five years of development, during which numerous changes were made to the original novel. A list of the most significant differences between the book and its screen adaptation has been compiled, shedding light on the killer ending.
One notable addition is the character Isabel Nallet, portrayed by acclaimed French actress Isabelle Adjani. Isabel, a tantalizing family friend of the Winburys, also happens to be romantically involved with Thomas (Jack Reynor), the eldest son. This character is not present in the novel, although she draws some traits from Featherleigh Dale, a British intruder whose personal crises weigh down the weekend’s celebrations in the book.
Another point of divergence lies in Greer Winbury’s character. Nicole Kidman’s portrayal aligns closely with the book’s Greer, a successful murder mystery novelist. However, the series adds depth to her backstory in a climactic scene where she reveals to her children that she met her husband Tag (Liev Schreiber) while working as an escort. Additionally, her brother Broderick Graham (Tommy Flanagan), who plays a crucial role in the series, is absent from the book.
The series also gives less attention to Amelia’s parents, Karen (Dendrie Taylor) and Bruce (Michael McGrady), compared to their more substantial roles in the novel. In the book, Bruce confesses to Tag about his past feelings for a former colleague, a conversation that provides insight into his character but does not contribute to the murder mystery plot.
Furthermore, Tag is depicted as a marijuana user in the series, while the book leaves his familiarity with it ambiguous.
In a shocking turn, the finale reveals that Thomas’ pregnant wife, Abigail (Dakota Fanning), deliberately poisons Merritt. She drowns Merritt in the ocean to eliminate a financial threat related to Thomas’s trust fund. In contrast, the book concludes with Merritt’s death being ruled an accident, and while Greer solves the mystery, she keeps it to herself.
Finally, the series features a six-month time jump, showing Amelia now working at a zoo in London. In a poignant exchange with Greer, who hands her a manuscript about Amelia, they express newfound camaraderie. This scene is a departure from the book’s ending, which concludes with Merritt’s perspective during her drowning, suggesting the series aims to deliver a unique resolution alongside an exploration of its metafictional themes.