The psychological thriller “The Monster in Me” is now one of the most watched plot points on Netflix. The production appeals with its script and direction, but it has a strong additional appeal for the series’ audience members: Claire Danes (Aggie Wiggs) and Matthew Rhys (Niall Jarvis). For this experienced spectator, there is a duel beyond imagination. It happens between the actors: Which of the two shows would be the cooler? A difficult question to answer and networks are divided in discussions. Perhaps it is fair to say that one performance enhances the other. The result is irresistible. There are eight tense episodes that will keep you captivated until the end.
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Just to quickly recap, Claire Danes became best known as the spy Carrie in Homeland (review here). His intelligence was clouded by the medication he took for bipolar disorder. Therefore, she spent long periods avoiding treatment. Fight dangerous enemies. Today, Philip still remembers Matthew Rhys from The Americans (review here), a KGB agent who worked in Washington, D.C., during the Cold War. Both series were great and established their heroes.
Now, once again, actors are able to build convincing characters and thus leave the shadows of these successes behind them.
Aggie is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. However, he has been suffering from a creative block since his son died in a car accident four years ago. She is bitter and tormented and estranged from her ex-husband (Natalie Morales) after the tragedy. She lives alone on Long Island, in a huge, dilapidated house, which she bought when she was at the peak of her literary career. The clogged plumbing and urgent need for repairs serve as a metaphor for the emotional paralysis the character is experiencing.
Nile Jarvis and his wife Nina (Brittany Snow) move into the neighborhood. He is the son of a New York real estate billionaire, and is suspected of killing his first wife. The body was never found, but the suspicions were not dispelled.
One day, he visited Aggie and suggested paving a special running track in the apartment. She objects, but sees it as potential inspiration for a book. The two went out to lunch, and as they were leaving the restaurant, they saw the boy whom Aggie accuses of driving drunk and causing the accident that killed her son. Niall notices her angry expression. He believes he sees there a reflection of a hidden desire to take justice into his own hands. Their relationship develops, always driven by contradictory feelings.
He presents his terrible moral credentials from the first minute. She’s got good principles, but she’s bound by ghosts and self-destructive – and it’s hard to root for a character with so many disconnects.
There are those who claim that the life of Robert Durst (the true story depicted in the award-winning “The Jinx” review, here) served as the basis for this conspiracy. It’s possible, and to say more would be a spoiler. Either way, “The Monster in Me” is a must-see.