'His & Hers' has been making headlines for its intensity and realism. However, the viewers have one question after watching the series: Is it based on a true story? Let's find out.
Netflix recently released the much-awaited murder mystery, His & Hers. The series follows a couple as they try to solve a mystery that hits a little too close to home. It begins with the introduction of 'Detective Jack Harper', who has been called to the crime scene for the murder of a woman named 'Rachel'. However, soon his estranged wife, 'Anna', also shows up to report the crime.
As the case unravels, the couple finds themselves in a web of secrets and lies, one of them connecting them to the victim. The series presents a twisted tale that explores the depths of grief and trauma, as well as the strength of familial bonds. However, the viewers have one question hogging their thoughts as they prepare to watch the series: Is it based on a true story? Let's find out.
There have been several true stories recently adapted into series, films, and documentaries, making the audience's intrigue completely reasonable. However, His & Hers is not a true story but instead an adaptation of the 2020 novel by Alice Feeny. The characters have been pulled through the gifted imagination of the author. She drew upon her own experience as a journalist to deepen 'Anna's' arc and ensured that 'Jack' was portrayed with complete realism, adding an intense sense of reality to the story.
Talking about the story's making, Alice shared that the story first came to her from 'Anna's' point of view, and it wasn't until later that she could picture 'Jack's' perspective. She shared that the idea of two people experiencing something so similar yet personal, like grief, in completely different ways excited her and paved the way for the dual narrative, with both 'Anna' and 'Jack' getting to tell their stories in their own ways. She revealed that her past experience became the core of the otherwise fictional 'Anna' and allowed her to add details she otherwise would not have been aware of.
Alice also reflected on the town setting, where everyone knows everyone, which informs much of the story's drama and conflict. While some details, such as the shift from the small town of Blackdown to Atlanta, were altered in the adaptation, the core remains evidently close to the novel. As for William Oldroyd, the unexpected twists were what drew him to the book in the first place.
Despite being a twisty, compelling thriller and murder mystery, His & Hers is, at its core, about love. Surprisingly, but it's true. William Oldroyd said that for him, it was sort of a 'love letter' for his own mother. Tessa Thompson, who essays the role of 'Anna', also found the story's groundedness in a mother's love to be a major pull. While the character goes through several ups and downs in the story, it is the trauma of s**ual assault that plays a major role in how her story was shaped.
Tessa shared that having known such stories has been close to people who are survivors. She revealed that she had "seen the ways in which it can animate someone and energise them and also completely leave them stilted and incapable of moving forward." She saw 'Anna's' dedication to her career and ambition as a form of running, which initially helps her, but then also leaves her very isolated. She hoped that her portrayal of 'Anna' showed "there will be people who will think about having a conversation that they couldn’t imagine having before."
Jon Bernthal, who plays 'Jack', also found the characters' humanity to be one of the most attractive aspects of their roles. He shared that the couple's grief anchors the story, allowing the audience to root for them even when they're both suspected in the case. Jon shared that, to do justice to his role as 'Jack', he spent a lot of time in Dahlonega and gained insight into what a typical day in the life of local law enforcement officers looked like. He and Tessa also clicked immediately during filming, and their genuine chemistry translated well on screen.
While discussing various aspects of the storyline, Jon and Tessa presented their own versions of what may or may not have happened and how their characters would have viewed the situation. They shared that their different views allowed them to get into the minds of the roles they were playing and actually channel the core onto the screen. From their characters' differing views to their ploy against each other truly manifests on the surface through Tessa and Jon's work.
However, at the end of the day, it was a story about flawed people who are trying to survive, even if they end up making really bad decisions. While the story might not be based on a real incident, it lives in parts of several parents and couples who have been through a grief that ripped their reality and changed it forever. For the author, Alice Feeney, it's all about "the things that we are ready to do to protect the people we love the most."
What are your thoughts on His & Hers? Let us know.
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