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“There are at least two sides to every story. Yours and mine. Ours and theirs. His and hers. Which means someone is always lying.”
This compelling refrain, repeated across multiple episodes of the new Netflix series “His & Hers” (2026), promises thrilling action and meaningful revelations. But the show’s confused plot and underdeveloped characters leave this promise unfulfilled across its six episodes.
“His & Hers” is an adaptation of the 2020 novel of the same name by Alice Feeney. The show follows Anna (Tessa Thompson), a television news anchor living in Atlanta, who returns to her hometown in rural Georgia to cover the story of the brutal murder of a young woman. The investigative lead on the case is Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), who happens to be Anna’s estranged husband. It is quickly revealed that both Anna and Jack have strong connections to the victim – and more than their fair share of deep, dark secrets surrounding complicated relationships, both with each other and with past friends and lovers who populate the town.
Promotional trailer for “His & Hers” (2026). (Credit: Netflix via YouTube.)
Although the novel is set in a small town in England, the show takes place in the rural town of Dahlonega in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The series spends a large allowance of its floundering dialogue to emphasize to viewers the differences between Atlanta and Dahlonega. This contrast, which relies heavily on common rural tropes, is meant to make the murder even more shocking because it happened in a “sleepy” small town, where “nothing ever happens.” It is essential to the storylines that Dahlonega is a town where everyone has a history with each other, and the rumor mill is always churning.
Some of this small-town intrigue, while a bit overstated, is effective. There are gripping moments of “His & Hers” where I was invested in figuring out the murder and how all the clues connect. However, my frustration with the choices the characters make and the way the plot progresses overshadowed any potential victories for the show.
My main problem with “His & Hers” is its confusion over its own tone. I genuinely do love a television show that leans into melodrama, cheesiness, or outright absurdity. The mystery genre is at its most fun when the audience can exchange eyerolls at a frankly silly reveal or suspend disbelief as we follow characters down a rabbit hole of elaborate clues.
Poster for “His & Hers” (2026). (Credit: Netflix via IMDb)
Shows like “Only Murders in the Building” (2021) or “Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials” (2026) have a self-awareness that make for an entertaining watch without necessarily qualifying as prestige TV. On the other hand, there are shows in the thriller space like “Big Little Lies” (2017), “Task” (2025), or “Mare of Easttown” (2021) that are dramatic, psychological, and serious. These shows handle heavy subject matter with care, giving ample narrative space to the trauma at their center.
“His & Hers” is stuck in the strange, confusing, and uncomfortable middle ground.
Even though the show’s plot structure and dialogue point to the more pulpy side of the genre, it also attempts to handle incredibly traumatic topics, including grieving the loss of a child, dementia, and sexual assault. These themes are introduced seemingly merely for their shock value, without the effort or sensitivity required to explore them meaningfully.
I believe that a show should either thoughtfully devote time and attention to the grim topics it brings up, or embrace a ‘beach-read’ sensibility, where trauma remains largely out of the picture. Otherwise, the use of serious themes feels exploitative, and what could be campy fun just turns into bad show-making.
“His & Hers” also suffers from an over-reliance on twists and turns, many of which harm, rather than help, the storytelling. Twists-for-twists’-sake leave me with the sour taste of lazy writing rather than the satisfying sweetness of mind-bending intrigue. The final twist (which does remain loyal to the book’s ending, albeit to the show’s detriment) is especially frustrating. For fear of spoilers, I won’t dive more into that, but let’s just say… be prepared for anything.
With only six episodes, the show is highly bingeable and the lead actors, Thomson and Bernthal, do deliver some very good performances that hint at what the show could’ve been. The final product falls flat, but if you want to hear some fun attempts at Southern accents and exclaim in exasperation at the plot’s chaotic absurdities, then “His & Hers” might be the perfect winter watch for you.
“His & Hers” is now streaming on Netflix.
This article first appeared in The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder focused on the best, and worst, in rural media, entertainment, and culture. Every other Thursday, it features reviews, recommendations, retrospectives, and more. Join the mailing list today to have future editions delivered straight to your inbox.
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The post “His & Hers” Lacks A Cohesive Tone, Leaving Its Small-Town Mystery in the Lurch appeared first on The Daily Yonder.
