The Perfect Couple: Nothing ‘perfect’ about it

The Perfect Couple has everything a blockbuster should have: A beautiful cast, picturesque beaches, a murder in the series premiere, and just six episodes in which it would all conclude. But once you finish it, you realize a few things: You aren’t going to read another Elin Hilderbrand novel for a long time (it was based on her source material), will think twice about watching a show with an ensemble cast, and will need to detox yourself through a Columbo or Castle before venturing on to newer shows.

What makes The Perfect Couple an imperfect show is not just limited to Nicole Kidman’s terrible wig but also the forced casting of Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter, the miscasting of Dakota Fanning in a supporting role, and the How to Get Away with Murder vibes, which were there only in spirit. The six episodes which could have been a breath of fresh air, turn out to only be weekend killers – if you are a binge-watcher – or six-hour killers – if you like to watch TV shows at your own pace.

No matter which category you belong to, if you have watched How to Get Away with Murder, you will realize how the limited series will end. If you watch police procedurals, you can easily predict the end from a mile away. However, if you are into Dynasty-like soapy stuff, you will find it just bubbly enough. It could have been addictive had the makers tried to make it so, but they were more interested in the extreme close-ups, extra sequences that had no bearing on the story, and flashbacks that would make producers at Geo Entertainment proud.

Watching this drama is up to you but we can recommend one thing: watch it at your own risk, and with someone whom you don’t like at all.

Nicole Kidman, and Liev Schreiber steal the show, but …

Nicole Kidman plays successful author Greer Garrison Winbury, and Liev Schreiber is the weed-smoking Tag, her laid-back but rich husband who are hosting family and friends for their middle son Benji’s wedding to Amelia. However, when the bride-to-be’s maid-of-honor Merritt is found dead at the end of the first episode, skeletons in the closet emerge.

While one of the sons seems to have issues with everything including his pregnant wife, the other believes his parents are the best in the world. Add to that two family friends with suspicious motives, a maid who adores the master, a mysterious voice on the phone with ties to the mafia, and you have the perfect setting for a great series.

However, apart from Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber, none of the performances are memorable. Nicole Kidman looked lovely as the matriarch of the family while her husband seemed to adore her every step of the way. Even once the proverbial Pandora’s Box opens, the couple behaves as if it isn't a big deal at all.

As for the rest of the actors, some may have made a name for themselves on other TV shows like Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters), Donna Lynne Champlin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Jack Reynor (Strange Angel), and Michael Beach (Third Watch) but here they stand nowhere compared to the Hollywood giants in the lead. Except one.

Having Dakota Fanning in a supporting role is a crime!

You simply can’t have the actress from Hollywood blockbusters Man on Fire, Charlotte’s Web, Ocean's 8, and The Equalizer 3 in a supporting role. It should be declared a crime in the world of police procedurals to have such a big name cast in a small supporting role where all she had to do was look pregnant and stand by her shady in-laws. She doesn’t take a stand when her husband cheats, doesn’t make a noise when her hubby fights with his brother over a wedding cake, and doesn’t have any presence in most of the six episodes.

If I were Dakota Fanning, I would have asked the makers to take their script back and make it interesting enough for her and her fans. She was there to be counted as one of the many perfect couples who were anything but that. Also, casting Lotus alum and Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy in the series backfired because, at one time, you would be in double minds as to which series you are watching. After all, both had ‘wildly rich’, ridiculously attractive, and seemingly on holiday kind of folks, behaving like nincompoops in both the series; Nicole Kidman’s presence gave it the Big Little Lies touch.

Was Ishaan Khatter cast to appease the South Asian audience?

After watching the series I realized that the makers of The Perfect Couple must have deduced early in the scripting stage that they needed an extra push to make it work. It seems obvious they decided to cast Ishaan Khatter as Shooter Dival - to appease the South Asian audience. In the real world, the role of the groom's best friend could have been played by anyone and that means anyone in the world.

The only time he managed to register his presence was during the opening theme of the series; you spot him immediately because he seems to be the only person comfortable in the unnecessary Bollywood-style dance sequence. After all, he shares his DNA with Shahid Kapoor who is one of the top dancers in the Bollywood film industry.

Will the Indian and Pakistani audience watch The Perfect Couple because of Ishaan Khatter? Yes, they will, because they love watching one of their own in an international project no matter how small the character might be. Dhanush made a forgettable appearance in The Gray Man, Alia Bhatt was there in Heart of Stone while Pankaj Tripathi had a blink-and-miss cameo in Extraction, but did that help the makers in the long run? No. Sadly, A Suitable Boy starwasn't entirely suitable here and should have avoided the project.

The Verdict: At least, How to Get Away with Murder had class!

In a world of police procedurals, The Perfect Couple stands nowhere because it reminds you of Viola Davis’ How to Get Away with Murder a lot. Had the six seasons aired back in the '90s, it would have been a treat to watch but since Shonda Rhimes' addictive crime drama aired between 2014 and 2020 and is available on Netflix, taking a trip through the same template was a mistake the makers shouldn’t have made.

At least How to Get Away with Murder showrunners knew how to keep the audience hooked in every episode and even though it had elements of sex, romance, deceit, and above all, murder, the loyal fans waited for every episode for six seasons. On the contrary, The Perfect Couple lasted six episodes and if I had not raised my hand in the team meeting, I would have missed it after hearing dreadful reviews.

If I could describe the series to a friend, I would first assess my friendship level with that person; if he or she is a dear friend, I would tell them to watch anything else, even Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated on Netflix is better. If that person isn’t a close friend, I would tell them that folks with limited talent were behind this limited series. They put every idea they had in mind inside a box, stirred that box, and then decided to use whatever came out of the hat, chronologically.

The Perfect Couple is not something for those who live on police procedurals where murders are solved in less than 45 minutes; here, every minute seems painful, making you understand the importance of time. It also makes you wonder how much pressure Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber must have been under when they signed the series. They – and the audience – deserved better.