SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for all episodes of “The Perfect Couple.”
On a peaceful summer morning, a body washes ashore on a Nantucket beach, triggering a piercing scream and sending a prominent family into turmoil.
This marks the opening of the first episode of Netflix’s dramatic series “The Perfect Couple,” adapted from the popular novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Under the direction of showrunner Jenna Lamia, the story follows Amelia Sacks, whose wedding to Benji Winbury is thrown into disarray when she discovers the lifeless body of her maid of honor, Merritt Monaco. As authorities investigate, they uncover that every member of the wedding party, from Benji’s domineering mother Greer to his charming best friend Shooter, is hiding dark secrets that threaten the carefully crafted facades they’ve maintained.
The show debuted on Netflix on September 5, concluding five years of development, and significant alterations were made to Hilderbrand’s original story. Notable differences between the book and the series have been highlighted, including a shocking conclusion.
In this adaptation, celebrated French actress Isabelle Adjani portrays the cunning Isabel Nallet, a friend of the Winbury family and lover of the eldest son Thomas. Isabel does not appear in the book, though a character resembling her can be found in Featherleigh Dale, a British woman whose money issues cast a shadow over the wedding in the novel. Featherleigh, like Isabel, has an affair with Thomas but is portrayed as more unstable and plays a critical role in the murder investigation in the book.
Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of matriarch Greer Winbury aligns closely with her literary counterpart; both are murder mystery novelists. However, while book Greer struggles with her career, series Greer appears to be a successful author. The show reveals a deeper backstory for Greer, including a climactic scene where she admits to having met her husband Tag when she was an escort. Additionally, in a surprising twist, Greer’s brother is introduced in the series, a detail absent from the book.
Amelia’s parents play a more prominent role in the novel compared to their limited presence in the series. Notably, a scene revealing Bruce’s emotional turmoil regarding a past crush has been omitted from the adaptation.
In the series, Tag is frequently seen using marijuana, while his relationship with it is unclear in the book.
The series finale unveils that Thomas’ pregnant wife Abigail intentionally causes Merritt’s drowning by spiking her drink, motivated by financial desperation tied to Thomas’s trust fund. In contrast, the book attributes Merritt’s death to an accident, and Greer is the only character who solves the mystery, ultimately keeping it to herself.
In a closing flash-forward, Amelia is seen working at a zoo in London, where she has a poignant encounter with Greer, who hands her a manuscript regarding Amelia. This moment introduces a metafictional twist not explored in the book, offering a sense of closure that resonates beyond the tragic events in Nantucket.