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The Perfect Couple episode 1 recap: "Happy Wedding Eve"
Netflix's new limited series The Perfect Couple is sure to generate buzz with its star-studded cast and addicting murder mystery premise. The six-episode show stars Nicole Kidman as Greer Garrison Winbury, a successful author and the matriarch of a wealthy family living in Nantucket. On the night of one of her three sons Benji's (Billy Howle) wedding welcome party, his bride-to-be Amelia (Eve Hewson) makes a shocking discovery — a dead body. By the end of the premiere episode, we find out who it is, and the show follows a whodunnit storyline as the wedding guests and police try to piece together what happened.
The Perfect Couple also stars Liev Schreiber as the family patriarch Tag, Jack Reynor as their son Thomas, Dakota Fanning as Thomas' pregnant wife Abby, Sam Nivola as the youngest son Will, and Meghann Fahy as Amelia's best friend and maid of honor Merritt. All six episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
Starting to binge through The Perfect Couple on Netflix? Join us at Netflix Life as we recap each episode, beginning with the premiere, "Happy Wedding Eve." WARNING: Major spoilers are below.
A body is found in the water
The Perfect Couple begins by introducing us to the family as Benji and Amelia's wedding weekend kicks off. It's Fourth of July weekend and Nantucket is full of excited wedding guests enjoying the welcome party. Included in the group we haven't mentioned yet is a character named Isabel (Isabelle Adjani), a friend of the family who seems to have a close relationship with Thomas. The show doesn't waste any time proving that not everything is as great as it seems. The episode cuts to a woman yelling for help in the ocean before we see the chief of police Dan Carter (Michael Beach) receive a call about a body that's been found early the next morning.
As he gets ready to head out to the crime scene, Carter tells his daughter Chloe (Mia Isaac) what's happened, who was planning on working as a caterer at the wedding. When her dad leaves, she pulls out her uniform and there's blood on it.
At the crime scene, we get to meet a detective named Nikki Henry (Donna Lynne Champlin) who will be working the case with Carter. The wedding planner and guests are called into the police station for questioning, and they begin spilling the tea on the Winbury family. They talk about how rich the family is, how uptight Greer is, and how everyone wants to get it on with Tag. Amelia, wearing her wedding dress and with a cut on her foot, is the one who found the body, and the police ask her to tell them what happened the day prior.
What happened the day before the wedding
The majority of the episode now consists of flashbacks of the day before, leading up to the welcome party and the discovery of the body. This is when we get to really see the family dynamics. The siblings banter quite a lot, and it's clear Thomas isn't the best guy. Amelia and Greer have awkward moments, and it seems like Greer is disapproving of her future daughter-in-law. Amelia doesn't really fit in with the family and Greer believes she isn't trying. Amelia's maid-of-honor Merritt seems clingy but sweet.
While Greer prepares for the festivities, a jeweler comes over and mentions a bracelet Tag recently bought, assuming it was for her. Though Greer plays it off, she knows Tag did not give her a bracelet, and she suspects he bought it for another woman. She goes through his office looking for clues and finds a receipt for the bracelet which cost him $18,000.
Amid the wedding preparations, Greer is also getting ready to release a new book, and she's set to appear in People Magazine with Tag. Throughout the show, she continues getting phone calls from someone named Broderick Graham but ignores them. What are you hiding, Greer?
Amelia and Tag go pick up Amelia's parents from the ferry stop, and it's evident Amelia did not grow up like Benji did. Her parents don't seem wealthy, but they do seem very sweet and loving. Her mom, Karen, has cancer and wears a wig, something Amelia tells Tag makes her very insecure. Benji's best man Shooter (Ishaan Khattar) arrives at the house with Merritt, which seems to weird Amelia out. Merritt is very outgoing and flirtatious, even flirting with Will, who is underage, at one point. When the wedding guests are questioned by the police, they mention that Merritt sleeps around.
Amelia seems uncertain about Benji
During a conversation with his dad, Thomas asks for a loan but is rejected. While lounging poolside, Abby overhears Amelia and Merritt talking badly about Greer. Amelia then gets serious, opening up to Merritt about her relationship with Benji. She's concerned that she doesn't feel as passionate about him as she thinks she should, but Merritt tells her she probably has cold feet. Merritt also wonders if she's rushing into the marriage to make sure her mom is able to see her get married and tells Amelia that she'll back her up in whatever she does. Speaking of Amelia's mom, we then get a quick scene of Karen taking out pills and hiding them.
While alone in their room, Benji gives Amelia a painting he made of her as a wedding gift, and they start kissing. But before they have sex, Amelia stops Benji, cryptically telling him that he's perfect and she doesn't deserve him. Benji is confused, and Amelia leaves to go on a run on the beach.
We then get another flashback to Amelia and Benji's engagement party, where the two sides of friends and family meet for the first time. Merritt and Benji give heartfelt speeches, while Thomas causes trouble with the family.
It's Merritt's body in the water
After the welcome party the night before the wedding, Amelia tries on her wedding dress to look at herself in the mirror. But she's distracted by something in the water, and when she walks down to find out what it is, she's horrified to find Merritt's dead body. Yup, unfortunately, the person who dies in The Perfect Couple is Amelia's best friend. Such a shame! I was very surprised while watching that Fahy's character is killed off so soon, but don't worry — you'll get to see more of her through flashbacks.
We'll be introduced to a bunch of red herrings throughout the remainder of The Perfect Couple as the characters try to figure out what happened to Merritt. Anyone and everyone is a suspect right now, but who is really responsible for her death? All of your questions will be answered by the show's finale. Keep reading our coverage of The Perfect Couple here at Netflix Life!