Saagar Kote
Netflix’s ‘His & Hers’ narrates the story of Anna Andrews (Tessa Thompson), a journalist, and her estranged husband, Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), a police detective. Created by William Oldroyd, the thriller-drama series follows Jack and Anna as they investigate a woman’s murder case in their hometown. Their relationship issues spill over to their investigations when they start to have mutual suspicions. Both of them accuse each other of hiding something related to the case, and they find it increasingly difficult to trust one another. As secrets from the past and present come to light, the only truth that matters is that someone is perhaps always lying. With other suspects emerging and the case going haywire, the truth lurks in the shadows of the small town.
To overcome their suspicions and get to the truth, Anna and Jack are forced to confront their inner demons. Based on the eponymous novel by Alice Feeney, the show is a layered exploration of relationships, secrets, human fragility, and loyalty told from the conflicting perspectives of the husband and wife. These shows, similar to ‘His & Hers,’ will keep you glued to the screen with their haunting tales of suspense and deception.
12. The Perfect Couple (2024)
Created by Jenna Lamia, ‘The Perfect Couple’ explores the complicated dynamics between the members of the Greer family, headed by Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, Tag Winbury (Liev Schreiber). Their son, Benji Winbury (Billy Howle), prepares to get married to Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) at the family house on Nantucket Island. However, even before the wedding can begin, a body is discovered in the vicinity, leading to police investigations. The family members and the wedding guests become suspects in the case, as the cops try to find out the truth.
With tensions simmering, dark secrets of the family hide in the background, affecting the lives of several individuals. As the case gets increasingly complex, the relationships between the family members face existential threats. Based on Elin Hilderbrand’s eponymous novel, Netflix’s mystery-drama series, akin to ‘His & Hers,’ is a deeply haunting story of familial secrets, trust issues, and claustrophobic character tensions within a murder investigation.
11. The Killing (2011–2014)
‘The Killing’ revolves around the shocking death of a teenager named Rosie Larsen (Katie Findlay), a Seattle local. Her death fuels uncertainty and fear in the community, which also deals with the political complications of an upcoming mayoral election. The case gets challenging as police detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) starts investigating it. In her efforts, she is aided by fellow cop Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman).
As doubts, secrets, and truths come to the light, Rosie’s death becomes a more complex mystery, causing misery and trauma to her family. With seemingly no end to their investigative efforts, Sarah and Stephen must find a way to drown out the noises and focus on the truth. Created by Veena Sud, AMC’s crime-drama series is a poignant navigation of familial grief. Based on Søren Sveistrup’s Danish series ‘Forbrydelsen,’ it shares similarities with ‘His & Hers’ due to its portrayal of haunting visual tones, small-town dynamics, and the cost of secrets.
10. Broadchurch (2013–2017)
In ‘Broadchurch,’ a Chris Chibnall creation, the peaceful Dorset town of Broadchurch becomes chaotic following the discovery of young boy Danny Latimer’s body on the beach. Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant), an outsider, is assigned to lead the case, immediately creating tension with local cop Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman), who feels she should handle the case. Forced to work together, they must put aside their differences to investigate the death.
The community faces intense media attention, and Danny’s grieving family struggles to cope with the tragedy. As Alec and Ellie delve deeper into the mystery, they begin to doubt their own judgments, leading them on an arduous journey of secrets and deception. The British crime-drama show, like ‘His & Hers,’ handles multiple perspectives related to murder, and also uncovers layers of secrets in a small town haunted by murder.
9. Under the Bridge (2024)
Based on Rebecca Godfrey’s book of the same name, ‘Under the Bridge’ navigates the angles around the murder of teenage girl Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta). A local cop named Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone) handles the investigation of the case and crosses paths with Rebecca Godfrey (Riley Keough), an author trying to write a book on happenings in the town. Based on true events, Hulu’s Canadian crime drama series follows Cam and Rebecca as they delve into the lives of Reena’s friends, who were last seen with her at a party. As different perspectives emerge from the friends, the mystery only gets more complicated, and everyone becomes a suspect.
To unravel the truth, Cam and Rebecca must learn to work together and ask difficult questions. Created by Quinn Shephard, the show is spiritually connected to the world and characters of ‘His & Hers’ due to its grounded portrayal of familial bonds, the aspect of grief, and the sociopsychological elements that facilitate murder.
8. Lady in the Lake (2024)
Set in 1960s Baltimore, Apple TV+’s ‘Lady in the Lake’ follows housewife and investigative journalist Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman), who is driven by the unsolved murder of Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram). Her new pursuit brings her into the enigmatic and confusing life of Cleo, who was a mother deeply committed to Baltimore’s Black progressive movement. Maddie abandons her husband and home life to focus on unraveling the mystery, while also focusing on the death of a young child named Tessie Durst (Bianca Belle).
Maddie’s obsession reaches extremes as she encounters various people who knew Cleo, but each reveals a different side of the story. In the drama series, as Cleo’s past and Maddie’s present converge in the latter’s mind, the truth seems too difficult to trace. Based on Laura Lippman’s eponymous novel, Alma Har’el’s creation is a riveting story of mystery. Cleo’s journey is similar to Anna’s struggles in ‘His & Hers,’ as both women dive deep into complex situations where their emotions and wits are tested.
7. Bloodline (2015–2017)
Netflix’s ‘Bloodline’ deals with Danny Rayburn (Ben Mendelsohn), who returns home to Florida. He has a complex relationship with his parents, Robert Rayburn (Sam Shepard) and Sally Rayburn (Sissy Spacek). The other family members, including Danny’s siblings, have their own issues to deal with, and this causes familial tensions. Seen as the odd member of the group, Danny struggles to adjust to his new reality. What follows is a careful and layered navigation of the rich family’s secrets from the past.
This includes their shared trauma and a possible connection to violence. Created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, the thriller-drama series navigates the souls of the Rayburns as they face difficult trials and tribulations. Akin to ‘His & Hers,’ family secrets and deception play a major role in the narrative, which is complemented by haunting visual tones. The thematic and aesthetic similarities between the shows connect them spiritually.
6. Big Little Lies (2017–2026)
In ‘Big Little Lies,’ the seemingly flawless lives of young mothers, Madeline Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) and Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman), begin to unravel with the arrival of Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley), a single mother new to the town. Madeline and Celeste quickly befriend Jane and her enigmatic young son, Ziggy Chapman. However, this single change in the social dynamics leads to chaos and trouble in the locality, which is somehow connected to a darker truth. Their idyllic existence is shattered when a murder occurs, exposing a web of secrets among them and other women in Monterey, California, who become entangled in the murder case.
With friendships threatened and relationships crumbling under the weight of the law and justice, the women have to find their own way. HBO’s comedy-drama show, created by David E. Kelley, sheds light on the fragility of human relationships. Based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, it resembles ‘His & Hers’ due to its focus on emotional dynamics, relationship secrets, murder, and the claustrophobic feeling of spaces in small towns.
5. Defending Jacob (2020)
Apple TV+’s ‘Defending Jacob’ centers on Andy Barber (Chris Evans), an assistant district attorney, and his wife, Laurie Barber (Michelle Dockery), as they strive to clear their son, Jacob Barber (Jaeden Martell), of a murder charge in their small town. Before the case, the family members shared a loving bond, which is now tested under legal duress. Andy faces a profound moral conflict, torn between his professional legal duties and his deep parental love for Jacob.
As the case unfolds, new truths and perspectives come to light, threatening to tear the Barbers apart forever. With Jacob insisting that he didn’t kill anyone, the town harbors its own secrets. Based on the eponymous novel by William Landay, the crime thriller series closely reflects the angst, insecurities, and doubts faced by Anna and Jack in ‘His & Hers.’ The shows deal with familial bonds intricately, while also navigating the motivations behind violence.
4. Presumed Innocent (2024-)
‘Presumed Innocent,’ Apple TV+’s crime drama series, chronicles the ups and downs in the life of Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a public prosecutor in Chicago. He lives a life of happiness with his wife, Barbara Sabich (Ruth Negga), daughter Jaden Sabich (Chase Infiniti), and son Kyle Sabich (Kingston Rumi Southwick). When Rusty’s colleague and fellow lawyer, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve), is found dead, Rusty becomes a suspect. What follows is a harrowing court trial where the prosecuting attorney’s office has to fight against one of its own. Things get complicated when Rusty’s affair with Carolyn comes to light, which challenges him at the familial and legal levels.
To prove his innocence and save his marriage, Rusty must go through unexpected situations and hardships to achieve liberation. On the lines of ‘His & Hers,’ David E. Kelley’s creation focuses on the ways in which a murder case can change familial bonds. Based on Scott Turow’s eponymous novel and Alan J. Pakula’s film of the same name, ‘Presumed Innocent’ reflects the emotions and challenges faced by Anna and Jack in the Tessa Thompson starrer.
3. The Undoing (2020)
‘The Undoing’ is the tale of the Fraser family. Grace Fraser (Nicole Kidman), a celebrated psychologist, her husband Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant), and their son Henry Fraser (Noah Jupe) share complex bonds with each other and live a life of wealth and comfort. But trouble seems to lurk in the background, threatening to tear their seemingly perfect lives apart. Adapted from Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel ‘You Should Have Known’ and created by David E. Kelley, the narrative descends into chaos when Grace’s husband vanishes, and she discovers her own possible connection to a murder case.
What follows is Grace’s battle against legal, moral, and personal challenges. On one hand, she hopes to save her image, and on the other, she also feels responsible for her son’s safety. HBO’s psychological crime drama series, like ‘His & Hers,’ is a nuanced depiction of psychological familial elements, murder accusations, and redemptive character arcs.
2. Mare of Easttown (2021)
HBO’s crime thriller, ‘Mare of Easttown,’ is the riveting account of Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), a detective in a small Pennsylvania town called Easttown. Her family life is far from simple and tests her deeply. The murder of a teenage girl upends her reality and career, and also shocks the local community. As Mare investigates the complex case, she must also confront her personal struggles related to a recent divorce, the death of her son, and her devotion to her grandson.
Considered a hero of the town due to her basketball achievements in the past, Mare is forced to navigate numerous twists and turns in the murder investigation while facing her inner demons. The mystery-drama show, created by Brad Ingelsby, is an extremely intimate portrayal of grief, trauma, and family relationships. These themes, along with the visual sense of dread and deception in an idyllic town, connect it to the unique world and characters of ‘His & Hers.’
1. Sharp Objects (2018)
Created by Marti Noxon, ‘Sharp Objects’ explores difficult truths through the story of reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), who is newly discharged from a psychiatric facility. She is sent back to her small hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. Residing in her childhood Victorian mansion, Camille is forced to confront her emotionally distant mother, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson), and Amma Crellin (Eliza Scanlen), a half-sister she barely knows, who wields considerable influence in the town. As she investigates the deaths, Camille finds herself spiritually connecting with the young victims.
The mystery deepens as she must navigate not only the case but also the challenges posed by her own mind. HBO’s psychological thriller series, based on Gillian Flynn’s eponymous novel, is a deep dive into familial bonds. It is connected to ‘His & Hers’ due to its navigation of small-town realities, trauma, and secrets. The journey of Camille in the series is similar to the one undertaken by Anna in the William Oldroyd creation.
Read More: Is His & Hers a True Story?
